How to do a Hindu Push-Up
- Start in an inverted-V pike with hips high and hands shoulder-width.
- Bend your elbows and swoop your chest down and forward, skimming close to the floor.
- Continue forward into an upward-dog position with hips low and chest lifted.
- Reverse the motion by pushing your hips back up into the pike.
- Move smoothly and keep your core engaged throughout.
Keep in mind
- Start in a high pike with the hips high and the heels reaching down.
- Swoop the chest low and forward, close to the floor, then rise into the stretch.
- Let the elbows bend as the chest travels — this is a curve, not a straight line.
- Return to the pike rather than backing out of the stretch.
Common mistakes
- Cranking the lower back at the top — rise only as far as feels easy.
- Skipping the swoop, so it becomes a push-up plus a cobra — keep it one continuous arc.
- Rushing it — this move rewards a slow, smooth tempo.
Breathing
Breathe in as you swoop forward, out as you push back to the pike.
Take care
The end position extends the lower back — keep the range small if your back is sensitive, and leave it out entirely with a disc problem.
Easier and harder
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