Downward Facing Dog wrist pain is one of the most common yoga complaints. As a yoga instructor with carpal tunnel in both wrists who's had release surgery, I'm not speaking theoretically—I'm speaking from experience. The secret to pain-free Down Dog? It's not about wrist strength. It's about full-body weight distribution. Learn how to practice Downward Dog without wrist pain by pressing through your entire palm, pushing the ground away, activating your core (uddiyana bandha), and lifting your hips up and back. When you distribute effort across your whole body, your nervous system can settle and you can actually breathe. Includes modifications for carpal tunnel, tight hamstrings, and shoulder issues—plus the deeper meaning of this inversion as a gesture of surrender and devotion. This is alignment that works for YOUR body, not Instagram-perfect shapes. Welcome to the Foundational Alignment Series, where ancient wisdom meets modern bodies.

Here's what I love about mountains: they don't try to be smaller or quieter or more convenient. They just ARE—rooted deep into earth, reaching toward sky, unapologetic in their presence. That's Mountain Pose. Not about standing "correctly" but standing consciously. When you practice this grounded awareness, you're training your nervous system to feel safe. You're teaching your body it can be both strong and soft. True power comes from being deeply rooted.