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No, the Cat-Cow is not a mythological creature: This pose bows the spine like an old cow and then arches it like a frightened cat. Whether you choose to meow or moo is up to you.

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  Step 1: Get on hands & knees

  Get down on your hands and knees on the mat. Your hands should be pointing forward and aligned under your shoulders, and your knees should be aligned under your hips.

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  Step 2: Bow back

  On an inhale, raise your head up to look straight ahead, bowing your back down gently while expanding your chest.

• Tip

  Don't lift your head so far back that the back of your neck wrinkles up—that will strain your spine.

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  Step 3: Round spine

  On an exhale, round the spine by dropping your head and pulling your belly inward, keeping your hips aligned over your knees.

• Tip

  If you feel too much tension in your shoulders, you are over-rounding your back and should ease off a little.

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  Step 4: Move back & forth

  Move back and forth from one position to the other, breathing deeply and smoothly, as many times as it feels comfortable for you.

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  Step 5: Release pose

  Release the pose by returning to your hands and knees, then sit back on your heels. Meow. Moo. Meow…

• Fact

  Cats have 60 vertebrae in their spine—nearly twice the amount humans have—allowing them to achieve more dramatic arches.