Ustrasana
Kameel Houding | Camel Pose

Chest opener
Heart opener
Throat opener
Backbend
Strengthens the back
Stretches front of body (thigh, hip, stomach, chest, neck)
Contra-indications:
Neck & back pain
GETTING INTO THE POSE
Sit on your knees with your legs hip-width apart
Bring the hands on the transition between the lower back and the buttocks with the fingers down and open your chest, forward and up
Keep bandhas and abs active so that you don't overstretch when you come backwards.
Keep the hips above the knees
Make as much length as possible so that you don't hang in your lower back.
Grab the heels, if you can't reach them you can curl your toes under or put blocks next to you and put your hands on them.
Finally, bring the head back.
BREATH
Inhale: make length between the hands and ears, chin and sternum, sternum and pubic bone, pubic bone and knees.
Exhale: Come deeper into the pose.
- Or -
Breathe to the chest.
GETTING OUT OF THE POSE
Bring the hands back on the hips
Use the strength in your legs and core to bring your chest back up
The head is the last to come back up.
PREPARATORY POSES
Bhujangasana | Cobra pose
Dhanurasana | Bow pose
Setu Bandhasana | Bridge pose
SUBSEQUENT POSES
Natarajasana | Lord of the dance pose
REPLACEMENT POSES
Setu Bandhasana | Bridge pose