

How to Do Downward Dog Without Wrist Pain (From a Teacher With Carpal Tunnel)
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.
