Challenge Level: Easy

Cat pose is a simple core posture that's one of the most fundamental poses throughout the many schools of yoga. The name comes from the resemblance of a cat rounding its back. From a hands-and-knees tabletop position, the core muscles are pulled in toward the spine as the back rounds and the head releases gently toward the ground. This pose is often paired with cow pose (bitilasana), in which the belly sinks toward the ground, creating an arch in the back as the head rises.