Cat lift and cat round have become one of the most essential sequences in yoga class. This shoulder and hip stretch is done in almost every class. But besides a stretch, why are the cat poses so important?

We came across a great explanation in Erich Shiffmann’s book, “Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness.” Hopefully, this will help you deepen your practice in the cat poses.

“Cat Pose teaches you to initiate movement from your center and to coordinate your movements and breath. These are two of the most important themes in asana practice.

The alignment of your center depends on the positioning of your pelvis. Therefore, think of your hip positioning as the center of each pose. This is important because your spine is the most significant line of energy in every pose and because the way your spine elongates from your center depends solely oil which way your pelvis is turning. If your sacrum is tilted forward (dog tilt), your spine will project forward before beginning its upward ascent, increasing the curve of your lower back. If your sacrum is tilted backward (cat tilt), your spine will project backward, rounding your lower back.

“Every yoga pose involves positioning your pelvis in either “cat tilt,” “dog tilt,” or “neutral”–or in moving toward one of these or the other. In most poses only one of these choices is appropriate.”