The pose looks like a cobra with its hood raised, hence the name. You can descend into this pose from the downward-facing dog pose. It is one of the steps of the surya namaskar.
Benefits of cobra pose:
- This animal yoga pose provides relief to the back as it strengthens the spine.
- In particular, it strengthens the lower back. So, it is great for athletes and those who do a lot of physical work because excessive physical activity strains the lower back.