What is the difference between Cobra Pose and Sphinx Pose?

Cobra Pose vs Sphinx Pose

Sphinx is the forearm version of Cobra: the elbows rest under the shoulders and the forearms stay on the floor, while in Cobra only the hands press down and the chest lifts higher.

Cobra Pose Bhujangasana beginner · backbend

Sphinx Pose Salamba Bhujangasana beginner · backbend

How to tell them apart

	Cobra Pose	Sphinx Pose
Support	Hands under the shoulders	Forearms on the floor, elbows under the shoulders
Height of the chest	Higher	Lower and steadier
Sanskrit	Bhujangasana	Salamba Bhujangasana ("supported cobra")

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Step-by-step guides: Cobra Pose · Sphinx Pose

More look-alike poses

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Pigeon Pose vs King Pigeon Pose
Plank Pose vs Chaturanga Dandasana

Same pose, many names · Sanskrit name parts decoded