It’s not wrong or bad to move the pelvis during something like a three-legged dog; however, it becomes problematic when it’s frequently used to raise the leg higher. This creates a tugging on the bottom-leg hamstring and leaves the lower back in a vulnerable position due to the abdomen disengaging in order to, again, get the leg higher. If you want to teach this pose through the lens of safety and longevity—rather than performance and ego—use these two cues both before and during three-legged do

Downward Dog Benefits & Pose Breakdown