Magic of Pigeon Pose Yoga
My initial experience of trying Pigeon Pose in yoga class is still in my memory. My hips were tight, my posture was wobbly and I was sure my body was not designed to do it. My teacher noticed my difficulty though and quietly spoke to me, saying there was no need to push oneself into a shape. It has something to do with what is required of you by your body. That change in attitude made the difference in me.
Since it became one of the main staples in my personal practice, Pigeon Pose Sanskrit: Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. It is not only an extension, but an exercise of absolute liberation of the body and mind. I will explain to you the reasons why Pigeon Pose yoga can be so transformative and teach you how to practice it safely and effectively, as I did.
The Miraculous Effects of Why I Swear By Pigeon Pose Yoga.
My tight hips have been my hindrance over the years. And now I think that I view them as a dialogue. My favorite method of communicating is the Pigeon Pose. I have felt the positive changes in my life.
Deep Hip Release: Hip-hop is a rough lifestyle in our modern age of sedentary living. Spending hours, we are shortening and tightening the hip flexors and external rotators. Pigeon Pose is a direct yoga pose that directly goes to these areas such as the psoas, glutes, and piriformis, which gives me the feeling of space and freedom that I can continue to experience even after rolling my mat up.
Relieves Sciatic Pain: I would have a pesting pang in my lower back and leg. My teacher told me that maybe it was that my tight glutes and piriformis muscles were pressing against the sciatic nerve. My remedy to get out of that tension and discomfort has always been practicing a regular Pigeon Pose.
Enhances Emotional Discharge: This may seem an unlikely fact, but it is the truth. The hips are referred to as the junk drawer of the body because they store stress and tension of emotions. There are times I have been in Pigeon and the mental load has been loosened by a mere body release. It is a potent mechanism of releasing what you are holding on to unconsciously.
Enhances Posture and Flexibility: Opening the front of the body and hips, Pigeon Pose serves to counter the slouching we do during the day. In my case, this has shifted to improved posture in walking and sitting and a drastic improvement in flexibility in other forms of yoga poses and physical exercises.
My How-to Guide to a Perfectional Pigeon Pose.
It is essential to be able to get into the pose to not hurt but enjoy all the benefits. Here is the specific order that I use each time.
Starting from All Fours
Start in Tabletop position on your hands and knees. Make sure that your wrists are below your shoulders and your knees are below your hips.
Move your right knee forward coming behind your right wrist. The shin on your right will bend over your mat.
Slide your left leg backwards straightening the knee and placing the top of your foot on the mat. Have your left hip bent down to the mat.
Finding Your Alignment
This is the most significant component. I never forget to check the following 3 aspects:
Front Shin: I do not have to have my right shin parallel to the top of the mat. In case my hips are tight I give it a chance to lean further. The objective is to experience a deep pain-free stretch in my right knee.
Back Leg: I make myself make sure that my left leg is straight back of my hip. I press the mat on the top of my left knee to prevent my knee.
Hips: I make my hips as square as I can to the mat in front. It is all fine when one hip is higher than the other- this is normal! I tend to support my right hip with a folded blanket or yoga block.
Investigations into the Expression of the Pose.
After I am stable, I go forward with my hands and bend my body downwards. Either I sit upon my forearms, or, when it pleases me, go down to the very end, and lean my forehead against the mat or a block.
I pay attention to deep and slow breathing welcoming my muscles to relax and release with each breath. I do 10-15 deep breaths, and press back up to all fours and the same on the left side.
Contingent Planning: What I Have Learned in My Practice.
This pose has had its fair share of walls with me, and I have learned how to deal with them.
Knee Pain: That is a huge red flag. In case I experience any pinching or painful sensations in my frontal knee, I ease up. To safeguard my knees, I make sure I flex the front foot, as well as use props under the hip to minimize the degree of stretch.
Tight Hips: When my hips are miles to the floor that is alright! I don’t force it. It has transformed my hip since I have been using a block or blanket under my hip to be able to relax into the stretch without straining.
Stickiness: Sometimes, the stretch is stagnant. When this occurs, I use minute and small movements. I may also swing my hips side to side or I can also do small circles with my body to discover other locations of release.
Level Up Your Practice: My Favorite Pigeon Pose Variations.
After having become comfortable with the basic Pigeon Pose yoga, I began experimenting with them so as to enhance the experience.
Reclining Pigeon (Thread the Needle): It is a terrific, lying move, which I apply when my knees are tired. I then lie on my back, cross my right ankle over my left thigh and weave my right arm between the legs and embrace my left thigh. It provides a resemblance glute stretch that places no pressure on the knees.