DESCRIPTION
Learn how to do One-Legged King Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana). This video tutorial will teach you the proper alignment and technique to help you safely move into One-Legged King Pigeon Pose.
One-Legged King Pigeon is a deep backbend and hip-opener that requires a lot of flexibility. With regular practice, you can royally enjoy the benefits of this pose.
Benefits of One-Legged King Pigeon Pose:
- Opens your chest and shoulders
- Stretches your thighs, groin, hip flexors, abdomen, and neck
- Stimulates abdominal organs
How to do One-Legged King Pigeon Pose:
1. Start in pigeon prep pose. Your front shin can be at a straight line, or you can bring your front foot closer into your body.
2. Square your hips and squeeze your inner thighs together.
3. Press your front-leg shin down into the mat.
4. Open toward your back leg and reach the same-side hand back, grabbing your foot and pulling it in.
5. Reach around to stabilize your foot, and bring the same side arm of your back leg to the outside of your back leg (flipped grip).
6. Turn your hand back and grab hold of the pinky-toe-edge of your back-leg foot.
7. Make sure your elbow is facing down, then turn toward the front of the mat.
8. Lift your elbow up and overhead. If you can balance, reach your other arm up, bend at the elbow, and grab your foot.
9. Lift your belly and chest, kick your foot back, and look up to complete the pose.