Eka Pada Kapotasana or Reclining Pigeon - Restorative Yoga Poses #3
- Shantihi Yoga
- Jun 29, 2017
- 2 min read
A few weeks ago we began our series of Top 10 Restorative Yoga Poses to Relieve Stress where we introduced one restorative yoga pose each week. This article features our third restorative yoga pose - Reclining Pigeon or Eka Pada Kapotasana as it is known in Sanskrit.
We recommend that you stay in these poses for a minimum of 5 minutes. The longer you can stay in it, the better as it takes a while for your body to relax and absorb the benefits of the pose.
Let's check out the benefits of Reclining Pigeon or Eka Pada Kapotasana and how you can set it up correctly.
#ShantihiRestorative Pose 3
Reclining Pigeon Pose
Sanskrit name : Eka Pada Kapotasana
Benefits : Great hip opener pose, making stiff tight hips more supple and flexible. It lengthens the hip flexors, stretches the thighs, gluteals and piriformis muscles and extends the groin and psoas. Relieves back pain as well as built up stress, trauma and anxiety. Overall, it improves posture, alignment and suppleness.
Set up : Start on all fours then bring your right knee towards your right wrist, keeping your right thigh parallel to the sides of your mat. Slowly inch your right shin and foot to a diagonal or as parallel to the front edge of the mat as you can. Straighten the left leg back. Square your hips as much as possible by rolling your back thigh towards the floor. It is common to experience intense sensations in the right hip as the femur rotates outward in the hip socket. You shouldn’t be feeling any pain in your right knee. If you do, back off. Use your hands to slowly walk your upper body down towards the floor or over your bolster.
Modifications / Variations : Fold forward over a bolster. If your hips are floating high off the floor when squaring your hips, place a blanket underneath for support. Caution : Avoid this pose if you have serious knee injury.
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