This pose focuses on opening your hips, which supports mobility and flexibility in that joint. Pigeon Pose also stretches your hip flexors and lower back, which are commonly tight due to prolonged sitting. Stretching these muscles regularly may alleviate mild lower back or hip pain.
Is King Pigeon Pose hard?
Pigeon Pose is the base yoga pose to flip our grip for One-Legged King Pigeon Pose and offers an amazing stretch to the outside of the hip and the hip flexors. This pose can be very intense if your hips are tight, so always keep a yoga block or yoga blanket close by for modifications as needed.
Safety and Precautions. Avoid this pose if you have any knee injury or hip issues. 6 You should not feel any stress on the knee. You will feel rotation of your femur in the hip socket and a great stretch along the front of the hip, but it should not be painful.
Istruggle with self compassion. I have recently noticed that in the name of growth and learning I put myself through more than I would put anyone I love.
This is because the beginning of an endeavor is full of wonder and curiosity, full of hard work and a sort of life-affirming effortless effort, and before I know it I am suffering and feel I have the responsibility to keep going.
Something incredible is waiting on the other side, I tell myself. The gift is a lesson, or an awakening, and all I need to do is survive this.
It’s a mark of wisdom to quit, I think. To cut your losses. But how do you know when?
This is what I’m thinking about when I walk into my yoga class. My teacher Pete is doing a back bending class that culminates in a pose I am eons from being able to do: King Pigeon.
After years of doing yoga I know the big lesson is to accept where I am at, but there I am, an amateur, trying to push my body into this pose I can’t do.
How do I improve if I don’t try? How do I know if I’m doing too much or not enough?
“Adjust the pose” Pete says. “If you are in pain, it’s time to try something different.”
For joint aches I would recommend mobility exercises. If it is knee joint issues, knee circles are very helpful. If it is shoulder joints, shoulder rolls and other shoulder mobility exercises will be quite helpful.
For muscle pain or aches I would recommend foam rolling and yoga stretches. For lower body you can try pigeon poses, hamstring stretches, glute bridges, king pigeon, etc. For upper body you can try cobra, puppy dog, eagle arms, cow face, etc.
