09/21/2022
Move of the week: Pigeon pose
The pigeon pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana), Eh-kah PAH-dah rah-JAH-cop-oh-TAHS-anna if you are so inclined, is a backbend that can relieve nerve tension and chronic pain while increasing circulation. This is a common pose practiced in various forms of yoga.
This hip-opening backbend stretches the hips, back, and shoulders. As with any pose, please exercise caution as you explore new variations and listen to your bodyās limits.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS:
⢠Opens hip flexor muscles (psoas, re**us femoris) and groin muscles.
⢠Opens hip rotator muscles (gluteus medius and minimus).
⢠Relieves sciatic nerve tension and ease chronic low back pain.
⢠Increases circulation to urinary, digestive, and reproductive systems.
Pigeon Pose is a great way to access and open up through the hip area. On a physical level, having openness in the hips can help to improve posture, physical alignment and overall flexibility and agility. Tightness and tension in the hips can also lead to pain throughout the body, including the knees and low back, so creating space for the hips to release is important for overall physical health and well-being
How to Do Pigeon Pose
1. Begin in Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). On an exhale, bend your right knee into your chest and gently lower your bent right knee down to meet the outside of your right wrist.
2. Move your right shin parallel to the short edge of your mat (the right foot will move toward the left wrist) until you find an edge that feels appropriate for your body.
3. Lower your left leg down onto the mat and extend it straight back behind you. Keep the top of your left foot relaxed down on the mat.
4. Take your fingertips to the ground beside your hips and square your hips forward to the front of the room. Note the tendency for the right hip to drop here; instead, focus on maintaining an even distribution of weight across both hips.
5. Inhale here, lengthening the spine and reaching the crown of your head up toward the ceiling.
6. Feel free to remain with your fingertips at your sides; for a deeper sensation, experiment with walking your fingertips in front of the right shin, coming down onto your palms, forearms, or folding forward and resting your forehead on the tops of your hands.
7. Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes depending on your comfort level. The longer the pose is held, the more the muscles around the joints will relax and begin to stretch and lengthen.
8. To come out of the pose, plant the palms down on the mat in front of you and slowly make your way back to Downward-Facing Dog (it doesnāt have to look pretty!). Bend your knees, one at a time, and gently walk out the legs. Whenever you feel ready, repeat the pose on the other side.
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www.nationalptiglobal.org
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