Don't you love it when things seem to fit together perfectly and everything just flows? Well, this is how I feel about this assist for Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (one-legged king pigeon pose). Similar to my standing splits to handstand assist, both the assistor and the assistee are doing yoga at the same time, and it's one yogi's yoga helping another yogi's yoga. It doesn't get better than that! |
Have a Seat While Assisting One-legged King Pigeon
The assistor will use Utkatasana (chair pose) to help the assistee into Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. Use this assist to help yogis with the final inches toward grabbing their back foot-s or to help them deepen the pose. I have helped many yogis catch their back foot-s for the first time with this assist, and it's just fun experience for everyone involved! However, one-legged king pigeon is definitely not a pose to perform without proper preparation. Be sure to warm up with some front hip opening, heart opening, shoulder opening, and backbending before the pose and assist.
Keys to Remember
- Lift and lengthen your yogis rather than pulling them back.
- Supinate (turn palms up) your forearms and externally rotate your shoulders as you externally rotate and lift your yogis' shoulders.
- Push the assistee's foot forward with your knees as you deepen your chair pose.
- Keep a flat back and hinge at your hips in your chair pose.
Have fun with this one, and watch the look on their faces when they touch their foot-s for the first time!
Namasté