Arranging the shin and thigh to 90 degrees can circumvent pinching the knee." Amar added that flexing the foot can take pressure out of the knees, too.Įlevating the hips under a folded blanket was the tip I personally found most helpful. "This can put a lot of strain on the meniscus of the knee. To further increase your overall comfort during Pigeon, she also recommended paying close attention to the knee joint while folding into the position. Related: Stressed or Anxious? Try This 15-Minute Yoga Flow Resistance stretching is also very helpful," Amar said. "This is more like a Svastikasana posture. Leaving the back leg bent and leaning toward the outer line of the front leg is also a helpful tip for hip tightness. "Support will help the hips to let go," Amar said. If you do experience this tightness in the hips, or if they are not in contact with the floor, one of Amar's tips is to elevate your hips with blankets or bolsters.
![reclining pigeon pose reclining pigeon pose](https://runningatdisney.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Reclined-Pigeon-Pose-500x375.jpg)
"Standing postures and lunges are a great way to prepare the hips for pigeon, as well as reclining Figure Four pose."Īs for stiffness in the hips during Pigeon, Amar said it's quite common ‚ and it can be caused by both being strong in the area or from weakness and a lack of range of motion in the hip joint. "Pigeon is a deep pose, and for most people, requires warming up the hips and legs before experiencing the pose," Amar said.
![reclining pigeon pose reclining pigeon pose](https://tummeeyoga.s3.amazonaws.com/sucirandhrasana_yoga.png)
"I just want to emphasize that we can't fit everyone into the same box, and therefore different things are needed for different people, but there are a few things that practitioners can consider when practicing Pigeon," Amar said.įor starters, Pigeon shouldn't be the first pose you get into during your practice.