Pigeon Pose ~ To Release Stuck Energy

Pigeon pose is one of the most powerful hip-opening postures in yoga, targeting the deep external rotators and hip flexors where we unconsciously store stress, emotions and trauma. When we're stressed, rushing or sitting for long periods, our body contracts - shortening tendons and creating tension in our fascia, the connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, organ and structure in your body like a web. Fascia responds to stress by tightening and adhering, which is why you might feel stiff, restricted or emotionally heavy even when you can't pinpoint why.

In this video, Anna guides you through the setup and hold, reminding you to breathe, soften and trust the process. Use props like cushions or blocks to support your body and make the pose sustainable.

Transcript

I'm going to guide you through a hip opening pose called pigeon pose in yoga. And this really helps to open out the hips. Which can be a place where we store a lot of physical, Emotional. . . Mental and energetic tension. Often when we go about our days, We're working, We're running around, We shorten our body. These longer holds help to really get energy flowing where it's been feeling stuck or stagnant. And starting to move that chi, That life force energy back around your body. So in order to get into our pose, We're going to start in the downward facing dog. So you can pop your hands shoulder width apart. Tuck your feet at the back of your mat. You can start off in a four-point meal. And your feet are hip distance apart. And then slowly start to float. Hips up to the sky might like to take a little pedal out here from the left to the right side And then when you're ready, You can float your right leg up to the sky. And then walk your right foot towards your left wrist. Drop your front knee. Drop your back knee. Untuck your back toes down onto the mat. And then this might be enough for you up on your hands. If you want a little more, You can come down onto your forearms. If you do have any blocks or props, You can always pop something under your right hip here in that space for a little more support. And if you're happy there, Stay exactly where you are. And if you want a little more, You can come all the way down. Onto your foreheads, Resting your forehead on. Your hands or your forearms. And just softening here into your breath. And as I said. This pose can bring up some strong sensations. So if you feel like you've gone too far at any point, You just come back up. And find your pose that you can comfortably hold. For the next couple of moments. And you might notice that. . . You have some strong sensations in your right ear. In your glute meds, Which is the sides of your glutes. You might also feel some sensations running down the front line of your back leg. Really stretching out into your left hip flexor here. Notice where else in your body you're holding tension. That is not supporting you in this post. Maybe it's. . . Your hands. Your shoulders. Your jaw. Can you soften on your next breath out? Really nice, Just taking two more breaths, Wherever you are. And then slowly taking your hands under your shoulders, Down on the mat. Pressing up. Readjusting. Can tuck your back toe, Float your back knee. And then step your right foot back to. . . The end of your mat. And return to your downward facing dog. Really nice, Sometimes it feels good to peddle out the feet here, Just noticing any changes, Any shifts between your sides. And then start to plant down into your right foot and float your left leg to the sky. Taking everything over to the other side, We step left foot to right wrist. Drop the front knee, Untuck the back toes. And just find that position. Might feel a little different on this side. You might be. Up here on your hands, Or you might come down into your forearms. We might. All the way down and rest your head. Just notice what your body needs and noticing any differences on this side. Knowing that Every human is. Perfectly asymmetrical. Just observing what's here in your left glutes. Your left hip. Your right hip flexor. And if you've gone too far. Just taking that resistance away. Finding a pose that you can hold for the next few moments. And bringing your awareness to your breath all the way down into the belly. And each time you breathe out, Maybe picturing releasing something that has been feeling stuck. Or stagnant in your life. Mind, Body, Connection. And then connecting sensations in your body to experiences in your world. And there is a lot of symbolism. And where you might be feeling stuck in your body, You might be feeling stuck in. . . Certain aspects of your life. Career, Home, Finances, Relationships. So just. . . Noticing sensations of stuckness in your body and in your life. Slowing down your breathing to create that safe space in your body to move through whatever's coming on. And just being here for the next three breaths. In silence. Nice when you're done Taking your hands underneath your shoulders. And I like to hook my back leg around. The front, Just coming back into a comfortable cross-legged position. Feel nice to put your hands down on your lap. Close your eyes. Feeling a little more spacious within your body. And as with all things, Opening up the body. Can take time and patience just knowing that you Moved and released whatever your body was ready to let go of today. Thank you for joining me and I hope you feel a little lighter and a little more space to move through the rest of your day.