Historically throughout my years of oscillating practice, the pleasure of Eka Pada Rajakapotasana- or One-Legged King Pigeon OR just plain ol’ Half Pigeon- has, quite frankly, eluded me. In fact, more often than not, when given the opportunity to avoid it, I’ve been more than happy to do so.
Frog Pose: Mandukasana
I tend to be tight, tight, tight through the hips. Hamstrings? No problem… there’s nothing like the sweet surrender into a deep and delicious forward bend. Shoulders? Mmmmm… Eagle me, baby! Hips? Well… another story. At a Boot Camp a few years back part of the evening practice required we remain in Frog Pose for a seemingly endless amount of time. By the end of the week I had discovered any number of ways to support myself in the posture: blankets, blocks, complete and utter denial… let’s say, I really came to understand “going to my happy place.”
But, I digress… be these hips as they may, lately, and perhaps it’s a function of now being in an actual class where I am bound, gagged and manhandled more consistently encouraged into Pigeon, I’ve found a little more joy in this wonderful hip-opener.
OK… perhaps ‘joy’ is overstating it a tad, but I am definitely better able to embrace the discomfort a little more, breathe into the tension of the tendon and muscle, and allow some much needed open-ness through this tight area of the hips and groin. Honestly, after squeezing out three over-sized babies I wouldn’t have thought it ever to be an issue.
Would I be in danger of being stoned… or possibly flayed… right here on my yoga mat if I admitted I don’t like 
