Eka Pada Rajakapotasana is the first of four King pigeon poses, and is considered a movement of grace and beauty.  In its simplest form, One Legged King Pigeon (Pigeon I) is accessible to beginners with experience, but as one begins to practice more difficult variations it is considered an intermediate and advanced pose.  Eka Pada is considered a good first pose for the other three King Pigeon poses, and is usually integrated into more advanced practices.  For example, One Legged Pigeon is considered an important precursor to Kapotasana for opening the body up for that final expression.

 There are many areas of the body that One Legged King Pigeon helps the practitioner focus on, and they include stretching the thighs,  hips and groin.  The pose also stretches the abdomen, thereby stimulating the abdominal organs, while stretching and opening the chest, shoulders and neck.  This last area opens up the heart center and helps one facilitate deeper breathing.

 There are many poses that the practitioner may prepare for One legged Pigeon with, and they include Baddha Konasana (Bound Ankle Pose), Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Bound Ankle Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose), Setu Bandha (Bridge Pose), Supta Virasana (Reclined Hero Pose),  Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), Virasana (Hero Pose), and Vriksasana (Tree Pose).

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana can be very difficult, especially if one has had previous injuries, and great care should be taken to know the limits of one’s own body.  People with tight hips or thighs, knee injuries, ankle injuries or sacrioliac injuries should practice great caution in relation to Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, and should avoid this asana.  If the practioner is having a hard time allowing the outside front leg hip to touch the ground, one may also find the need to support the outside hip with a cushion or folded blanket.

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana can be found on our Advanced DVD here: The Goddess Series : Advanced.