The full expression of Kapotasana

Kapotasana, or “King Pigeon Pose”,  receives its name from the Sanskrit words Kapota (“Pigeon”) and asana (“posture” or “seat”). It is a beautiful and graceful pose, no matter what variation you choose to practice it in. It is also a position that can demand a lot of flexibility from the body, so care should be taken when attempting to embrace the full expression of this pose.

This pose is very thorough and affects many different areas of the practitioner’s anatomy. It stretches the entire front of the body, beginning with the ankles, thighs and groin.  It then reaches up through the abdomen where it also stimulates the abdominal organs.  Finally, the stretch opens the chest and extends all the way up through the throat. It also stretches the deep hip flexors while strengthening the back muscles, making this a pose that is very good for posture. 

There are many poses that can be moved through before entering Kapotasana. including Virasana (“Hero Pose”), Bhujangasana (“Cobra Pose”), Dhanurasana (“Bow Pose”), Urdhva Dhanurasana (“Upward Facing Bow Pose”), Setu Bandha (“Bridge Pose”) , or Supta Virasana (“Reclining Hero Pose”).

Kapotasana can then be followed by poses like Balasana (“Child’s Pose”), Adho Mukha Svanasana (“Downward Facing Dog”), Bharadvaja’s Twist, or Pasasana (“Noose Pose”). Kapotasana is considered an advanced pose, and is not recommended for people suffering from chronic back pain or high or low blood pressure.

 Kapotasana can be found on our Advanced DVD here: The Goddess Series : Advanced.