Okay, now stretch your piriformis

Every now and then I come across a yoga position so good that I feel the need to put it online just in case our civilization is lost and all that remains are a couple servers in what used to be the Google HQ. So for all you interstellar visitors and every body still around, here's my new favorite pose: the one legged royal pigeon pose, or eke pada rajakapotasana.

In it's normal upright form it is classified as an advanced kneeling back bend. But I'm not so advanced, so I do the easier forward fold variation. (Brought to you courtesy of a great book with great pictures: Yoga Anatomy Incidentally, the upright pigeon pose is on the cover).



The reason why this is my new fav: it is very intense and very relaxing at the same time. A wonderful combination that stems from stretching your piriformis muscle apparently. The piriformis is a hip stabilizer that crosses the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. Feeling is believing. Especially if you happen to have sciatic pain.



As you can probably see from this angle you are actually stretching the piriformis more or less indirectly. That's why it takes at least a minute for the piriformis to stop resisting and for the stretch to deepen. Three more pointers:

*If you are really tight in the hips it might me more comfortable to put a blanket or a pillow under the hip attached to the leg that is folded forward.

*If you don't use a blanket, be sure to stay level and to avoid sinking onto the floor.

*Don't forget to energize the upper body and the arms at least somewhat: this is not a nap :)