Pidgeon Pose

Last Updated On: 21 September 2025

[captionpix imgalt=”Pidgeon Pose” imgsrc=”http://www.janeunsworth.com/wp-content/uploads/half-pidgeon-pose-250-x-145.jpg” align=”right” captiontext=”Pidgeon Pose”]

If ever I’m in a yoga class where, as used to happen with one teacher I had, they ask for class for their favourite poses (maybe at last class of term) then mine would always be The Half Pidgeon Pose.

Half-pidgeon pose

This is far more comfortable than it looks and is one of my favourite poses. It starts with the Half-Pidgeon Pose and there is something so relaxing about bringing the knee, calf, ankle and foot across the mat so you can rest the lower belly onto the ground, and if you’ve ever done it you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

However, your knees have to be okay for this to work and it’s important to flex the foot of the active leg, as is explained in the video:

If your knee is sensitive in any way then adjust it, starting with a blanket on the mat, or something soft like bean bag or towel to cushion the knee and then position it in accordance with where it won’t cause pain. With time and practice (as with all yoga poses) your flexibility will improve, although this happens in varying degrees with people.

Rest in this position for a few minutes, it is so relaxing you can find yourself there for a while, and then go to the other side.

The pidgeon pose

The Pidgeon Pose itself is then taking the torso into an upright posture while maintaining the lower limbs, and holding the position through the arms and hands in juxtaposition to the ground.

King pidgeon

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If all of this is easy enough for you then you might want to go the extra-mile and take the posture to the final positioning with the King Pidgeon.

This is where you take the leg that is out-stretched behind you up towards meeting the head, which will position itself backwards to meet the foot.

Better balance is found by taking the hands and arms to meet the foot and leg behind the head. When you’re balanced enough to achieve this it feels great to be in what feels like only one place to be, as a movement that rocks you either way can topple the whole structure.

As mentioned it all takes practice.

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