Free the Pigeon

A couple years ago, I was going through a challenging time in my life and was investing all my energy into exercising. I remember doing so many lunges across the gym and so little stretching, I’d have to take Advil (similar to Panadol in Asia) to relieve the pain I’d feel every day in my hips and hamstrings.
It wasn’t until I started rushing after work to a 5:30pm yoga class at my gym where I could find any relief from the pain. However, one specific pose really stood out in my mind for relieving not only the physical but emotional pain that I was facing – the Sleeping Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana).
At first, I would do the yoga class at 5:30pm and still feel the need to do double spin classes after but more and more, I learned to mentally let go and be content from the yoga practice. Similarly, in Sleeping Pigeon, one must let go physically and let gravity take its course.
Though the pigeons in North America are incredibly aggressive, this version required anything but aggressiveness – learning to let go.
– Anthea