Eka Pada Rajakapotasana Ii

One Legged King Pigeon II

Back
One Legged King Pigeon II demonstrated on a yoga mat
Right-side demonstration

How to do One Legged King Pigeon II

  1. Keep your right foot fully planted in front of you.
  2. Let your right knee follow the direction of your right toes.
  3. Bend your left knee to lift your left foot, keeping the knee supported.
  4. Keep your lifted left foot in line with your left knee rather than drawing it sideways.
  5. Lift through your chest before deepening the backward curve.
  6. Keep the overhead hold light rather than pulling your left foot toward your head.
  7. Leave space between your head and left foot; contact is not the goal.
  8. Release your left foot without letting the lower leg spring away.
  9. Slowly lower your left foot to the mat.

Benefits

This version of pigeon adds a stretch across the front of your thighs to the backbend.

Further reading: One-Legged King Pigeon Pose II

Variations

Leave your left foot unheld if reaching overhead compresses your back or strains your knee.