Build upper body strength, increase hip flexibility, and more with Flying Pigeon Pose…

Flying Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Galavasana), also known as Flying Crow Pose, is an advanced yoga pose that challenges strength, flexibility, and balance all at the same time.

This challenging arm balance pose will help to open the deep lateral rotators of the hips, while building core, arm, wrist, and shoulder strength, and helping to improve balance. Flying pigeon also stretches the hamstrings and calves as well as the hips, and may stimulate the digestive organs.

Use extra caution when performing this pose if you have any hip, knee or wrist injuries. This pose is not for beginners, and we recommend you practice it first with the guidance of an experienced yoga instructor, and you should master these 10 poses first.

How to Do It:

• Stand with your feet hips’ width apart.
• Bend at knees until you can place hands on floor, shoulder width apart, six or so inches in front of you, fingers turned forward.
• Cross left foot over right arm, hooking toes around the upper arm.
• Inhale deeply, and with a slow exhale, bend right leg at hip and knee, shifting the body’s weight onto hands, and lifting the right foot up and back. Keep toes hooked around arm.
• Press down through center of the palms, extending through the center of your right leg to raise it up behind you, lowering chest slightly to parallel to floor. Balancing, breathing, lifting.
• Gaze down past the cheekbones while turning the outer corners of your mouth turned up toward your ears.
• Enjoy the balance, openness and strength in your practice with Eka Pada Galavasana, flying pigeon pose!

Source: YogiTimes.com