Reclining Fire Log Pose, Also Known As Reclining Double Pigeon

If your hips feel tight, you don’t want to miss out on reclining fire log pose, also known as reclining double pigeon.

In my yoga classes, most people are so tight in this pose that I usually ask everyone to hold this twice as long as every other hip stretch – two minutes each side as opposed to the usual 60 seconds.

Here’s how to perform this highly effective therapeutic stretch for your hips:

Step One. Lie on your back. Bring your right ankle directly underneath your left knee. Prop your right knee with two stacked blankets. Flex both of your feet.

Preparation for Fire Log Pose

Step Two. Take your left ankle outside your right knee. Flex your feet. Breathe and relax. Hold this pose for at least 60 seconds before switching to the other side.

Reclining Fire Log or Double Pigeon Pose

Although many yoga practitioners know the pigeon pose, few understand how to perform pigeon in such a way that they do not further aggravate the imbalance in their hips.

Specifically, if you bring your legs into pigeon and then fold forward, you may be causing an imbalance. Pigeon is supposed to be a back bend – but that’s another story.

Here’s why reclining fire log or double pigeon is so powerful:

1. By lying on your back, you keep your hip flexors open.
2. You can relax into the pose and allow gravity to do the work.
3. This pose helps to increase the range in your external hip rotation – usually the tightest range of motion in most people’s hips.
4. By propping your knee with the blankets, you actually use the blankets as a gentle lever to open your hips.
5. If you discover that you feel tighter on one hip than your other, hold the pose twice as long on your tighter side every day until your hips feel completely even.
6. If you have a habit of sitting with your legs crossed, you may be unknowingly causing an imbalance in your hips. You can learn how to sit without aggravating your hip pain. Just download this FREE posture handout at this link.

If you suffer from hip pain, set up an appointment today to learn how you can restore balance to your body. Call 678-612-8816 or email catherine@unlimitedenergynow.com. We can work either in person or via Skype. You will receive a postural analysis to learn why your body hurts and what you can do to make yourself feel better.