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So this King Pigeon, which I've been calling Big Pigeon, because the front of the shin
is parallel with the front of the mat. And if you pull the heel in closer, it's really
a different pose because of the structure of the muscles of off. So a lot of folks want
to pull in, but, it's never going to cultivate this position if you do that. So I think it's
better just to work with what you have and be patient. So I have a lot of variations
to help students open. We do quite a bit of this in the class. The first is to simply
work with the spine. You know, you may find your pelvis isn't really pointing where you
want it to point, it'd be nice if we just lie flat, maybe it's not lying flat, maybe
it's pointing out to the sides somewhere. You're all uneven. In this case, lead with
the head, take your head where you'd want to want it to go and let the spine follow.
Think of this as time lapse photography, may not happen all in one session, it may take
a period of months to open up this way, but, pulling the head where I want it to go. Eventually,
the spine and then the pelvis will follow. And also, notice I'm pulling, I'm holding
on with these back toes and I'm pulling back, making space and forward, making space. Once
you're reasonably balance, so you can start to play, you can rock side to side. As I go
side to side, I get all those little spaces to open up. Then I can press with my right
hand on my right knee, I'm really going to push it down and even pull it away a little
bit, kind of this motion when the arm is pulling the legs slightly forward out of the hip socket,
making some space so I can come up. And just coming up a comfortable amount, I'm not trying
to bend backwards. Then if you like, you can bend your back leg, take hold of it, with
one or both hands, trying to remain balance and upright, pull the leg back. And to go
deeper, switch hands, opposite hand to foot for spine twist. Coming forward, stretch out
the back, lie down on it.