Sesame Street revolutionized children’s television back in 1969 combining education with entertainment.  Today it is the longest running children’s program on television and is well known for its lovable Muppets (Big Bird, Oscar, Kermit, Grover, Elmo, etc) and timeless songs (I Love Trash, Bein’ Green, Rubber Duckie, C is for Cookie, among others).

I love Sesame Street and so was thrilled when YogaDork posted this video and have been singing “Doing the (coo, coo) pigeon” all day. So press play and enjoy doing Pigeon pose with Bert. He now joins the ranks with Kermit as a true yogi. Can’t wait for Oscar the Grouch to find his bliss while doing Warrior pose.

I would love to have a pose-able Grover to take to classes. Already have a Babar which I have to wrestle away from my children, but I think Grover would be super flexible and lots of fun. Which childhood character would you like to see doing yoga and what would be their favourite pose?

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Pigeon Pose (Eka pada rajakapotasana) is a deep hip opener. It’s very effective for runners, hockey players, and athletes in general. As well, anyone who spends their days sitting at a desk will definitely benefit from this pose, both from the hip action and the stretch through the torso while sitting tall. Hips are notoriously tight in most individuals due to habits from daily living and stress. Use pigeon pose to release the tension in the pelvis and allow you to move with grace and a sense of freedom and lightness just like the pigeon.

You can enter pigeon pose from a seated position, as instructed here, or from downward dog during a flow series. I use the seated position when using yoga adventure stories since they do not always lead from a dog to a bird, so each pose is taught as an individual entity. When teaching teens definitely work toward more of a vinyasa style linking the poses with the breath.

Pigeon Pose – Eka Pada Rajakapotasana

• Sit cross legged, extend your right leg straight behind you
• Square your shoulders and hips to the front, pull the shoulder blades down the back
• Lie down overtop the bent left leg, resting your head in your hands
• Relax and coo like a pigeon (always fun)
• Straighten back up, if this is comfortable move onto the next step 
  

  pigeon pose lying over leg

   

• Reaching back with your right hand clasp the right foot by bending the knee (beginners could use a strap) 
• Breathe, open the chest and hips, release
• Repeat on the other side

Benefits: stretches the thighs, groin, abdomen and neck, opens the shoulders and chest, stimulates the abdominal organs

For a complete listing of yoga poses appropriate for kids and teens visit the alphabetical list of yoga poses.

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