For years, this was a pose I dreamed about being able to do. I'd try to lift that top leg and it wouldn't budge. It was sort of funny, thinking back - I mean, I would be trying with all my might to lift that top leg......and nothing!
I think many people might argue that upper body is what you'll want to work on with this pose, but for me, I realized that the more I worked my lower body - in particular, the hamstrings and glutes, the easier it was to lift that leg. If you think about it, the action of lifting the leg up is sort of like doing a hamstring curl, so if the hamstrings are strong, it'll be easier to do. Of course, I wouldn't say that upper body strength isn't needed - it obviously is, but I think it's easier if you have a little extra strength in the legs as well.
So. Give this a try when you're feeling solid with your beginner arm balances - the crow pose, the baby pigeon pose, etc. Then, when you're feeling ready to rock and roll, follow this guide for how to get into flying pigeon pose.
Some tips: Hip opening is a big factor here, because in order to get the lower foot on the opposite arm, you'll need to have a great pigeon pose. Be careful not to force the knee or foot up on your arm if it's not ready yet. If it's not happening for you, just practice your hip opening work and let the hip gently and safely open up first.
Let me know how it goes - and if there's ever a pose you'd like to see broken down, let me know down in the comments or over on the yoga forum.
Shop the look below!