Teaching Swan Pose? Help is on the way!

16.10.2026 · 50 Min.

Shownotes

Season 9 | Ep.4

Teaching Swan Pose? Help Is on the Way!

In this episode, I'm diving into one of the most requested topics from the Yin Yoga community: Swan Pose (also known as Sleeping Swan, or if you speak Hatha, Pigeon Pose). If you're a Yin Yoga teacher who's ever panicked when a student can't do this pose, this one's for you.

What I cover:

The difference between Swan and Sleeping Swan (and why we don't call it Pigeon in Yin Yoga)
Why teaching functionally is everything — if you know why you put a pose in your sequence, you'll never be caught off guard when someone can't do it
The myth of the 90-degree front leg — spoiler: it's about bone structure, not flexibility
The number one issue in Sleeping Swan (the front knee) and what to actually do about it
What to do when it's the back knee that's the problem (yes, this happens!)
A buffet of modifications and alternatives: adjusting the foot and knee angle, using props like blocks, bolsters, straps, blankets, towels, chairs, and walls
Why flipping someone onto their back for a figure four (aka Keyhole, Reclined Pigeon, Eye of the Needle — so many names!) is often the quickest and most effective solution
Why that reclined version is actually deeper for some people (hi, it's me)
Reclined Shoelace as another great option for folks who need less external rotation
Seated options like Shoelace, Square Pose, and Deer Pose
The "butt in the air" problem and how to handle it gracefully
Why I love Paul Grilley's Anatomy for Yoga and why it's required watching in my teacher training
A companion PDF on Tummee with tons of visual variations (living, breathing document, I'll keep adding to it!)