Pose Breakdown: Firelog Pose
Gather ‘round the fire. Firelog Pose (Agnistambhasana) is a deep, intermediate hip opener sometimes called Double Pigeon Pose or Knee to Ankle Pose. While this posture seems simple enough on paper — you stack one shin on top of the other — it can be a complicated internal process depending on your hip flexibility. Like Pigeon, Firelog is usually held for a long time instead of integrated into a flow.
While this pose is plenty challenging on its own, it’s a good one to add to your routine on your way to more advanced postures like Front Splits or Middle Splits.
Benefits of Firelog Pose
Stretches the outer hips and glutes
Strengthens and strengthens your groin, abs, and legs
Builds heat
Stimulates your abdominal organs
Contraindications
While this pose is known for aiding in sciatica, if you have sciatica, talk to your doctor before attempting. Avoid if you have any knee or hip injuries, and stop immediately if you experience knee pain at any point during the pose.
Warm-Up Poses for Firelog Pose
Bound Angle
Half Pigeon
Figure Four stretch, supine or standing
How to Do Firelog Pose
From a seated position, stack your left ankle above your right knee.
Bend your right knee so your right ankle sits directly below your left knee.
Flex both feet.
Relax your hips downward as you move your shoulders down your back and reach the crown of your head toward the ceiling, straightening the spine. To deepen the hip stretch, fold forward.
Follow-Up Poses for Firelog Pose
Supine Tree
Supine Twist
Easy Pose
Firelog Pose Variations
For a deeper stretch, fold your upper body forward toward the floor, a bolster, or on blocks like you would in Half Pigeon. The ultra-flexible could also try extending the ankles past the knees.
To aid in flexibility, try this pose while seated on the edge of a blanket or with your top knee and ankle on blocks or a rolled-up blanket.
Agnistambhasana Meaning and Background
You may have heard the first part of this pose’s name, “agni,” elsewhere in your practice, often referring to something powerful and cleansing — it means “fire.” “Stambha” means a pillar, column, post, stem, or trunk. Put it together with “asana” and you essentially get “fire log pose.”
The origins of this pose are unclear, although it’s certainly widespread now in both Yin Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga. It’s likely a relatively new addition to the canon, since it doesn’t appear in the ancient texts or foundational modern work. Based on where we could find it in print, it’s been around for at least 20 years.
Sink deep into your hips with Naya Rappaport’s Satya: Truth class, available for free with a 14-day trial to Alo Moves.
