If I were stuck on a desert island with one pose

It's a pretty popular kids game: if you were stuck on a desert island with one book/type of food/etc what would it be?

So, let's yoga-ma-tize it: if  you were stuck on a desert island with one pose, what would it be? It might make sense to pick a pose that needs to be repeated for the other side of the body; at least, in that way, you get to switch it up a bit. Really, of course, the question is getting at what your favorite pose is.

Mine is pigeon. Or half reclined pigeon, or whatever the kids are calling it these days. You know which pose I'm talking about, because I think it ranks high on the list with quite a few ladies I know and love. While so many poses seem like they were made for men's bodies (Warrior I, anyone? Yeah, my hips are wider than that), Pigeon speaks to many women.

Let me know what your favorites are, and I'll try to do a sequence devoted to them sometime in the near future. In the meantime, though, here's to my favorite!

If I were stuck on a desert island with one pose

The funny thing about these hip-openers is that the hips are one of those body parts that are rarely the same on both sides. While one wrist might be about as flexible as the other, hips are rarely even in that respect. Be kind to yourself in Pigeon and know that it might look like you are going "farther" on one side than the other. Use lots of props if desired and enjoy happy, long holds.

1. Parshva Savasana (Side Corpse Pose). Repeat other side.
2. Table pose (on hands and knees)
3. Cat/cow spine in table
4. Lift one arm and leg and extend on inhale. Exhale bring both in towards torso, curling spin. Move with breath
5.  Extend and hold to balance
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 on other side
7. Adho Muka Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
8. Bend and straighten knees in Adho Muka Svanasana. Pedal heels.
9. Step into high lunge
10. Adho Muka Svanasana
11. Pulse between steps 10 and 11
12. Repeat with other leg
13. High Lunge, bending and straightening knees
14. Repeat other side
15. Uttanasana (Foward Fold Pose)
16. Malasana (Garland Pose)
17. Supta Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose). Slowly move torso like a wave (head, then chest, then stomach coming down) over leg, taking time to settle into Reclined Pigeon. Hold for 1-3 minutes
18. Gomukhasana (Face of Light Pose)
19. Lolasana (Pendulum Pose)
20. Vinyasa to Supta Kapotasana on other leg
21. Repeat steps 18 and 19
22. Vinyasa to Adho Mukha Svanasana
23. Raja Eka Pada Kapotasana (King Pigeon Pose)
24. Vinyasa to repeat on other side
25. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
26. Upavistha Konasana (Seated Wide Angle Pose)
27. Dhanurasana (Staff Pose)
28. Paschimotttanasana (Seated Forward Fold Pose). Hold for 2-3 minutes
29. Hands behind hips for gentle chest opener
30. Marichyasana (Marichi's Twist). Repeat on other side.
31. Parshva Savasana (Side Corpse Pose). Repeat other side.
32. Savasana