Sukhasana - The Easy Pose
Soo-kaah-SUN-ah.
Sukha = comfortable, pleaseure.
Asana = steady pose or posture.
This posture is perfect for alignment and helping to establish and maintain a straight spine whilst seated.
This is a great posture for meditation, relaxation and pranayama practice. It is also perfect for beginners and commonly included in yoga classes for sitting in at the beginning or end of class whilst establishing a smooth steady flow of breath.
How to Perform Sukhasana
Sit with your ankles crossed whilst resting the backs of the wrists on the knees.
Take your time to lengthen your spine and lift the lower abdominal muscles.
Feel that you are growing out of the crown of your head, broaden the upper back and release the shoulders away from the ears.
Breathe slowly in and out through the nose, making each breath last for approximately the same duration. Focus on the movement through the rib cage as you breathe in and out.
Try to maintain full awareness on your breath and alignment for 10 breath cycles then change the way the legs are crossed and repeat another 10 breath cycles.
The Easy Pose can be quite deceiving, it might appear that you are just sitting still with the ankles crossed; however the muscles of the back and torso are active to help you maintain a straight spine.
Sitting with a straight spine aids digestion. When slouching the digestive organs can become restricted and therefore unable to function efficiently, by making small changes to your posture and alignment you can enhance digestion.
If you experience any discomfort try elevating your hips. For those with knee issues this posture might not be suitable, always listen to your body and relax if the posture is not comfortable.
This posture is ideal for Beginners.
This blog article was written by Sue Fuller creator of the Yoga 2 Hear range of audio yoga classes and yoga teacher training courses.
