Yoga Asanas The Lotus position

A guide to the Padmasana asana

Padmasana is better known in the West as the lotus position. 'Pad' means foot, and 'Ma' derives from a word meaning knowledge. This asana provides a solid base for the practice of Pranayama (breath control) and meditation; the spine is erect , the chest open and the flow of blood to the legs is constricted and redirected to the internal organs. Knowledge of Self can be developed in this position - it is a reminder to the aspiring yogi to emulate the lotus plant, with its roots in the dark soil and its face reaching towards the light. It is the basis of many other postures.

The posture is also symbolic of the law of trinity e.g. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in Hinduism and God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost in Christianity.

1.Sit on the floor with spine erect and legs stretched out in front of you, slightly apart.  Place right foot on the left thigh with the sole of the foot turned up.  Do not strain ankles or knees - be gentle with yourself.

2.Rest your right knee on the ground.  Take left foot and place it high on the right thigh with the sole facing up and the left knee resting on the ground.

3.Let your feet rest on the pressure points at the top of your groin.

If you find it difficult to keep the spine erect in this position, try placing a rolled up towel (like a sausage) under your bottom - this will tilt the pelvis forward.  It's really worth persevering with this posture - it's so comfortable it's like coming home.  But after years of sitting too long in chairs many people  need to work on this for a while before it's
comfortable.

These postures are intended for use in conjunction with teaching from a suitably qualified Yoga teacher. Please ensure you seek advice from a qualified practitioner before starting Yoga.

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