Don’t let this pose’s name fool you. While it might look like a piece of cake, sukhasana, or easy pose is anything but. For many, coming into this posture is challenging, due to tight hips, thighs, or back muscles. For most, what is to be done in this posture is the most challenging. In sukhasana, we truly and literally take our seat, or asana (asana means seat in Sanskrit). It is in this posture that we are asked to be more introspective and less concerned with what is outside of ourselves. We move from controlling the breath to merely observing the breath. This is all done from a place of surrender and letting go. We are to let each thought that comes into our minds be like a lily pad floating along the serene current of a tranquil lake. We are to see it floating toward us, acknowledge it for what it is, and allow it to flow right by us, thus letting it go. Most of us are not prone to letting go of our thoughts. We not only allow them to linger- we oftentimes let them consume us. So, easy pose...not so much. But well worth the effort, very much. And when the effort is exerted to find a place of effortlessness and peace, it’s quite a conundrum we face. But we learn, in time, to let it all go, eventually the struggle is not worth it, but the serenity that results from Be-ing is worth everything and then some.
How to practice easy pose:
- Simply sit comfortably
- If sitting on the ground is not so comfortable, use several folded blankets or a yoga block to sit on so that the hips might be higher than the knees
- If sitting on the floor is inappropriate for you, sit upright, toward the edge of a chair, with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor about hips-width apart
- Whether seated on the ground or a chair, sit with your spine elongated, extending skyward. Feel your heart rise in your chest. Notice the rise and fall of the breath. Notice everything about your breath- it’s quality, depth, sound, and texture.
- Be
Benefits of practicing easy pose:
- promotes groundedness and a calm connection
- quiets the mind and eases anxiety and stress
- provides an open channel for the breath to flow and the lungs to open and strengthen
- strengthens the spine
- gently encourages the hips to open
- stretches the knees
- stretches the ankles
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