An Easy Guide to Sukhasana, or Easy Pose,
Sukhasana, or Easy Pose, is great for relaxing and calming the body, so it’s a useful pose for practicing meditation and mindfulness.
The name says it all - it's easy. Easy Pose is, um, an easy way to prepare for what may be a stressful day or to come down from a hectic week. Sukhasana will calm your mind and open your hips and groins - releasing any tension that's got stuck, and it'll strengthen your lower back. Combine this yoga pose with some meditation for maximum effect.
Watch a clip for this yoga pose
How to do Sukhasana, or Easy Pose in easy steps
Step 1:
Sit on the floor with legs extended out in front (Dandasana).
Step 2:
Sit on the mat or use a blanket, bolster or block for extra lift in the spine. If sitting on a support, sit on the edge of the block or bolster.
Step 3:
Spread the flesh of the sit bones away, so they root into the ground.
Step 4:
Inhale and cross your shins, one in front of the other, leaving a triangle of space between the shins and the inner thighs.
Step 5:
If this feels uncomfortable in your knees, place a block or bolster under them for support.
Step 6:
Rest your palms on your knees. Exhale and relax into the shape but keep your spine long, grounding into your sit bones.
Step 7:
Let your thighs roll outwards and your knees move down towards the floor.
Relax your shoulders and let the shoulder blades sink, broadening through the chest and collar bones.
Step 9:
Hold as long as you like but if you're going to sit for a long time then change the cross of the legs and repeat.
Step 10 :
To come out of the pose, uncross your legs and straighten them out in front of you. Bounce your legs up and down to restore circulation.
Yoga pose category: Seated and twists
Level: 1
It can be difficult to sit upright without the support of a chair, if you’re not used to it. To help build strength and balance, try leaning against a wall, until you feel ready to practice Sukhasana without the extra support.
Sanskrit words meaning:
Sukh - easy
Asana - pose
Yoga pose health benefits:
Like all yoga poses, Sukhasana has many health benefits. Use it to help with the following health conditions:
Stress
Anxiety
Stiff groin
Stiff hips
Yoga pose contraindications:
Don’t practice Sukhasana if you have any of the following health conditions:
Knee injury
Groin injury
Lower back injury
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Lucy Edge
is a yoga advocate and writer with three yoga books to her name, including the beloved travel memoir Yoga School Dropout. She writes regularly for the national press, has authored over 150 guides to types of yoga and yoga poses, discovered nearly 250 proven health benefits of yoga through her painstaking classification of 300 clinical studies, and collected more than 500 personal testimonials to the real life benefits of yoga. She is also the creator of our yoga shop – YogaClicks.Store – handpicking yoga brands that are beautifully made by yogis committed to environmental and social sustainability.
