sukh (pleasure/happy) + asana (pose)
It´s January, & a lot of us are carrying a little extra weight & anxiety leftover from the holiday season, so it´s time for a little break from the stretching & pulling & balancing. Sukhasana is a grounding hip-opening spine-stretching seated posture that's, well, easy to maintain for extended periods of time. Having said that, this Easy Pose isn´t easy for a lot of adults - sure, it was easy-peasy when we were kids, but not everyone´s stiff & achy joints (used to spending long hours sitting) still have the flexibility & rotation needed to express this pose. If you do have the flexibility (or choose to modify/use a prop), you´ll find Easy Pose to be a comforting & comfortable pose that will allow you to meditate, or breathe, or chant the morning away, or as a resting pose between more dynamic postures. You can open up your hips beforehand in Extended Child´s Pose & Head-to-Knee Pose, & afterwards maybe practise some variations of Easy Pose (lateral, with a forward fold, &/or with neck stretches/rotations for example) &/or some Seated Cat Cows. If you do enter forward or side bends from Sukhasana, remember to switch your front & back leg so that your hips can truly benefit from the bend - & note how different each side feels. And don't forget to ommmm!
Benefits:
strengthens the back & core muscles
stretches the spine, knees & ankles
opens the hips, groin, & abductors (the outer thigh muscles)
with hands in Anjali Mudra & the shoulders broad, it opens the chest
helps to lower or regulate blood pressure
increases the blood supply to the digestive & reproductive system
encourages proper alignment & posture
heightens awareness & focus
calms the mind, preparing it for meditation.
Remember: NO slouching! Keep your back straight & the crown of your head reaching upward. Your shoulders should be rolled back, away from your ears.
Props: you can just as easily do Easy Pose while sitting in a chair (keep your back from touching the back of the chair & your ankles under your knees, or bend 1 leg at a time over the other knee). If your hips need a bit of extra support, sit on a folded blanket or bolster, & if your knees are the issue, slip a folded blanket or bolster beneath them. A wedge is an excellent prop to combat poor posture!
Avoid or Modify Easy Pose if you
have arthritis in the knees, hips, & feet
have a slipped disc, spinal issues, weak digestion, minor backache, or knee pain
suffer from chronic sciatica
have anxiety issues, keep your eyes open
lack Breath-Body Awareness.
Comentários