Sitting postures

Serene and Iconic

The crossed legged lotus posture of yoga is a symbolic, iconic image often used to represent the calm focus of yoga, and often used in advertising to represent tranquillity and peacefulness. The sitting positions are used for the practice of breathing and meditation.

Effortlessly upright

The folded legs provide a solid basis for the spine to remain effortlessly erect, the muscles of the trunk relaxed for ease of breath, and the crown of the head lifted with the chin slightly turned down, rendering the body tall and graceful. The peaceful expression seen on the face of the yogi is simply the outer reflection of the inner peace found in quiet, contemplative and meditative reflection - reason why the lotus meditation radiates a feeling of calm, serene and complacent relaxation, as well as focus and alertness.

Easier alternatives

Not all people are, however, supple enough to sit comfortably in the yoga postures. There are postures with various degrees of difficulty in the yoga tradition (full lotus, half lotus, and simple cross legged seating) that will accommodate most people who regularly practices the other postures. Non-yoga practitioners or newcomers may sit in a chair, or on a low object, or can use a cushion to support the body to approximate the traditional seating postures. The important thing is to achieve a posture that will provide the conditions described in the opening paragraph, and to maintain it comfortably for the duration of the meditation / breathing practice.

More videos

Being Yoga on Facebook
Follow Being Yoga's Inspirational Quotations & Useful Links