Lotus pose on Padmasana is a wonderful posture with many benefits but often we force/push ourselves into the pose at the expense of our ligament and connective tissues and joint capsules.
why?
why?
Two areas are commonly damaged due too much pressure exerted upon them. The knee joint is a hinge joint much like the elbow joint and moves only back and forth. With regards to the Lotus pose, many people seem to think the movement comes from the knee joint especially when they try to lift the foot off the floor to place it onto the thigh but as they try to lift the foot, it stops. This restriction is not due to the knee or any muscles around the knee, it is simple due the the fact the muscles around the hip area are already at maximum stretch. We need and want more movement to take us into the pose, thus the body will compensate by to give move movement lower down the leg towards the next joint. The knee joint is a stabilising joint but it will sacrifice stability for movement in order to provide more range of movement which is achieved through the tendons and ligaments. This causes a detrimental effect, potentially causing damage due to being over stretched from a sideways movement which it is not designed to do. If one was to continually stretch these ligaments in such a way then eventually the knee joint would become so unstable that it can "pop out" unexpectedly whilst simply walking along....Eeeek!!!
Some people that have more flexibility at the hip can place the foot onto the thigh, but if there is still not enough flexibility from the hip, the ankle joint collapses, thus now over exerting the muscles, tendons and ligaments due to pressure at that area around the ankle. This joint is also supposed to be a stable joint, but again it is sacrificed. We always have to beware or develop our awareness so that we are not compensating the body and therefore creating instability.
But why do Lotus pose in the first place, what is the point? Is it just gymnastics or flexibility? If it was, surely gymnasts and contortionist would be the best yogis in the world?……
In Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Chapter 1, The Great Yogi Swatmaratma says:
“Place the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh, and grasp the toes with the hands crossed over the back. Press the chin against the chest and gaze on the tip of the nose. This is called the Padmasana, the destroyer of the diseases.
Padmasana: Padma means lotus in Sanskrit, in this asana the position of the legs look like blooming lotus. This asana has been given a great importance in the Yogashastra as it is best suited for Pranayama, Meditation & concentration.
Physical Benefits:
Lotus pose improves circulation of pelvic organs and tones back muscles. But the main benefits come from the more subtle things.
Through the crossed legged position, the blood supply to the legs is decreased and redirected to the abdominal region. This increased flow of blood in the abdominal region is beneficial for the inner organs and improves the digestion. The nerves emanating from the coccyx and sacrum are also influenced. These nerves serve the whole abdomen, the intestines and the genitals.
Energetic Benefits:
Lotus pose creates conditions to lift apana-vayu – one of the five winds within the body. Apana-vayu is also called the “Energy of Death”, because it’s constant downward flow of energy which sooner or later will drain the body and thus brings death. It is responsible for the excretory and reproductive functions. Its excessive leakage leads to lewdness and thus reduces the level of intelligence; in extreme cases – to depression, apathy, and other severe mental states.
One of the goals in yoga is to reverse this downward flow and lift apana-vayu up, and it is believed that saints also redirect apana-vayu to flow upwards toward the heavens bestowing enlightenment upon them. The nadis, or energy pathways, also become activated through the special position of the legs. From the viewpoint of acupuncture, it has been described how Padmasana influences the stomach-, the gall bladder-, the spleen-, the kidney- and the liver-meridians, which again influence other body parts and organs. Through sushumna nadi Kundalini flows. And since sushumna gets activated, Kundalini may awaken, unfolding the full potential of a human being.
These nerve paths, together with the brain, are surrounded by a protective membrane within which the so called cerebrospinal fluid flows. This fluid nurtures the nerve endings and the brain - the Lotus pose provides an optimal condition for its flow.
Sitting on a chair, for example, tends to make the mind dull and heavy as the gravitational force pulls us down, whereas in Padmasana the spine is perfectly aligned against gravity. This alignment lifts the spine and brain upwards, producing lightness. Importantly in Padmasana, the soles of the feet and palms are turned upwards, receiving energy from above, whereas while sitting in a chair there is an automatic discharge of energy out of the soles into the receptive Earth.
Regular practice of padmasana activates sushumna nadi or the central energy channel, which is usually idle in a lay people. This elevates a person to the state of the mode of goodness (sattva guna), which further purifies their body, mind and intelligence.
The use of the Lotus pose is instrumental in bringing about a series of curative and health improving effects, when the energies of the body are fundamentally harmonised. The actual purpose of the pose, however, aims to transform the person into a higher being by uncovering the persons potential, and unfolding their internal energy, and directing it upwards as an aid to spiritual absorption.
If you find you are having difficulty in achieving this pose then join me for my next workshop.....
The Perfection of Lotus Pose Workshop
Enjoy the wonderful journey of Lotus pose with me and learn new scientific stretching techniques to “Create Space” in the muscles to allow them to stretch effectively and safely whilst in isolation from other muscles. This workshops provides safe and effective techniques to develop the posture without damaging the areas of the knees and ankles. To learn how to get in to the pose effectively and progressively, in the workshop we only stretch the muscle that are relevant to Lotus. This streamlines the practice and once you understand the techniques in the workshop you can then continue the practice at home by following me on video and no extra cost.
Understand a new scientific concept of stretching that “Creates Space” in individual muscles. This workshop teaches you how to isolate individual muscles and lengthen them by using scientifically designed stretching techniques which are unique and effective to increase your flexibility without any pain.
Imagine trying to stretch lots of rubber bands all at the same time, it would be hard? What if we could remove lots of rubber bands and only stretch one or two, would it be easier?
Traditional yoga practice works on stretching many groups of muscles all at the same time. But what if we could isolate certain tight muscles, work on them and stretch just them, would your body stretch faster or more effectively.
Traditional yoga practice works on stretching many groups of muscles all at the same time. But what if we could isolate certain tight muscles, work on them and stretch just them, would your body stretch faster or more effectively.
This workshop focuses only on Lotus Pose and understanding the techniques, Upon completion of the workshop, you will receive access to a follow along video with me which includes the warm up, all the stretching techniques that were learned in the workshop and the cool down so that you can continue to progress at home.
FULL WORKSHOP: Only available at Pure Yoga Chevron House
Date: 7 May
Total 3.5 hours per session
All Levels
Early-bird 20%: S$141.24 (ends 16 April)
Regular Price: S$176.55
Hope to see you there!!! :)
Namaste,
Michael @ Pure Yoga
"Putting the Science back into Yoga"
