Sukhasana (Easy Pose): Basics, Steps, Benefits & More
Do you know we were comfortable to practice Sukhasana pose when we were children? due to the chair sitting culture use in western countries lots of people unable to perform this asana.
One of the basic and beginner postures in yoga – Sukhasana is the simplest of all the yoga asanas. This is a relaxing and restorative pose that can be done by yogis of any age and level. Sukhasana, done while sitting, is not only simple but also useful.
Practicing Sukhasana is quite easy and you can practice it anywhere. All beginners and advanced practitioners get the same benefits of Sukhasana. Interestlingly, Sukhasana benefits Known for comfort and enjoyment as well as have a perfect inner life.
In this article, what is Sukhasana Yoga? What is the proper way to do this? In addition, we will also give information about how it is beneficial for various problems of the body.
Sukhasana Basics
- Asana Name: Easy Pose
- Sanskrit Name: Sukhasana
- Pronunciation: Soo-kaah-SUN-ah
- Other Name: Decent pose, Easy pose, Pleasant pose
- Style of yoga: Ashtanga yoga
- Pose Type: Seated
- Level: Beginner
- Stretches: Hips, Groin, Knee, Ankle, Outer thighs, Arms
- Strengthens: Back, Shoulders, Chest, Spine, Lower Back
- Duration: As feel as comfortable
Sukhasana Meaning
When a person starts doing yoga, first of all, it should be started with simple yoga. Because as beginners you are not able to try advanced postures. That is simple yoga – Sukhasana, which literally means sitting ease.
By the way, the word ‘Sukhasana’ is made up of two words. The first word is Shukh, which means is easy, comfortable, joyful, happy. Here, “easy” mean the pose can be performed with ease. The second word asana means sitting. Sukhasana is also known as Easy Pose / Decent Pose or Pleasant Pose.
Sukhasana is a very common, basic and foundational yoga posture practiced while doing meditation and breathing exercises like “Pranayama”. It is also used as an alternative to the Lotus pose or Padmasana.
Sage and saint practiced this posture since ancient times. The Sukhasana described in Ashtanga Yoga (Style of yoga) is just like sitting on a pedestal. Sitting cross legged, the knees are turned 90 degrees, which reduces blood circulation of the feet and the extra blood starts to be transmitted to other organs, which increases their activity. This will also help you straighten your back, strengthen your knees and ankles and removes tension and concentrates the mind and increases positive energy.
Keep reading to learn how to do Sukhasana yoga (Easy pose) and the many positive health benefits it provides.
Practice Guide for Easy Pose (Sukhasana)
Sukhasana involves a sequence of movements that challenge the practitioner’s strength, flexibility, and focus. To facilitate a step-by-step approach, the pose is divided into key components, allowing practitioners to grasp each element before attempting the full pose. These components typically include the initial posture, transitional phases, and the final position.
Preparatory Pose
Steps to do Sukhasana Yoga (Easy pose)
It is considered to be the most effective and easiest among many yogasanas. As the name suggests, it is easy to do and also keeps you healthy and fit. For this- choose a clean place and spread a yoga mat or clean sheet there. And make Easy Pose successful by following the steps given below.
Steps 1: Asana
First of all, choose the best place and calm environment, spread a mat there and make him sit in the normal posture. This posture proves to be more fruitful in a calm environment and clean natural air.
Steps 2: Yogic Sitting Posture
Now time to come in the sitting position. For this follow some simple steps-
- To perform Sukhasana, first of all, sit on the yoga mat with legs straight.
- Keep the head neck and back straight, do not tilt them.
- Now bend the left leg and place it on the thigh of the right foot or below the knee of the right foot, in which you feel ease.
- Then bend the right leg and place it under the thigh of the left leg or below the knee of your left leg.
- Keep straight the head and neck without any kind of splash.
- In this situation, the feet will be comfortable. And try to keep the knees touching the ground.
Steps 3: Yogic Hand Gesture
- Hand gestures, The term mudra applies to the use of hand gestures during meditation and Pranayama.
- After the sitting posture, make Vayu Mudra or Gyan Mudra or Anjali Mudra with your fingers and place it over the kneecap or thigs, wherever feel comfortable.
- Keep your body in a comfortable position. Raise your head slightly and close the eyes. And keep the whole body loose.
Steps 4: Breathing Technique
First of all, keep the breaths in a normal position. Then take a deep breath with the help of both the nasal notes. Exhale slowly And feel the flow of Prana.
Steps 5: Time Sessions
- Hold this pose as long as you feel comfortable.
- After coming out of the posture for some time, you can do the same with the reverse order of the feet.
Things Keep in Mind before performing Sukhasana
According to the experts, this asana is considered best when yogi practice early in the morning. Morning is preferred as the food is digested as well as the body has the energy to perform the asana. due to some reason, you cannot practice it in the morning, you can practice this asana in the evening as well. but at least keep a 3 to 5-hour gap between your practice and meal.
Keep the patience and know your limits. However, you need to trust yourself a lot if you’re doing it for the first time.
Follow-Up Poses
Health Benefits of Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
Relax the body and mind
Admittedly, yoga is beneficial for your physical health. But the benefits of Sukhasana Yoga help you get more rest physically and mentally. Apart from this, you can use Sukhasana Yoga to reduce your stress.
Increases awareness
A straight back improves the alignment of the spine and increases its flexibility that helps to increases postural awareness.
Reduce anxiety
It is a relaxing posture which frees the person from all kinds of stress, depression, anxiety and mental stress and instills confidence in the person.
Best meditation pose
The easy pose is one of the best yoga for meditation. In this asana, Anulom-Vilom, Kapalabhati, Pranayama, and many other yoga exercises related to breathing and exhaling are also done.
Strengthen the knees
While doing this asana, there is a lot of pressure on the knees of your legs. As a result, the endurance and capacity of the knees of the legs increases.
Brings the awareness
Sukhasana practice improves the awareness and promote positive calmness in body to fight with unwanted problems.
Remove stress
Using it as a meditative pose, it not only calms your mind but also helps in removing stress. The body gets very tired while working throughout the day, but if you sit in Sukhasana for some time before sleeping, it can stimulate some hormones. These hormones are helpful in relaxing the body and managing stress properly..
Relax the tense shoulders
It is a relaxing pose which can aids in the relaxation of tense shoulders as well as the broadening of the chest and collar bones.
Other Benefits
- It is an effective hip opener.
- Sukhasana recommends in kids yoga sequences because it helps grow children’s body posture.
- Also makes body posture perfect.
- Sukhasana practice improves the sense of mind.
- Activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) which in turn can regulate blood pressure.
Precautions
Although there is no need to take any special precautions to do Sukhasana, some points are given below in which the precautions you should take while doing Sukhasana are being explained in detail –
- If there is injury or swelling in your hips and knees, then do not do this asana.
- If your discs have slipped then do not do this asana.
- If you have pain in your lower back then do not do this asana.
Conclusion
A relatively simple cross legged pose – Sukhasana, sitting in any comfortable position has a number of health benefits, including reduce anxiety, relax the body and mind, brings awareness, and improving mobility, which can be enhanced by combining it with other asanas.