Resolved Question

Practising and Perfecting the Lotus Posture?

I am told to sit in meditation, I must first Perfect the Practice of sitting in Lotus Posture. I tried to sit in Lotus posture , but I find it very painful and uncomfortable. I need guidance on how to learn and perfect this most loved asana and yet most difficult.All suggestions and advice welcome. Let it be a practical One in this direction only

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

If you are stiff in body, you will not be able to sit in Lotus Posture, at the outset!

First, you'll have to 'loosen' your body by practising some Yoga-asans...for some days. Butterfly Aasan is good for preparing yourself for Padmaasan (Lotus Pose).

Yoga is properly done in three/four steps...warm-ups (butterfly aasan belongs to this category), Physical exercises or aasans, Breathing exercises or Praanaayams and then Meditation!

If you are not able to sit in Lotus posture, you needn't fret. You can still either in half-lotus or regular cross-legged way...any which way you feel comfortable! The aim is to relax body and mind...not stress yourself :)

PS: Slowly and steadily, with daily practice, you'll be able to achieve what seems like impossible flexibility now!

All the Very Best to you!

Good Luck! And thanks for the BA :) Report Abuse

Other Answers (1)

• You can certainly sit in half-lotus for meditation. Many people in the Eastern world sit on floors or the ground all their lives because they don't have the furniture we have in their homes. So they are very loose in their pelvic muscles and a lotus position does not stress their knees. Many people from Western civilizations put too much pressure on their knees by forcing the full lotus position.
  
  I would strongly advise you not to "insist" that your body do this. It is not a prerequisite for successful meditation. Yoga positions are challenging and have many benefits - just have some of them as goals to work toward (maybe over many years). You will receive many benefits from your efforts. Perfection is not the goal in Yoga - self-realisation and spiritual development are more appropriate ones.