LotusSave PDF
Padmasana
pahd-MAH-sah-nah
Tones lower spine
Relaxes nervous system, reduces blood pressure
Keeps mind focused and alert, redirects energy upward
How to perform Lotus
- Sit with your legs stretched in front of you. Bend your right leg and place your ankle on top of your left thigh.
- Bend your left leg and stack your ankle on top of your right thigh. Lengthen your spine.
- Rest the backs of your hands on your knees with your thumbs and index fingers touching. Relax your shoulders. Close your eyes.
- Hold the pose and take slow, deep breaths.
- Carefully release the legs.
Alignment cues
- Face soles of feet upward
- Lengthen spine
- Relax shoulders
- Heels close to pubic bone
Modification: Perform half lotus, bringing one ankle onto the thigh and the other just in front of the opposite shin.
Avoid this pose if you have sciatica or knee issues.
More yoga poses to discover
Lotus (Padmasana in Sanskrit) is an intermediate yoga pose that belongs to the hip openers and meditation and seated categories. This asana targets glutes & hip flexors, lower back and spine, and also involves ankles, knees and quadriceps muscles. Lotus relaxes nervous system, reduces blood pressure; tones lower spine and also keeps mind focused and alert, redirects energy upward. Refer to the illustration and instructions above for how to perform this posture correctly. Discover more yoga asanas and yogic breathing exercises in our free yoga pose directory – a visual resource for yoga teacher training students as well as practitioners of all levels. Finally, shop our best-selling Yoga Cards products!
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