Sukhasana ( soo-KAH-sÉ™-nah Sanskrit: सà¥à¤–ासन; IAST: SukhÄsana; Sanskrit pronunciation: [sukÊ°É'ËsÉ™nÉ™]), easy pose, decent pose, or pleasant pose is an asana practised in yoga, Buddhism, and Hinduism, similar to sitting in a simple cross-legged position. While opening the hips and lengthening the spine, the asana's relative ease on the knees makes it easier than siddhasana or padmasana for people with physical difficulties. Some schools do not consider it to be as effective for prolonged meditation sessions because it is easy to slump forward while sitting in it. For meditation, it is important that the spine be straight and aligned with the head and neck. But if the practitioner steadies the sukhasana pose by putting pillows or blankets under the knees to create a steadiness, it may be easier to sit longer in sukhasana for meditation without slumping forward. An additional blanket or pillow under the buttocks may also be beneficial and steadying. The 20th century Jnana Yoga guru Ramana Maharshi advocated it as suitable for attaining Enlightenment.
Etymology
The name comes from the Sanskrit words sukha meaning "pleasure", and asana (आसन, Äsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".
See also
- SiddhÄsana
- List of asanas
- Sitting cross-legged
References
Further reading
- Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBNÂ 978-81-7223-606-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011.Â
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBNÂ 978-81-86336-14-4. Retrieved 9 April 2011.Â
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (January 2004). A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Nesma Books India. ISBNÂ 978-81-85787-08-4. Retrieved 9 April 2011.Â
External links
- Step by Step instruction
- Easy Pose Benefits
