PADMASANA Padmasana: Lotus Pose

POETRY OF LOTUS POSE:

• The lotus cannot be forced. Its process is mysterious and long in preparation. The flower rises poetically and delicately from the dark, fecund mud of the pond. It represents a capacity to take on earthly muck and transform it faithfully into elegance and beauty. The lotus, both in nature and in yoga, expresses most profoundly of all the postures the connection between a watery spirit and an earthly existence. • The lotus blooms serenely and courageously despite all obstacles. • The earth and water elements combine for fertile ground foe the lotus flower (kapha dosha) • The movement of action to pure energy, from unconscious to conscious, from lower to higher, is symbolized by the lotus flower growing out of slime and ascending toward the light. • Allow your practice to flower.

Standing Postures (warrior poses open the hips best) will give you lotus/padmasana.

BENEFITS:

Calms the brain Stimulates pelvis, spine, knees, abdomen, and bladder Stretches ankles and knees Eases sciatica pains and menstrual discomfort Consistent practice into late pregnancy eases childbirth Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Destroys Disease, Awakens Kundalini Padmasana is said to destroy hundreds of diseases.

Contraindications: ankle injury, knee injury.

Padmasana in an intermediate to advanced pose. NEVER force it. Padmasana Rule: The left (second) knee is ready for the pose when the right (first) knee is on the floor.

From Louts: “Seated Tadasana” arms up, breath of fire or kumbhaka. Play with it. . This variation is especially good for veins and arteries, great for the heart. The large amount of oxygen taken in during pranayama gives you a great energy boost. Oxygen purifies the blood and clears complexion.

Keep the ego out of your knee. Knee anatomy is such that you must align the knee when you are coming out of the pose Be careful – knee injuries might require surgery. Ligaments don’t repair themselves Knee joint is very vulnerable. Padmasana can align or break the knees, hips and ankles.

There are certain yogic things that become widely misunderstood. Right leg first in Padmasana (Lotus) is one of them. The right hip will open more if that leg is always first, so why do it? Gregor Maehle explains why in his excellent book, Ashtanga Yoga, Practice & Philosophy. This book is a jewel.

Excerpt, Pg. 125, , Ashtanga Yoga, Practice & Philosophy by Gregor Maehle Padmasana: Right Leg First

“Why is Padmasana traditionally done only by first placing the right leg and then bringing the left leg on top? When asked this question, K. Pattabhi Jois quoted the Yoga Shastra as saying,: "Right side first and left leg on top purifies the liver and spleen. Left leg first is of no use at all." He also explained that the lotus done in this way stimulates insulin production.

Contemporary teachers have suggested performing Padmasana on both sides to balance the body. Improving the symmetry of the body is achieved through the standing postures. However, the postures that strongly influence the abdominal and thoracic cavities, such as Padmasana, Kurmasana, Dvi Pada Shirshasana, and Pashasana, do not have the function of making the body symmetrical, but of accommodating the asymmetry of the abdominal and thoracic organs. To accommodate the fact that the liver is on the right side of the abdominal cavity and the spleen is on the left, the right leg is first placed into position with the left leg on top. As leg-behind-the-head postures develop the chest, to place the left leg first in Kurmasana (turtle) accommodates the fact that the heart is predominantly in the left side of the thoracic cavity.

Putting the left leg 1st in leg behind the head postures will correct any imbalances in the hips acquired from right leg 1st in Lotus. As far as standing postures, it is a good idea to initiate from both sides. Generally the first side will be held longer in class. Sometimes dramatically longer. This will create imbalance throughout the entire body.”