PADMASAN
Technique
1.
Sit on the floor with the
legs straight.
2.
Bend the right let at the
knee, hold the right foot with the hands place it at the roof of the left thigh
so that the right heel is near the navel.
3.
Now bend the left log, and
holding the left foot with the hands place it over the right at the root., the
heel being near the navel. The soles of the feet should be turned up. This is
the basic Padmasana Pose.
4.
People not used to sitting
on the floor seldom have flexible knees. At the start they will feel
excruciating pain around the knees. By perseverance and continued practice the
pain will gradually subside and they can then stay in the pose comfortably for
a long time.
5.
From the base to the neck the
spine should remain erect. The arms amy be stretched out, the right hand being
placed on the right knee and the left hand on the left knee. The forefingers
and the thumbs are bent and touch each other. Another way of placing the hands
is in the middle where the feet cross each other with one palm upon the other.
6.
Change the leg position by
placing the left foot over the right thigh and the right foot over the left
thigh. This will develop the legs evenly.
Effects
After the
initial knee pains have been overcome, Padmasana is one of the most relaxing
poses. The body being in a sitting posture, it is at rest without being sloppy.
The position of the crossed legs and the erect back keeps the mind attentive
and alert. Hence it is one of the asanas recommended for practicing
parathnayama.
On the purely physical level, the
pose is good for curing stiffness in the knees and ankles. Since the blood is
made for circulate in the lumbar region and the abdomen, the spine and the
abdomincal organs are toned.
