Easy Pose Step-By-Step
- Bring your seat to the yoga mat and cross the ankles or shins in front of you.
- Align your shoulders above the hips and lengthen upwards through the crown of your head. Take care to keep the spine long and straight.
- Soften the shoulders and rest your hands on your knees. You can keep the palms relaxed of form a mudra with your hands.
- Close your eyes and bring awareness to your breath. Stay here until you find your focus.
Easy Pose Quick Look
Sanskrit Name: Sukhasana
Pose Type: Hip-Opening Yoga Poses, Seated Yoga Poses
Difficulty Level: Beginner pose
Targets: Hips, back, shoulders (mild)
Benefits: First and foremost, Easy Pose is an asana perfectly designed for meditation. It’s more accessible than Lotus Pose or even Bound Angle Pose because it doesn’t require much hip flexibility. Additionally, it can be easily modified to include beginner yogis and practitioners with mobility issues. However, Sukhasana’s benefits extend beyond its value for the mindfulness practice. Sitting cross-legged is also great from the physical point of view. It gently opens the hip and stretches the groin, improving hip mobility along the way. This is especially beneficial to those who spend long periods sitting down (e.g., working in the office, driving long distances). Regular practice of Sukhasana improves posture, as it forces the spine to stay in the upright position. Over time, keeping straight back in a seated position becomes second nature. Finally, Easy Pose is very grounding, which is why it’s often featured at the start of a yoga lesson to help the students focus or at the end to help them wind down.
Preparatory Poses: Knee Tuck to Chest, Reclined Bound Angle Pose
Notes
Easy Pose, also known as the cross-legged seat, is a beginner-friendly yoga asana often used for meditation. In a longer yoga practice it is usually performed at the start or at the end of the session to help the mind and body wind down.
“There is a good reason why Easy Pose is a go-to seated asana for many yogis,” says Yoga Answered contributor Cat Harvey. “It’s great for stillness practice, such as breathwork or meditation, but it’s also a perfect base for upper body warm-up at the start of the yoga session.”
Beginner’s Tip
It can be difficult to sit upright, so if you’re struggling to keep your back straight, you need to elevate the seat. Add a yoga block, a cushion, or a folded blanket under your sit bones to help you stay upright. Make a conscious effort to soften and relax through the muscles of your face (i.e., unclench the jaw, smooth out the forehead). If you notice that your mind has wandered away, focus on the sound of your breath to bring your awareness back into the present moment.