Easy Pose

When beginning yoga, my instructor really guided us through the importance of each pose, teaching us that these fundamental poses will be what our practices are built upon. With that being said, it seems only right that I begin by focusing on Sukhasana, or Easy Pose. 

Easy pose is how most yogis, myself included, begin each and every practice. When I first began practicing yoga, I couldn't stand it. It seemed like such a waste of time to sit still when there were so many asanas (poses) to get through! But my instructor kept insisting we do it, having us chant to boot! Then it hit me. I felt an overwhelming feeling of serenity hearing the chant of "om," echoing through the room. My mind began to quiet, and I could focus on the task at hand: each individual asana that I would work through in my practice, one at a time, and at that moment, I was focusing on Sukhasana; I was centering myself. With that, let's look at the technicalities. 

Basically, if you sat 'criss cross applesauce' as a kid, do that. It doesn't have to be perfect, just comfortable for your body. You want to relax into this pose, which actually doesn't mean slumping over. Sit up tall, elongating your spine; not so much that you feel any straining.

Think about aligning your body rather than having perfect posture.
As stated in the images, use a folded blanket if it helps you feel more comfortable. Having bony ankles, I often use a blanket to help provide some cushion (rather than upgrading to a more expensive mat!). There is no shame in using props of any kind; even as you advance, there may still be days where you need more assistance than the day before. Just listen to your body. The important thing in Easy Pose is not that you look like everyone else that is doing it, it's that you are calming your mind and helping your body to focus on the task at hand.

Feel free to comment with any questions! Namaste.

(Photo Credit)