Siddhasan
Siddha → accomplished/perfect/adept
asana → posture/pose
Level: Beginner
Siddhasan is one of the best poses for meditation. It is simple to do and suitable for almost everybody.
Benefits:
- Straightens the spine and improves posture
- Promotes healthy energy flow through the body and thus stabilises the nervous system
- Calms the mind, promotes relaxation, relieves stress, cures insomnia
- Improves the flexibility of hips, knees and ankles
Do this asana if you:
- Want to practice meditation but find it difficult to maintain Padmasan (lotus pose)
- Want to control your sexual urges and practise celibacy
Not recommended if you:
- Suffer from sciatica
How to do Siddhasan:
- Sit comfortably on the floor with your legs out in front of you
- Men: Bring your left leg in and place the heel near the perineum (the area between the anus and groin)
Women: Bring your left leg in and place the heel near the labia majora of the vagina
- Now bring the right foot in and place it over the left foot
- Tuck the toes of the right foot in the space between your left thigh and calf
- The knees should be on the floor and the spine should be straight
- Place each hand on the same-side knee, palm-side down
Variation: Touch the index fingers of each hand to its thumb to form ‘Gyan mudra’. Keep the rest of the fingers straight. Place the back of the hand on the same-side knee so that the palms are facing up
- Gaze straight ahead or at the space between your eyebrows, concentrating on your breathing. Breathe slowly and steadily
Variation: Close your eyes and meditate. You can either do this by focusing on your breathing or by slow, repeated chanting of a mantra
- Maintain this position for as long as you are comfortable
Dos and don’ts while doing Siddhasan:
- If you start feeling a pain in your back, legs or thighs, come out of the asana
- Sit on a cushion if you are not comfortable sitting on the floor