SUCHASANA The Pleasant Pose

SUCHASANA
The Pleasant Pose

By: Kostas Tselios


In Sanskrit, the word Sucha means ‘pleasure or comfort’. The
asana we are going to learn in this issue is called the pleasant or the
comfortable posture, which consists of sitting with your legs crossed.
In India, this asana is sometimes referred to as Suktasana, taking the name from the sukta tailors and their particular way of sitting while they
are sewing their beautiful saris.
I always encourage my new students to practice this posture as much as possible because it is ideal for pranayama, japa and meditation. Sitting in the Sukhasana position provides a firm base for the entire body and spine, keeping the energy centred and helping it to flow upwards.

HOW TO DO IT
Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of your body. Your spine must be erect but relaxed. Bend your right leg and place your foot under your left thigh, then bend your left leg and place your foot under your right thigh. Do this in such a manner that the calf of one of your legs comes above and rests upon the calf of the other.
Your knees should be as close as possible to the ground. Also, remember when you first start this asana not to over-stretch. Just let the weight of your legs slowly stretch themselves.
For beginners or students with stiff knees or hips, use a cushion or a folded blanket under your buttocks, to relieve tension on the lower back, as well as under the knees.
Keep your head, neck, shoulders and back straight and upright, but be sure that your entire body is totally relaxed. Your chin should be parallel to the ground.
You may find that you lean more to one side than the other, or back and forth. Concentrate to start with on your physical balance and equalizing the weight of your body. Place your hand on your knees, palms facing upwards or downwards or in any special hand mudra of your choice. Finally close your eyes and relax.

CHAKRA AWARENESS
Sukhasana is associated with the second chakra, the Svadhisthana, which manifests itself in many characteristics such as creativity, imagination, euphoria, emotion and intuitions. It is mostly related to desire, which could be desire about, sex, money or anything else in a materialistic or spiritual way.
Taste is also a crucial factor with this chakra. This is not only taste related to what we eat or drink at a physical level, but rather how tasteful and tactful we are in our lives.
While you are practicing Sukhasana, focus your attention on the point on your body which is approximately two fingers above your genital area. Do this in order to balance and make your energy flow better. This can help to purify any blockages at this point.


WHAT IS GOOD FOR
Sukhasana belongs to a group of asanas including Vajrasana, the diamond pose, mentioned in the last issue. Primarily these asanas are used because they facilitate the mental and physical balance, which is much needed, especially for the practice of meditation.
These asanas are also good for your spine, where most of your important energy flows upwards. This should remain straight and relaxed. This will help to remove any physical exhaustion or mental tiredness accumulated from your daily life activities.
By practicing this asana, your body will become more steady and your mind will be calmed down. When your body and mind are relaxed then you can engage in other yoga practices.
If harmony within your entire being is what you are looking for, this simple posture can be a real help, plus it is an easy posture to adopt.

MY EXPERIENCE
Everyone who practices Sukhasana for the first time tells me that they used to sit like that in the kindergarden or when they where kids.
I know I used to sit like this too, when I was at school. However, since then most of us have found that our bodies are stiffer, so it can be hard when you first start this asana on a regular basis.
Keep practicing the posture until you have mastered it, without any pain. It is very good at the beginning to try and sit properly on the bones of your buttocks.
You can always extend your legs and then resume the posture until it becomes easier for you to maintain it for a longer period.
Keep your heals at least a fist-length apart from your genitals and be sure that your legs are evenly placed.
Be constantly aware of your spine, keeping it straight and make sure your face muscles are relaxed.
As a final tip for today, I would recommend that you smile while undertaking this asana. This will make you look beautiful, as well as lifting your cheeks higher and making your nostrils wider, to inhale a bigger amount of air. You should end up looking and feeling better after practicing this posture for a while.
Until the next time, Om, Om Shiva Om Namo