Sukhasana, one of the most preferable and convenient postures in actual practice, is the easy pose often practiced as the starting posture. This pose conforms readily to all the requirement of bodily comfort and steadiness. The word `sukha` could be translated as "joy, relish, happiness, and comfort". Sukhasana is one of the most comfortable and easy asanas that can be done on the ground.
Sukhasana is the easy pose of yoga asana and is a meditative posture practiced to keep mind and body fit. Sukhasana is mainly performed for composure, ease, breathing and concentration. The great yoga commentator, Vacaspati, found it. Although persons accustomed to sitting on a chair should not do Sukhasana, to all others this asana is easy to do and, therefore, can be maintained for a significant length of time both during the practice of Yoga breathing methods and also during concentration.
Sukhasana basically consists of sitting in the standard cross-legged position while opening the hips and lengthening the spine, its relative ease on the knees makes this posture preferable for following exercises like siddhasana and padmasana for many people with physical difficulties. The modern day Gurus advocated Sukhasana as suitable for attaining enlightenment.
The techniques for Sukhasana is as follows -
One should sit of the floor and stretch out the legs
The person then has to bend on the alternate leg and being the preferred leg and place the heel under the opposite thigh
The individual has to sit in cross-legged fashion and keep the ankles crossed.
The body should be kept straight, spine erect, abdomen well controlled and head perfectly poised.
Finally, the person should place the hands on the knees with the palms facing downwards.
The person should completely relax the body tension and should close the eyes and stay composed.
The person should mentally observe the breath going in and out for one full minute and only after he/she is fully self-possessed then one can start with other exercises.
Sukhasana is very simple to perform and its value lies in establishing inner harmony with oneself. It provides the most favourable condition for the upcoming exercises. Sukhasana can be done in any time of the day. Sukhasana is recommended to the beginners, to the ones who cannot approach the diamond position (Vajrasana) for long durations or the ones who cannot execute the lotus position (Padmasana) yet. It is suggested for the breathing control exercises (Pranayama) or for meditation (Dhyana). Sukhasana can be instrumental in leading to perfection a lot easier than any other asana. In the Yogi tradition it is said that Sukhasana is perfectly executed when the practitioner can maintain it continuously, for three hours and forty eight minutes, in an adequate inner focusing. If Sukhasana is brought to this kind of perfection, it offers a triple spring of benefits: physical, mental and spiritual.
In addition to this Sukhasana provides harmonious, controlled stimulation of the erotic processes and creative imagination. This yoga asana stabilises the body. The execution of Jnana Mudra calms down the mind. Orienting the palm face up in Sukhasana has got a considerable sedative effect. It is used in much psychiatric institution to compose the ones who are agitated. Orienting the biceps forward loosens up the shoulders and the superior part of the belly. Thus position makes it easy for the individual to breathe. Due to the correct position of the pelvis the backbone acquires an ideal position through Sukhasana. Moreover, this position increases the state of serenity, tranquility, eliminates the anxiety and gives the person complete peace of mind. Sukhasana eliminates exhaustion and tiredness after a physically exhausting activity or after a repetitive mental activity. Practiced together with Vajrasana and Shavasana, it is one of the best yoga asanas that can help the individuals to relax the muscles. Sukhasana also acts even upon the colon muscles.
