Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Lotus Pose - Padmasana

Lotus Yoga Pose - YanvaYoga

Contents

Lotus Pose is perhaps the most recognized yoga pose today, even by people who don’t practice yoga. It is considered by many to be the “classic” yoga pose. Lotus is often used for meditation, and many yoga classes begin or end with this pose. However, Lotus Pose is an advanced pose that is not suitable for those who are new to yoga. Be sure to try alternative seated positions, such as Easy Pose (Sukhasana), if you are a beginner or if you have less flexibility in your lower body.

The Sanskrit word for this pose, “Padmasana” (pahd-MAHS-uh-nuh), is named after the lotus flower, or “padma.” In the full position, your legs become like the petals of a lotus flower, gently dropping open.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1
From Staff Pose, bend your right knee and use your hands to bring the right ankle to the left hip crease with the sole of the right foot facing upward. Settle the foot in the hip crease.
Step 2
Bend your left knee and use your hands to cross the left ankle over to the right hip crease with the sole of the left foot facing up.
Step 3
Sit up tall with a long spine and your shoulders moving away from your ears.
Step 4
Relax your knees toward the floor.
Step 5
After 10 to 20 breaths, release the legs and repeat the posture with your left foot on the bottom and your right foot on top.

Benefits and Contraindications

Benefits

Opens up the hips

Stretches the ankles and knees

Calms the brain

Increases awareness and attentiveness

Keeps the spine straight

Helps develop good posture

Eases menstrual discomfort and sciatica

Helps keeps joints and ligaments flexible

Stimulates the spine, pelvis, abdomen, and bladder

Restores energy levels

Contraindications

Avoid or modify if you have any knee pain, knee injuries (particularly knee ligament injuries), knee arthritis, knee replacement, or any other knee limitations or concerns.

Avoid, be cautious, or modify if you have hip arthritis, pain, injury, or replacement.

Don’t force your body into the pose; instead, move slowly and mindfully in and out of the pose.

If you have any pain with the pose or other limitations, try pose variations and modifications, or visualize doing the full expression of the pose in any position. Always ask your health care team if you are unsure of what you can and cannot do with your particular health concerns. Also, seek a qualified yoga instructor or yoga therapist to help you individually adapt the pose for safety.

Photo poses in different angles

Modification

First become comfortable with Half Lotus. You can also prepare with Bound Angle Pose, Hero Pose, and Head-to-Knee Pose. Continue to practice regularly and your hips will open more over time.

Tips

If Padmasana is not comfortable for you, try some other yoga poses to prepare for it. Easy Pose (Sukhasana) is a great way to build a stable base for the pose with less stretch on the hips.

Ardha padmasana (literally meaning half lotus) requires you to only place one foot in the opposite hip crease at a time. Again, another great way to build muscle memory and prepare to reach the full Padmasana safely and comfortably!

It may be tempting to try to enter straight into this pose without warm-up. This depends on your hip flexibility. Be sure to warm up the hips before you begin, and avoid this posture and its variations if you have hip, knee or ankle injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Variations

  • Blossoming Lotus Pose
  • Bound Lotus Pose
  • Elevated Lotus Pose
  • Half Lotus Pose
  • Half Lotus Pose Raised Arms
  • Half Lotus Pose Side Bend
  • Half Lotus Pose Twist Raised Arms
  • Upward Lotus Pose
  • Half Lotus Tip Toe Pose Hands Blocks
  • Bound Lotus Pose On Stomach
  • Cock Pose

Top Preparatory Poses

  • Cock Pose
  • Cow Face Pose with Eagle Arms
  • Half Bound Lotus Forward Fold
  • Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend Pose

Top Follow-Up Poses

  • Seated Forward Bend Pose
  • Corpse Pose

Iana Varshavska
Iana Varshavska
Website administrator

A digital marketer in love with yoga and everything that goes along with it. In 2021, her huge passion for yoga led her to yoga teacher trainings. After successfully completing her studies, Iana received her Yoga Alliance U.S. certification, left the corporate IT world and devoted herself to the development of Yanva. To be able to create the best online yoga space for yoga enthusiasts like her, Iana is constantly learning and improving her skills in various aspects of yoga philosophy, anatomy and biomechanics. Since 2021, she has continued to attend various types of teacher training, including yoga therapy, gives online and offline classes, and conducts local workshops for people who want to learn more about yoga. At the moment, Iana continues to work on her personal practice, improving her hand balancing skills, as well as developing her own training programs.