Since sitting for meditation was one of the original goals of yoga, you might say that all poses lead to lotus. With a form resembling the flower, padmasana grounds and stabilizes the body, allowing the mind to blossom. This program offers three challenging and dynamic sequences that lead into lotus in unique ways. While the full expression of this advanced posture may not be attainable for everyone, the journey toward it is well worth the while. Like the flower it resembles, which grows in muddy waters, padmasana requires patience and perseverance before it can bloom.
Week 1
Yoga
Get closer to your body and your breath as we explore form in this first sequence. We'll begin briskly with sun salutations, planks, and lunges, then slow down for deep hip-opening work in bird of paradise, agnistambhasana, and sundial. Remain gentle and observant in your mind and body as your lotus begins to bloom. Props Suggested: A blanket.
Yoga
With optimal breathing comes greater stability in body and mind. In this class, we'll use the shapes we've created to enhance the function of our breath. Warm up with sun salutations, twist in bharadvajasana I and bound side angle, and get a deep hamstring stretch in krounchasana before creating some mental space in lotus or a variation. Props Suggested: A blanket.
Yoga
Just like lotus pose, this final class will create stability in the lower body that allows for expansion in the mind. We'll reencounter poses from the first two classes, feeling them now with more freedom and ease. Find steadiness in bird of paradise, slide into revolved triangle, then test your wings in flying crow before resting in half or full lotus. Props Suggested: A blanket.
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