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How to do the Easy Pose (Sukhasana) in Yoga

A comprehensive guide to the Easy Pose sprinkled with tips and insights.

By VINEET KAUL

Last Update on 28th July, 2022

Learn how to do Easy Pose with impeccable form.
Tips from yoga instructors to maximize comfort.
Avoid common mistakes and injuries.
Also, read the step-by-step instructions of Vajrasana.

Yoga students doing Easy Pose - Sukhasana

For most of us, sitting in chairs for long periods is the norm – a dangerous one too. But how we sit every day can have many health outcomes for the knees [1] and back. In fact, research has linked the ability to sit and rise from the floor as a predictor of all-cause mortality [2].

While science occupies itself with examining the physical implications of posture, yoga theory speaks to the subtle benefits of different cross-legged yoga poses.

Easy Pose or Sukhasana, a day-to-day sitting posture in Asia, has been used by yoga practitioners for ages. It is one of the top yoga poses for pranayama, one we frequently recommend to beginners in our yoga breathing guides.

So what exactly is Sukhasana, and why is it omnipresent in yoga?

Prana Sutra has covered the 'Big Five' seated meditation postures::

Sukhasana - Easy Pose
Siddhasana - Accomplished Pose
Virasana - Hero Pose
Vajrasana - Thunderbolt Pose
Padmasana - Lotus Pose

Sukhasana: Meaning and Purpose

Sukhasana (सुखासन) or Easy Pose refers to any cross-legged sitting posture used in yoga. It stretches the spine and targets several body parts from the hips through the ankles [3]. It’s one of the most straightforward sitting postures for pranayama and meditation. However, Easy Pose is not rule-bound or specific.

Sukhasana is a combination of two Sanskrit words – Sukha meaning ‘comfortable’ and asana meaning ‘posture.’ Thereby, Sukhasana means ‘a comfortable posutre’ [4] - to sit for yoga with ease, any way you can.

However, the "easy" in Easy Pose refers to 'with ease,' which can fool you into thinking it is easy. I means, sure, it's easier than Padmasana or Vajrasana, but it can still be quite challenging if have been sitting in chairs your whole life.

Luckily, you can do it with the help of yoga blankets, towels, blocks, and bolsters, which we will get into later. Below, we outline the steps and benefits of Easy Pose. We also share tips from yogis on fine-tuning Sukhasana for maximum comfort.

Meaning

Easy Pose Basics

Difficulty Level: Beginner
Sanskrit Name: Sukhāsana | सुखासन
Pronounced: Sue-kha-sun
Targets: Back, knee, ankle
Used for: Pranayama, Meditation
Props: Blanket, Towel, or Block
Alternatives: Siddhasana

Start slow, be mindful of your posture, and make the necessary adjustments until you get it right. Beginners should check every few minutes to see if they are doing Sukhasana in proper form. It's common for the body to slouch, arch, or slump as you tire or stop paying attention.

“Easy Pose is easy because it is a generic term for any comfortable posture," says Jenna, a yoga instructor, and physical therapist. “But you still need to follow the rules of seated yoga poses, namely alertness from the crown to chin, an erect spine, and stable lower body,” she adds.

Cross-legged yoga poses are about opening the hips, stretching the spine, and activating the torso. Yoga views the torso as a bridge between the lower and higher centers of our being. And, the spine is axiomatic to good posture, which Sukhasana can help with.

“Learning Sukhasana is an opportunity to learn the role of lengthening the spine in pranayama. A stretched vertebrae and firm back keep the abdominal muscles in place,” explains Jenna. “If you lose this grip, the torso slumps. So learn to keep the torso engaged from the base or coccyx to the top or crown of the head.”

Why Sukhasana: 5 Easy Pose Benefits

Easy Pose is a seated, cross-legged yoga posture that stretches the hips, knees, and ankles.
It is a calming pose for yoga practices, known to improve breathing and digestion [5].
Easy Pose stretches the spine, strengthens the back, and opens up tight hips.
The spiritual benefits of Easy Pose include uplifting mood and increasing energy.
Easy Pose is a good option for beginners, pregnant women, or the elderly.

Basics

Benefits

How to: Easy Pose in 5 Steps

Roll out your yoga mat and sit on the floor in Staff Pose (Dandasana) with the legs apart at hip width. Cross the legs one at a time, placing the feet under the knees. Adjust your posture until your weight is equally distributed on your buttocks and sit bones.
Extend the crown of your head and press the hips to the floor to lengthen the spine. Protrude the chest slightly and drop the shoulders away from your ears.
Place the hands on the thighs or kneecaps, palms facing up or down. You can also use your hands to do hand gestures like Udana mudra or Chin mudra.
(Optional) Use yoga props (towels, folded blankets) to support the ankles or place a block or bolster under the buttocks to elevate the hips higher than your knees.
Relax the face muscles and take deep breaths through the nose, lengthening the spine with the in-breath and grounding yourself with the out-breath.

Step-by-step

Easy Pose Variations with Yoga Props

You can use extra padding or consult a yoga instructor to create variations of yoga poses tailored to your needs. Here is how to use props to do the Easy Pose:

Place a yoga block on the mat and sit on it, leaning slightly forward. Place a folded yoga blanket under the knees to prevent pressure on the hips. Ensure that you don’t lean forward and create strain on the spine.

Safety and Precautions

Sukhasana is contraindicated in arthritis, hip inflammation, leg injuries, and knee pain. Pregnant women and people with varicose veins should speak to their physician before doing Easy Pose.

Sukhasana is safe and unlikely to cause injuries. Some research indicates one should shift positions often to avoid strain and injury. Avoid numbness or pins-and-needles by stretching the legs after a few minutes, or alternate between Easy Pose and Staff Pose every few minutes.

Tips to Fine Tune Easy Pose

“The most common Easy Pose mistake among beginners is a tendency to slouch or arch the back outwards in Easy Pose, which can put undue stress on the spine,” says Jenna. Keep the lumbar spine straight by drawing the chin in.”

In Sukhasana, we press the hips into the floor to avoid strain on the spine. You can start with a rolled yoga blanket or bolster pillow under the hips, to elevate them. You can also use a yoga block under the buttocks if you have inflexible hips.

The ankles may get sore if the knees are raised too high. They can also hurt if your body weight is pressing them into the ground. Place a folded yoga towel under the ankles or use an extra thick yoga mat to prevent soreness.

You can also lower your knees or open your legs wider to avoid it.

Sitting in Easy Pose can sometimes result in a pins-and-needles sensation. This is the case with all cross-legged yoga poses as they can restrict blood circulation to the feet [6]. You may also experience numbness after a few minutes of Sukhasana if you bend the knees excessively.

In Light on Pranayama, BKS Iyengar says numbness in the feet is common in seated yoga poses. You can counter this by lying in Corpse Pose with your heels near the buttocks or stretching the legs with toes pointing towards the ceiling.

Modifications

Safety

Pro Tips

In Conclusion

Sitting cross-legged is better than squatting or sitting with legs extended. If done correctly, Sukhasana benefits include strengthening the core (back and abdominal muscles) and improving posture.

We hope this guide to Sukhasana and its benefits is all you will need to get started. Focus on aligning the head with the spine, balancing the shoulders over the hips, and distributing your weight evenly on the sitting bones. It's that easy, really!