Easy Sitting Pose: (Sukhasana: Sukh = Happiness and Comfort, asana = pose)

You’ll find this basic sitting pose in nearly every yoga class. We have been sitting in this pose since kindergarten or maybe even before that. As with all poses, we want it to be comfortable and stable.

In this pose, we find our “sits” bones, the bottom of our pelvis and start to grow some roots into the mat. If possible, our knees are supported by the opposite foot. Once we are grounded, we start to build some length into our spines, growing long and tall with the crown of the head reaching for the sky and our chin parallel to the ground. Shoulders are over our hips, and ears are over our shoulders. When our spines are in a neutral position, the natural curves are still there. We want that in easy sitting pose.

In this pose, if you find that your knees are higher than your hips, sit on a sturdy blanket or a stack of folded towels. This will lift your hips up and allow some opening.

If easy pose isn’t right for you due to lower back, hip, or knee issues, then sitting on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you is a great substitute. If sitting on the floor is not an option for you, sit tall in a chair. Yoga can be done on the floor or in a chair.