Sitting in the Lotus

[Sigmund Freud]

Is this something than can be learned? Or do the people that can do it simply have the natural ability to. I'm a strict Buddhist practitioner and meditate twice, daily, but only sit cross-legged. I've tried to go into this position before, but it was downright impossible. Are there any stretches that I could do to help me attain this position?

[Rahf]

If you check the flexibility section of the homepage you'll find Juji in a lotus position. How to stretch for it is beyond me at the moment.

[Skilzat85X]

Lots of bboys lotus their legs a lot with certain handstand moves as well. So obviously it's flexible that has to be achieved, like splits.

[Ashtar]

With lotus, your leg is held in place at the foot. It seems different than just doing something like a butterfly stretch where you can apply pressure above the knee. When it's applied lower (like at the foot) I always feel like I'm stretching my knee instead of my hip.

[kristo]

Actually, I've heard some people can't physically do the lotuc without putting a bit too much stress on the knee. Unfortunately, I believe that's teh case with me, and despite my efforts to fix the problem, I don't seem to progress at all. Again, I only heard that it's just not in the cards for some people.

You can always go for half-lotus.

[Mastabiff]

I think it's a matter of how flexible the tendons in your knee are. It can be improved upon, but I think if you work on it too much you might make your knees less stable. Try working on the half lotus (one foot on one thigh rather than both at once).

[Shadow_Warrior]

Personally I was once able to sit a crappy lotus for like a few seconds, then it became unbearable. I think it's mainly just strenght issue. If you have strong (but you also need good flex) legs you can maintain the sit and feel safe in it. I think it also helps to getting in the stance because you can raise your legs higher in that odd position.

I've pretty much noticed that as my splits keep improving my lotus improves alongside as well. Is it strenght or flexibility of abductors whatever I don't know. I think perhaps the best way would be to join yoga classes or contact a yoga teacher, for I think this is a move that's common there. Not sure though.

[Sakanem]

The half-lotus already presents a pain in the knee for me, so I don't do unless I absolutely have to (which is never) because it seems so unhealthy.

[Shadow_Warrior]

Jesus ppl wth start doing wall-v asap if you have that bad knee problems. I mean seriously, if you feel pain in your knees when doing the wall butterfly then you have crappy knees. Period.

Just because it feels uncomfortable doesn't mean it's unhealthy. I'm sure it felt uncomfortable to stretch your hamstrings when you first started to do it for real, same goes for splits. It's just an issue of doing it right and at the right pace.

[Sakanem]

The thing is, I have a history of knee injuries so I avoid shit like lotus crap. I don't have any problems with my knee anymore apart from lotus or kneeling for long periods of time, which are both things that aren't exactly necessary in tricking. Also, having a pain inside the joint doesn't seem very healthy to me.

[CanEHdian]

Hell i can do that.


its fun to get in that position then walk on your knees, kind of hurts but it looks neat.

[Ashtar]

Personally I was once able to sit a crappy lotus for like a few seconds, then it became unbearable. I think it's mainly just strenght issue. If you have strong (but you also need good flex) legs you can maintain the sit and feel safe in it.Moreso the flex, because I bet Dr. Squat can't do lotus and he's got strength.

[Dragonic MiKe]

I never realised this was difficult. >_>

*does it just to make sure he still can*

Yup, it was easy too. :smile:

[Ashtar]

Wouldn't lotus be a lot harder if you had thick thighs? More height to travel. Also you have to wonder if thick calves/hams might impede the required knee flexion to get up there. Maybe deep squats help that.

What's weird is this one yoga newsletter I read said weightlifting made you lose flexibility and be bad at yoga. He didn't really explain why very well. I think it's because he's a vegetarian and usually weights are related with meat.

[Papa Lazarou]

That's a good point about the thick thighs Ashtar. The yoga guy probably didn’t have the whole story but isn't it true that weightlifting can decrease your flexibility? If you don't stretch and do the exercises with decent range of motion?

It should be pretty easy to stretch for the lotus position, but I've never been unable to do it so...
You'll have to work out what is limiting your flexibility though: adductors, abductors etc.
Most likely it’s the abductors unless you have seriously short adductors. Juji has all the stretches you'd ever need or want in his flexibility section under Hips and glutes. It'll make sense if these are right for you because you'll feel the stretch in the same muscles as when you attempt the lotus.

One more thing, I think you'll find that if your knees/tendons feel strain, it could be related to shortness in a connected muscle. So even if you feel knees or tendons are your limitation, it would be worth trying some stretching and seeing if increased flexibility helps reduce stress on the knees etc.

[Gaara]

I'm confused, i have poor flexibility yet I did the full lotus by the directions and pics and it was easy as hell (first attempt). Personally to me it seems like flexibility didn't have much to do with pulling this off o_O (as i have poor flexibility)...oh well, anyway.

[Papa Lazarou]

Flexibility is joint-specific. In other words, you might be able to touch your elbows behind your back (shoulder flexibility), but be unable to even touch your toes (hamstrings).

So it's not the whole story to say that you have poor flexibility, Gaara, since you obviously have quite flexible abductors (for the lotus). Your flexibility is probably just fairly unbalanced - i.e. you have flexible abductors, but inflexible adductors (adductors oppose the abductors), and maybe other inflexible areas.

[lastmanstanding]

AAAH it all makes sense... i used to get the abductors and adductors mixed up.... which are the ones in the inside and which are on the outside???

[Psychostick]

adductors on the inside

Edit: if it helps, you "add" your legs together, shit but works for some people

[lastmanstanding]

Ill remember that thanx!

[zetafox]

I feel so proud that I can sit like that ever since I can remember. I love being ungodly flexible.

[Kimimaro]

As an example, so far i can only get my palm's to the floor (whilst standing and bending over) for about 3 secs before i give out. Making quick progress though. :D

[Arekkun]

One tip for everyone who is not flexible at all: try to do the lotus position while lying on your back and pushing your legs with your hands, then sit down slowly.

I don't know if this works for everyone, all I can say is that worked great for me, so give it a try, and if you succeed... well, thank me:wink:

[Ashtar]

adductors on the inside

Edit: if it helps, you "add" your legs together, shit but works for some people
I always think of it as "abductors bring your legs into splits because the thighs go up towards the abs".

Of course these things suck compared to understanding the terminology's meaning because I think it's opposite for the arms or something. Stupid 'drawing toward the midline' or whatever.

[adthedon]

i have been able to do lotus ever since i was little
and when i was really little i used to be able to do the splits in between 2 chairs but i stopped doing it and now i cant anymore then i found the tricking community and im sooo pissed i cant do it anymore ><