Standing Bound Half Lotus Pose looks easy as demonstrated here by Karen Watson Reeves. While it is challenging, the pose is achievable, and the benefits are great.
By Karen Watson Reeves
Ahhh. . . springtime in the Spa City. And for this lover of warmth, sunshine, and all things blooming in the natural world, not much could be lovelier. It is not too difficult to know where the location is this month, so sorry. . . no free classes for this one.
The Okame cherry trees really showed off in the Exchange Street Plaza, even when they wore a dusting of snow. Since there is no cherry tree yoga pose to my knowledge, I chose the favorite blossom of yoga poses. . . the lotus. The full lotus pose is actually a seated and bound position with the legs crossed and the feet folding into the opposite hip crease, requiring a bit of hip flexibility.
To “bind” means any action where one part of the body holds on to another part, or when two body parts are intertwined. It may be obvious to state that to come into this pose requires some strength, flexibility, and balance.
There are actually two binds in this pose: my left arm reaches behind the back and holds the left foot and the right arm reaches behind and holds the left bicep, which is difficult to see in the photo since my pose is not perfect.
To come into the pose requires some preparation: practicing any standing balance pose to strengthen the standing leg and to be able to stand long enough to get into the binds; practicing poses to open and stretch the shoulders and arms to create the binds; practicing LOTS of patience to keep trying again and again.
Other benefits of Standing Bound Half Lotus Pose include creating a good range of movement within the hip and knee joints, lengthening and stretching the quadriceps and surrounding muscles of the leg, grounding (physically as well as mentally and emotionally) as focus and awareness are required to stand on one foot.
It is a challenging pose, no doubt, and not one that most of us will get in the first yoga class. Every pose leads to another, and with practice–and lots of stretching and strengthening and standing on one leg–it IS achievable.
I encourage you to practice Tree Pose and become proficient in that posture. I challenge you to get outside, enjoy the beauty of our city and national park. Notice the greening of the trees and plants and the blossoms of the flowers. Happy Spring. . . and ahhh-choo!!
Karen Watson Reeves has called Hot Springs home since 2006. Owner of The Yoga Place, at 301 Whittington Avenue, she became a registered yoga/children’s yoga teacher in 2011. She is on the Hot Springs YMCA teaching staff and is an adjunct instructor at National Park College. When not on the mat, Karen enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the National Park, especially from her bicycle. For more information about her studio and her schedule of classes, visit www.theyogaplacehs.com.
