Karen Watson Reeves has chosen a colorful, local mural for the location of her demonstration of Balancing Lotus. Photo by Fred Padilla.
By Karen Watson Reeves
It is not hard to find blossoms this time of year. From mimosas to daisies to crepe myrtles to hydrangeas and more, flowers are all around us. The lotus is a flower whose roots are in the mud. Its stems grow up through the water, and its flowers lie above the water reaching for sunlight.
The Lotus Pose is a seated meditation pose, with legs crossed and feet stacked on opposite inner thighs. The Blossoming Lotus variation (often called simply Flower Pose, especially in yoga for kids’ classes) combines Bound Angle Pose with a balance.
This pose is a hip opener that stretches and strengthens the inner thighs, groins, lower legs, and back. The chest is lifted to create space in the chest, neck, and shoulders. Core muscles are strengthened, and coordination skills and balance are increased.
The heels may be touching with the toes spread, representing the lotus flower. Fingers and toes can open and close representing the blossom of the lotus, which closes and sinks underwater at night, and at dawn it rises and opens again.
Blossoming Lotus is often sequenced into a class just before savasana because it is a naturally grounding pose. It is great to practice anytime one feels scattered or overwhelmed. The Blossoming Lotus Pose is a reminder that each yoga practice can be an opportunity to bloom afresh and that infinite possibilities can arise from the darkest of places.
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 for her schedule of classes, visit www.theyogaplacehs.com.
