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Technique

  1. Sitting with legs extended, bend the left knee and bring the left foot to rest on top of the upper right thigh with the sole of the foot facing upward (Half Lotus).
  2. Bend the right knee and bring the right foot back to place it near the right hip bone (as in Sitting bound one-leg forward fold) without letting the right knee drop over to the right, or the lotus foot slide out.
  3. Bring one or both hands behind the hips to help you fold forward.
  4. If possible, take one or both hands forward to reach into the forward fold.
  5. Take 5 breaths.
  6. Then unfold and repeat on the other side - right leg in half lotus and left leg bent with the foot flat.

Form tips

  • This is an external rotation for the hip that is in half lotus, and an internal rotation for the bent leg with the foot down.
  • Tuck the half lotus foot securely into the hip crease before bending the other leg. Only bend that leg as far as is comfortable for the lotus ankle, knee and hip.
  • You’re trying to come forward enough that the foot and opposite thigh are the foundation of the posture, which means the lotus leg has to rotate externally even more. If it won’t go, DO NOT FORCE IT. This will put pressure on the knee rather than the hip, and potentially cause pain or harm.
  • Keep the spine tall and focus on hinging at the hip rather than rounding the spine to go forward.
Logging: Work each side for the time indicated.

Muscles

Flexibility

Primary

  • Glutes

Secondary

  • Pelvis
  • Hamstrings
  • Hip adductors

Equipment

Appears in

Flexibility
Other disciplines
Joint movements
trains stretches

Progressions

e0vm

Sitting bound half lotus fold

Intermediate

Regressions

e0vk

Supported half lotus

Beginner
e0hs

Vertical frog

Novice
e0vg

Sitting half lotus forward fold

Novice
e18b

Sitting pike fold with bent leg

Novice
e0e6

Lying piriformis stretch

Beginner
e0xl

Half lotus

Novice
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