Siddhasana is referred to as Accomplished Pose and is said to be a powerful seated pose for your body and mind. In the ancient yogic scriptures, the word Siddha is translated to “accomplished”. Being true to its name, Siddhasana is said to be the pose of an accomplished yogi who is beginning to master the realms of mind and has transcended the physical aspects.
Siddhasana acts as a gateway for higher state of consciousness, unlike the other seated poses which target flexibility or comfort. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika as well as Gheranda Samhita, this is mentioned as a pose which leads to liberation. For modern yoga practitioners, the benefits of this asana goes beyond the spiritual aspect. It improves posture, fosters better concentration, calms your nervous system, enhances the energy flow in your body, and stimulates better blood circulation. In this blog, you will be understanding the 10 major benefits of practicing Siddhasana on a regular basis so that you can transform your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Step-by-Step Guide to Perform Siddhasana
Before you start learning the ten benefits of Siddhasana, it is necessary to understand how to perform this asana perfectly. It looks quite simple from the outside but is an extremely intentional asana that requires you to have full awareness, focus on alignments and breath.
- Sit on the floor and extend your legs in front of you. Make sure to sit on a folded blanket or cushion so that your hips are elevated as it makes it easier to keep your spine uptight.
- Now fold your left leg and your heel closer to your perineum ( space between the genitals and anus). Always remember that your heel should press the perineum gently as it will stimulate the Muldhara (Root Chakra).
- Bend your right leg and put your heel just above the left heel. You can also place it over your genital area. Your knees should rest on the ground once you ace the asana.
- Keep the toes of both feet tucked into the opposite thighs or calves so that they are not protruding outside. This will also lock your legs into the perfect position and to support stillness.
- Stretch though your spine and move the crown of head reaching upwards.
- Allow your chest to open up properly by drawing your shoulders back and down.
- Then, gently tuck your chin inwards slightly to align with your neck.
- Place both your hands on your knees in Jnana Mudra or Chin Mudra, while keeping your arms as well as elbows totally relaxed.
- Now close your eyes, take deep breaths slowly and allow your body to settle into this pose.
- Observe your breath and begin engaging Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha for much deeper energy effects.
- Practice this asana daily for 5-10 minutes if you are a beginner and gradually increase your time to 30-60 minutes.
Benefits of Siddhasana (Accomplished Pose)
Enhances Spinal Alignment and Posture
Siddhasana improves your posture by training you to sit with an uptight spine. Instead of slouching or leaning, it encourages you to stack your neck, spine, and head in one vertical line. This posture lessens the unnecessary pressure on your lower back as well as shoulders and prepares your body to maintain a good posture even when you are outside your yoga mat.
Keeping a straight spine is not just about looking perfect, it is also about improving your blood circulation to the spinal cord and brain, reducing fatigue, and enhancing the functioning of the nerves. It also reinforces the musculoskeletal structure of your body and prevents chronic diseases like sciatica, postural imbalance, and herniated discs. Your body will automatically start finding comfort in uptight and good posture naturally, if you practice Siddhasana with consistency.
Also Read: Types of Yoga: A Guide to the Different Styles
Fosters Better Mental Focus and Meditation Power
Siddhasana prioritizes meditation. The cross legged posture, stability, and stillness assists in grounding and creates a better base for the mind to calm down. The feet and hand placement in certain positions forms energetic bandhas that redirect internal energy from your lower back to the higher center of consciousness.
Siddhasana is the perfect asana for extended meditation as it promotes stillness and reduces any physical distraction. With consistent practice, you will be able to enhance your concentration while performing this asana. Your mind will stop wandering and thoughts will become clearer and serene. Meditation while practicing Siddhasana reports a sense of centeredness, which is a true sign of entering the Dhyana state of meditation.
Reduces Stress and Calms the Nervous System
Due to today’s fast paced life of every individual, stress, anxiety, and frequent burnouts are extremely common. To manage these mental issues, Siddhasana is a powerful antidote. The stillness of your body along with synchronized breathing paired up with this asana will activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is the rest and digest response of your body.
Calming down the nervous system will reduce the secretion of Cortisol, which is the hormone responsible for stress. It also stabilizes your heart rate and lowers the blood pressure, allowing your body to relax completely. With regular practice, Siddhasana starts creating a deeper sense of calmness and also helps with insomnia. Just 10-15 minutes of Siddhasana can instantly lower your stress levels and make you more grounded as well as emotionally balanced.
Also Read: What Is Hatha Yoga And Why Do You Need It?
Stimulates the Chakras
Siddhasana is more than a physical posture and is referred to as an energetic blueprint in the yogic philosophies. The heel placement in Siddhasana awakens your dormant energy as it activates your Root Chakra. This energy travels in the upward direction inside your body through the Sushumna nadi, which is the central energy channel of your spine. This allows your body to activate higher chakras like Ajna, Sahasrara, and Anahata.
Root chakra activation brings spiritual insight in you and also enhances your overall sense of vitality. It turns your body into a vessel where the energy flows freely and removes all the unnecessary energetic blocks, while promoting comprehensive wellness. If you are an advanced yoga practitioner, you can choose Siddhasana as your first meditative pose because of its major benefits to support the movement of your spiritual energy.
Improves Organ Health and Digestion
Consistent practice of Siddhasana allows your body to strengthen the abdominal area and enhance digestive efficiency. When you are sitting in Siddhasana, your heels provide pressure against the perineum, which stimulates your digestive organs and provides better gut health. Along with this, if you practice this asana after consuming your meals, it will encourage proper pranic flow to your abdomen.
Siddhasana reduces the symptoms of indigestion, gas, bloating, and focuses on IBS as well. When you are sitting still in this posture, it allows your internal organs to function without any physical strain. Improving organ health and digestion is one of the top benefits which you get after being consistent with the practices of Siddhasana.
Increases Hip, Ankle, and Knees Flexibility
Siddhasana is also preferred as a hip opener and one of the best poses to increase your lower body’s flexibility. If you are struggling with tight hips and weak glutes because of prolonged sitting at one place, then this is the perfect asana for you. Siddhasana promotes external rotation of your hips and stretches your knees as well as ankles in a safe way.
Unlike the other intense yoga asana, you can modify Siddhasana according to your comfort with the help of different props such as cushion, blanket, blocks, etc. This makes the asana more accessible and safer while still being the best for delivering deep muscular opening. Practicing it daily will improve your range of motion and you will start sitting with more ease.
Also Read: 13 Yoga Poses For 2 People (Couple Yoga Poses)
Strengthen Lower Abdomen, Core, and Pelvic Floor
Practicing Siddhasana can subtly help in strengthening your core, pelvic region, and lower abdomen by engaging in Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha. These locks or bandhas are said to be the support system of your internal orange and pranic flow. Activating these areas regularly will promote better reproductive health, improve sexual function, and support urinary health.
These two bandas are essential tools in the ancient yogic practices as they help in improving the wellness of your lower abdominal area. The engagement with these muscles provide stability in the entire torso, slowly reducing the lower back pain and fostering endurance. Especially for the women going through postpartum, Siddhasana is beneficial for improving pelvic health naturally.
Enhances Inner-Stillness and Promotes Longevity
In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, it is mentioned that Siddhasana can lead you to liberation. It is a special yoga pose that helps you with enhancing the longevity of your health. The proper breath awareness, stability, and internal energy flow from practicing Siddhasana will enhance your immunity, sleep cycle, and reduce cellular stress.
This asana also trains your body to be comfortable in stillness. The silence on the inside reduces pressure from the nervous system and concentrates on improving emotional regulation, which leads to a much longer and peaceful life. Performing it daily can purify your mind, body, and soul, resulting in the longevity of the quality of life you have.
Prepares your Body for Advanced Yoga Practices
Siddhasana is useful in preparing for advanced practices of yoga like Dharana, Dhyana, and Pranayama as all of them require stillness in the posture. Learn to sit in a stable posture while practicing Siddhasana as it allows optimal breathing and provides stability without any strain. If you don’t have a steady mind and it keeps getting distracted by discomfort, then Siddhasana trains you to escape from the noise of the outer world and immerse in the deeper breathing practices. Think of it as a foundational asana which prepares your body for all the upcoming poses.
Also Read: Yoga Philosophy: Understanding the Roots and Essence
Reconnects You with Inner-Wisdom and Yogic Traditions
One of the top benefits of Siddhasana is that it connects you with the lineage of yoga practitioners, saints,and sages who have lived this life for thousands of years. It is a great yoga asana that carries generational wisdom. It serves as a reminder that you have to stay committed and connected to your inner-self. This connection of mind and body provides you a purpose for your patience. Align with the thoughts of your inner-self while practicing Siddhasana on a regular basis.
Siddhasana is a yoga asana for showcasing simplicity and the power of several yoga practitioners. It just asks for your willingness to sit, breath, and presence while offering so much in return. If you are an individual who is seeking physical health issues and mental stress, then this is the perfect asana for you. It doesn’t require you to have flexibility or enough strength but lays the groundwork for enlightenment.
