Grounding In Sukhasana : Anything But Easy

My teacher used to tell me that the purpose of all of our poses/asanas was to achieve Sukhasana, or 'Easy Seat'; the meditation seat. She also made it abundantly clear that to achieve a healthy 'J-curved spine' in Sukhasana is extremely challenging. Today, I'm going to explain the first grounding principles of 'Easy Seat', principles that will specify how to 1. Elevate the whole pelvis 2. Anchor the 'Sits Bones' or Ischial Tuberosity 3. Untuck the Tailbone or Coccyx The number one rule when practicing Sukhasana requires elevating the pelvis by sitting on a folded blanket, towel, or cushion. This prevents the crushing of the coccyx, and allows you the ability to untuck it. When you sit up on your prop, orient your 'Sits Bones' ever so slightly off the back edge of the blanket or cushion. It's a very subtle movement, but now that you are lifted, you can employ gravity to uncoil your tailbone, so having it over the edge gives you this anterior to posterior rolling action. You can see in the photo how this alignment creates a pelvic anchor.
Now, let's analyze the deliberate action needed to ground the Ischial Tuberosity. From the anterior view of Sukhasana, the legs are crossed. Nothing about this position is passive in any way. You are squeezing your legs together, while simultaneously flexing flexing flexing wide the feet, and driving driving driving the heels away from the body. Holding this specific and purposeful alignment can conjure tingling burning-like sensations in the legs and feet. Developing this muscle action through correct posture will align your hips, and grow your spine.

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