Siddhasana Benefits: 5 Reasons to Do the Accomplished Pose

Seated yoga poses may look simple, but they offer countless benefits to your health. They are especially good for beginners! One such yoga pose that can be an excellent addition to any fitness routine is Siddhasana or Accomplished Pose. It is an easy yoga asana that can be performed by people of different fitness levels and age groups. This cross-legged sitting position is often used while meditating. It does not include backbends or balancing yourself on one leg. But this yoga pose can provide benefits, including better mental health and posture. Know the benefits of Siddhasana and how to do this yoga asana.

What is Siddhasana or Completion Pose?

Also known as the Accomplished Pose, this beginner-friendly seated yoga pose. Siddhasana is a Sanskrit word derived from Siddha, which means perfect or accomplished, and asana means pose. “This pose is mainly for meditation and is done with folded legs,” says yoga expert Yogesh Chavan. It is a pose from hatha yoga, a practical form of the ancient Indian yoga discipline that prepares the body and mind for meditation.

What are the benefits of Siddhasana or Accomplished Pose?

Here are some benefits of this yoga asana:

1. Reduces stress

Chronic stress can lead to many health problems, such as anxiety and depression. “Sitting in a meditative posture like Siddhasana and practicing deep breathing can provide relief from life's daily stressors,” says the expert. This is evident from research published in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine In 2018, regularly practicing hatha yoga can reduce stress in women.

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2. Improves posture and reduces back pain

Slouching or slouching can lead to neck and back pain. These can be avoided with the help of this yoga pose as it requires you to sit in a firm and upright position. Performing this pose regularly can help strengthen your spine and improve your posture. According to the US, yoga can also relieve neck pain and lower back pain National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Care.

3. Improves concentration

If you get distracted easily, do the Accomplished Pose. You can improve your concentration by doing this yoga pose. “It can help you focus your mind on a particular task. This can result in making good decisions and successfully completing the task,” says Chavan.

4. Can Improve Your Immunity

Our body has an immune system that needs to be strong to help fight infections and other health problems. “But if your physiological systems, such as the respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory system and reproductive system, are not functioning at optimal levels, your immunity can become low,” says the expert. This asana can improve your immunity and keep you healthy. During a 2022 study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Careresearchers found that yoga and meditations can improve respiratory health and immunity.

5. Can improve flexibility

Do you want to move easily? Then your legs must be strong, which is not possible without exercise. “If you are not physically active, they can become stiff, which can lead to a lack of blood circulation and cause pain. This asana provides stiffness by increasing the flexibility of hips, groin and inner thighs,” says the expert.

How do you do Siddhasana or Accomplished Pose?

1. Sit on the floor, preferably on a yoga mat, to cushion the hard ground.
2. Sit with your legs extended forward.
3. Fold your right leg and bring it close to your body so that your heel is under your genitals. It should feel like you are almost sitting on your right heel, but not completely.
4. Fold your left leg in the same way and place the heel directly above your right leg.
5. Your knees should touch the ground with your back straight.

“Beginners can do this asana, but you lack flexibility, it can be difficult to perform the last pose properly,” says the expert. But if you practice consistently and do the right warm-up exercises, you can achieve this in due time.

Here are some things to consider:

• Don't force yourself to do the last pose on the first try. This asana looks simple, but it can be difficult to achieve the correct finishing position.
• Do not sit for too long as this can cause your body parts to become sore.
• Make sure to alternate your legs or the leg you cross on top each time you hold this pose, otherwise one side will feel more flexible than the other.
• Maintain an upright posture during this yoga pose.

Who Should Avoid Siddhasana or Accomplished Pose?

People with the following health problems should try to avoid this pose:

• Anyone who suffers from sciatica, a condition in which pain radiates along the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back to one or both legs.
• Those who suffer from arthritis, an inflammation of one or more joints, which causes stiffness and a lot of pain.
• People with knee or ankle pain should avoid this.
• Anyone who has recently had surgery.

“Trying this asana may aggravate the pre-existing pain or health problem,” says the expert. Siddhasana or Accomplished Pose may look like a simple yoga asana, but people who are less flexible may have some difficulty with it. Have patience and practice it to reap health benefits like less stress and better posture.