Yoga

How to do Padma Sadhana

Usually when one thinks of a lotus, what comes to mind? A fully blossomed flower, where each petal is opening up to the sky. Now observe where does the lotus originate from? Mud. Yet, the lotus remains unstained and untouched by the pond. Imagine if we could also be like the lotus flower - untouched by day-to-day events and blossom with love and joy. Padma Sadhana is a practice that could make such blossoming possible. Designed by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, this beautiful yoga practice comprises a simple sequence of yoga postures, Nadi Shodhan breathing technique (pranayama), and meditation.

Unlock your potential with Padma Sadhana

The weight loss factor!

Besides its mental and emotional benefits, the Padma Sadhana is designed for a complete body workout. The long holds in to the poses leads to a firmer body. The workout takes around 20 minutes of your time but the intensity of the workout is such that it works on the body post 20 minutes and helps to burn a few calories post the workout.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says doing PadmaSadhana gives you access to your inner strength. When practiced daily, this 45-minute sequence of yoga poses can lead to a calmer mind, healthier body and more peace. This set of graceful yoga asanas (postures) helps prepare the body and mind for deeper meditation. One of the key tips is to stay relaxed throughout the practice. Doing Padma Sadhana before Sudarshan Kriya enhances your experience, so that you remain uplifted throughout the day, untouched by the mud around you.

‘Padma’ means lotus and ‘Sadhana’ is your effort. This practice should therefore be as effortless and light as a lotus. Sadhana is the gentle nudge to get on to the mat and Padma is the unfurling of your potential, layer by layer. Together, Padma Sadhana can help you blossom from within through the practice of yoga postures.

5 elements for a blissful Padma Sadhana

According to the Agama tradition*, it is believed that the Devi (Goddess) sits on a five-layered seat or asana. The base of this seat is a tortoise, which represents stability. Stability alone is not enough. You need awareness also. So the second layer is the snake, which represents awareness. Awareness can lead to activity in the mind. So above the snake sits the lion, which symbolizes grace. Above the lion sits the Siddha, the perfect sage. And above the perfect sage sits the lotus, the symbol of full blossoming. When our yoga postures have all these five qualities – stability, awareness, grace, perfection and full blossoming, then the divinity dawns in us and that is Padma Sadhana.

You can learn how to do Padma Sadhana at [The Art of Silence (Part-2) Course] and DSN Course.

Make PadmaSadhana a part of your daily morning and evening yoga practice and unlock your inner energy. Read some tips on padmasadhana

*Agama tradition is the traditional form of community temple worship.