Yoga came into existence thousands of years ago with the intent to make people live a life of wellness while walking on the path of enlightenment. The practice of yoga starts with physical training and eventually turns into a spiritual experience, making you unite with the universal conscience.

`Nature plays a significant role, influencing the practice of yoga. You must have observed how most of the asanas are named after an animal or plant, etc. and the former imbibes their feature.  Yoga asanas are the foundational base of the whole practice and is needed to be strong.

The asanas again are of various kinds, starting with the sitting poses. The easiest ways to commence the practice of yoga asanas, is with the seated poses which are simple and easy to perform.

The Seated Pose

A seated asana with the legs crossed and the feet placed on top of the opposite thighs. The name comes from Sanskrit, meaning ‘lotus throne’. This asana is traditionally used in meditation, both of which originated in ancient India.

The classical seated yoga pose, Lotus Pose is considered one of the four main seated poses for meditation. To gain deeper benefits, practice an enhanced version of the classical Lotus Pose- Baddha Padmasana or Locked Lotus Pose.

Baddha Padmasana or Locked Lotus Pose

The pose is an extension or enhanced version of the lotus pose and is considered as breathing yoga, and also known as Sanitarian Baddha Padmasana – a very good combination of brain and spinal cord. Baddha Padmasana is a Sanskrit word that means Baddha – locked or closed, Padma – lotus flower, and asana – pose or posture.

Also, locked lotus pose is an advanced level of meditation pose that maintains mental and physical stability. The pose carries with it a lot of benefits if practiced correctly.

Top 7 Health Benefits of Baddha Padmasana

1. Enhances Spine Agility
   The yoga posture is a very good for the brain and spinal cord, hence, benefits the spine related problems. The asana relieves sciatica, soothes back pain, and enhances the stance of the spine. The posture makes a weakened spine stronger, correcting the bad posture.
2. Increases Mental Stability
   The asana increases mental and physical stability in which the mind keeps calm, and you experience mental peace. When you practice the pose, it makes a definite flow of blood towards the brain that calms the mind. The certain flow of pranic currents towards the brain also makes the mind fit for introversion or higher practice of meditation.
3. Strengthens the Legs
   The twist and turns in the pose are beneficial for each body part, and when you get yourself locked in the pose, the pressure on the knees get tied that make your legs stronger and flexible. Not only the legs, it’s also good for the hips and back.
4. Improve Flexibility
   One of the yoga pretzel pose that is highly responsible for improving the overall flexibility of the body, and enhance flexibility results in the prevention of injury from falling. It also soothes the muscles and makes you do the daily chores easily.
5. Good for Joints
   The pose involves and extends the joints of the shoulders, wrists, back, elbows, hips knees, lower legs, and makes them more adaptable. This prevents the occurring of joint problems and eliminates muscle issues.
6. Relieves Arthritis
   Though the asana is beneficial for the joints preventing joint issues, but also helps those who are facing problems like arthritis. The pose relieves the joints and eases the body. But if the condition is worse, it is advised to consult a doctor or Yoga practitioner before practising.
7. Benefits Stomach
   Locked Lotus Pose is extremely useful in stimulating the organs of the stomach. It benefits the digestive system, enhances metabolism, and massages the abdominal organs.

How to do Baddha Padmasana (Locked Lotus Pose)?

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1. Sit in Padmasana or the Lotus pose. To accomplish this, sit on the floor with legs relaxed. Take the right leg and place it on the left thigh and then take the left leg and place it on top of the right thigh. This is the classical cross legged Lotus pose. One may also place the right leg over the left leg which can be seen in ancient sculptures of yogis and of Buddha in meditation.
2. Take the left hand behind the back and hold the toe of the leg on the opposite side. Similarly, take the right hand behind the back and hold the toe of the feet on the left side. This requires a bit if flexibility.
3. Bend the head down and place the chin on the chest. This is the chin lock or Jalandhara Bandha.
4. Place your gaze on the tip of the nose. This is called Nasikagra Drishti. The eyes can be kept partially closed.
5. Maintain this pose for as long as comfortable. Once you master this pose, it can be used for prolonged meditation sessions.
6. One of the popular variations of Baddha Padmasana that is practiced today does not use the chin lock and the nose tip gazing. Instead, after step 2, bend the trunk forward and touch the ground with your forehead. Exhale slowly while you bend forward. Do this slowly with full awareness. Remain in this pose for as long as possible. Then inhale slowly and raise the head and straighten the trunk. Take few normal breaths. Repeat the process as many times as you desire.

Benefits of Baddha Padmasana (Locked Lotus Pose)

1. Baddha Padmasana helps to achieve physical and mental stability. The mind calms down and practitioner experiences peace.
2. This pose creates a certain flow of pranic currents towards the brain that calms down the mind making it fit for introversion and higher practices of meditation.
3. Baddha Padmasana gives lot of flexibility of the arms and the legs.
4. If the variation (mentioned in step 6) is practiced, it massages the organs in the abdomen and alleviates pain in shoulder and arms
5. Baddha Padmasana or Locked Lotus Pose is a breathing yoga which is mentioned in Sanitarian. Baddha Padmasana is a very good combination of the brain and spinal cord. Every person in the world wants to be healthy and they adopt many ways to be healthy, yoga is a very good medium to keep our body healthy, it is the most popular today in the world, yoga is very easy for everyone. This article explains the benefits of Baddha Padmasana, the way to do this and precautions. Every person in the world wants to be healthy and adopts many methods for this, yoga is a very good medium to keep our body healthy. Yoga is the most popular thing to be healthy around the world. Doing yoga is very easy for everyone. Buddha Padmasana is such a yoga that maintains physical and mental stability. The baddha Padmasana is mentioned in the Grandfather Samhita. It is a breathing technique, it is a very good yoga for the brain and spinal cord.

Sit in Padmasana with legs crossed. The heels should touch the lower part of the belly or abdomen. Then take your right hand behind the back. Catch hold of the right leg with the forefinger and middle finger of the right hand. Then take your left hand behind the back and catch hold of the toe of the left leg with the forefinger and middle finger of the left hand. Now press the chin against the chest. Look at the tip of the nose, Nasikagra Drishti. Breath slowly.
Some people find it difficult to catch hold of the two toes at a time. They can practice Ardha Baddha Padmasana (half-pose) to start with for a month. Afterwards they can take to the Purana Baddha Padmasana (full-pose). Practice this Ardha Baddha Padmasana on the right side. Then do alternately on the left side also. In doing the full pose, use little skill. Catch one toe first and when you attempt to catch the other one, slightly bend the body forwards. This will make matters easy in catching the other toe. During the half-pose, catch hold of one toe with one finger. Change the side afterwards. The half-pose is a preparatory stage for the full-pose.

This is not an Asana for meditation. This is chiefly intended for improving the health, vigor and vitality of the body to a considerable degree. The benefits of the Padmasana are derived in this Asana to an enormous extent. This must be practiced regularly at least for six months. Then only maximum advantages can be realized. You cannot expect the full benefits of this Asana by merely sitting for a couple of minutes. You must practice this at least for half an hour. If you can do it for an hour or an hour and a half, you will doubtless derive immense benefit. There are persons who do this Asana for full three hours. How tenacious and patient these people are! They keep wonderful health and vigor and a high standard of vitality. Many diseases are cured by this Asana. Chronic diseases of the stomach, liver, spleen and intestines that are pronounced incurable by Allopaths and Ayurveda Kavirajas are cured by a steady practice of this Asana. There is no doubt of this. Diseases of the stomach such as chronic gastritis, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, dysentery, as cites, constipation, acidity, belching, chronic lumbago, are removed. As it keeps the Meru Danda erect, hunch-back is removed. The nerves of the waist, hip, feet and legs are purified. Enlargement of the spleen and liver is cured. Torpidity of the liver disappears. This Asana exercises a potent influence over the Surya Chakra (solar plexus of nerves) behind the Nabhi (navel) and stimulates it. You draw a great deal of energy.

Draw the belly backwards and upwards. Repeat Om or Rama mentally. Imagine that the seminal energy flows towards the brain for being stored up as Ojas-Sakti. Do this special practice for 10 minutes daily. You will have no wet-dreams. This process is a great help for keeping up Brahmacharya.