Preparation for Getting into the Lotus

[howtostretch]

Did you see that in my channel there are two more lotus videos ? Lots of info there for you to improve your stretch.

[anglosaxons100]

Although I can get into the lotus position, I can only hold it for about 5 minutes, as I am not comfortable (yet). I have only just achieved the lotus this last few weeks, so I guess I will just have to keep working at it. Hopefully one day I will feel at ease whilst sitting in it, but I appear to have reached a stage where I am not making anymore progress. Anyone with any tips, please send them to me. Cheers.

Excellent video by the way!

[howtostretch]

Thanks. Make sure you watch the longer video tutorials on lotus as well. They will help a lot.

[DolorousEdd]

I hardly ever comment, but just had to for this video. Very good job of explaining barriers to the lotus, barriers especially relevant to me and others, I'm sure. Great stuff.

[howtostretch]

Very cool! Be sure to check back with my channel in the near future, i have a new project I am launching in January!

[Shadowhamsterrify]

one day someone did it and I copied them and did it fully on my first or second attempt :D

[vacuum1234567]

Finally....I am getting a better, workable understaning of this posture - I have wanted to do.

Thanks Doc, Namaste!

[howtostretch]

Yes, it does sound Like tight muscles. The muscles that cause the back to curve as you describe are the psoas muscles. Try doing the butterfly, then lying down on your back in that position, I bet the knees come up. Get the back to flatten, and then relax/work the knees down. That should help. Also, working on center splits can help, as you sit on ground, and stretch forward, you are also stretching the psoas( after you stretch all the other muscles that are tighter first)

[GuamKomudo]

This will help my Brazilian Jujitsu alot. I have issues with the "butterfly stretch" and sitting on the ground with my legs straight out in front of me. My back feels really tight and I cannot keep it straight, I'm curved in those positions idk why. I have no issues with my back except in those positions. Is it just REALLY tight and not stretched? Because it almost hurts when I am in those positions, I go to a chiropractor, so it has to be muscle and not the spine itself. Help me???

[howtostretch]

Thanks, please forward my channel to any of your friends interested in stretching!

[ShaolinRambo]

great videos i never saw any other person explain this so good:D

[BigLenIsHere]

Thanks for the vids! They are helpful

[howtostretch]

Depends on your background. For a serious athlete used to working muscles, you can do this everyday. For some folks, every other day would be fine. When i worked on this stretch, I was in my teens, and did three 45 minute sessions a day. I was already chodan ( black belt) and used to intense workouts.

[thatbboyrandom1]

@howtostretch that was a great tutorial an your type professional..i am a bboy..and i am starting to use these..to take breaking to the next level..of freezes...you rock man..oh yeah you have any tips of how to put your leg behind your head ..or do you have a lesson for that ?

[serdgeedgerunner]

How often to do this stretch? Every day? Every second day? Twice per day?

[howtostretch]

Thanks. Lots more info on my site, as well as my blog. Thanks for your comments!

[gnostie]

Very sensible and to the point. Moreover, it allows to gauge progress gradually and go one step at a time towards a clearly defined goal. Excellent advice!

[ElmTheWar]

wow you're awesome thanks

[TheArbiterReturns]

Thankyouthankyouthankyou. You would be surprised how many searches for this on the internet turned up fruitless. I'm so glad you put this up.

[giapponerosso]

very useful!!!! thanx a lot

[TricksterBee]

This was really helpful. I used to just force myself into lotus, but now I'll evaluate myself.

Luckily I didn't tear anything in the process

[silviality]

Your videos are sooo helpful! I was just looking for something like that and now I found it! Thank you very much Mark! :)

[IH8Monkeys]

as a brand new (and out of shape) student of meditation ....I thank you for this video.

[howtostretch]

It is never too old, but one does have to remember that certain tissues have different elasticity rates, and that does change with age. So, finding out what the limiting factor is (I talk about this on several of my videos) and addressing them (sometimes to the exclusion of all other exercises, btw) you can reach your goals.

[nanasil70]

Hi, I'm 71 years olf, BUT very flexible, I do yoga and Qigong but still can't do lotus.

So you think there is hope for me? My Lion stretch is fine, and my leg is not really, really high, but high, nonetheless.

I'd say my tightness is on the knee .

Help

[howtostretch]

Thanks, I am glad it helped. Subscribe for my latest updates, lots more to come, and please tell your friends!

[Nightxfox12]

Awsome! It had a great deal of tips in it! I'm sure this will help all of us out :D

[howtostretch]

Thanks, and be sure to check my new lotus videos, being uploaded as I type!

[ttaylor432001]

Thanks, Doc... you're cool!

[howtostretch]

I wrote a blog on that subject, check my blog from 2008 (I believe it is January). I also have four lotus videos that I am editing, so hang in there, it is coming and will be posted soon.

[ANG3LiiToVU3LA]

how long do u do each side? i'm using this for my brazilian jujitsu and this is the most helpful video ive seen so far.

[foornaa]

the lotus only hurts my right knee!! its so frustrating!

[howtostretch]

Thank you. If you liked this one, wait until you see the DVD I am making as we speak. Should be to the duplicator this week or next. There is a 20 plus minute detailed class on lotus. I think a lot of folks will like it.

[opoknock]

An excellent, detailed explanation.

[MashuBoomshanker]

This is great. Thanks a lot!

[Deusrexmachina]

I've flat feet and when I place the foot that goes on the inner leg thigh, after a while there's a sharp pain on the ankle since it's no longer in it's usual position. I've to deal with it more... :[

[howtostretch]

My feet are flat too. The sharp pain is usually a deep stretch in the tendons on the top of the foot. Hold it to your tolerance, get out of the position, massage your foot, then do it again. I find the repeating after rest really helps. More to come!

[Deusrexmachina]

You have them too!?... Well, if you look at mine you won't distinguish them from a duck's feet: completely flat! xD

Will follow yer advices, thanks. :)

[Fangen88]

that is exactly what Ive been looking for :) thank you soooo much.

[ke1oc]

Thanks for the video. My knees are not too high and my back feels ok, but my ankles are tight. When I push on my knees downward, I feel most of the stretch on my ankles, I've sprained both of them before playing basketball. Should I continue doing this stretch?

[dgk3188]

i have the same issues. i kind of have bad ankles from all my skateboarding years. i can get into lotus, but my ankles really start to hurt once i'm in the position. any suggestions for fixing this?

[howtostretch]

Not sure if I answered this, but go check my website, and look up the quad stretch. This might help!

[Deusrexmachina]

Nice. :D Am already sitting a bit in a semi-almost-kinda-sorta-halfwa­y lotus position on the chair I'm on.

[howtostretch]

You are welcome, and make sure to tell your friends about my videos!

[devenautar]

For sure, please put more videos up about lotus :)

[devenautar]

thank you so much i really appreciate it