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This is for any teachers. Do you have any suggestions on how to teach the lotus pose to a group of students who have been doing yoga for 1-2 years?

I would think you first have to teach a lot of hip opening postures like lunges and pigeon pose before the students have enough flexibility to do a full lotus. Plus the flexibility of the knees gained through other meditation asanas must also be in place, I think.
I still struggle with the full pose. The top of my foot which is lower gets overstretched very quickly and I can't stay in the full pose comfortably for more than 3 breaths. Is there a trick with having the feet flexed?

I know I have not answered your question at all, David..... But just some more thoughts on the lovely Padmasana

As well as what Viparita says, maybe introduce/ practice mental and physical joint awareness in your classes (hips, knees and ankles) as a lead-up to, and when you're actually teaching the pose. As well as pelvis and spine awareness.

Maybe practice getting into and out of half-lotus on either side with focus on moving from the hips not the knees.

Because it's such an 'iconic' yoga pose and would be so exhilarating to get into fully, encourage patience in your students and emphasize steadiness and comfort.
Point out to your students when you're doing other preparatory poses or exercises that by doing these other ones, the lotus will come easier.

Here is a link: Yoga Journal : Poses : Seated & Twists

Hi David - I've been doing yoga for some years and still can't do the full padmasana. Donna Farhi's book 'Yoga Body Mind and Sprit' gives great insight into how to get into the pose. She says that if you can comfortably get into the half padmasana then the next step, rather than tugging the opposite leg up into lotus, is to lean back on your sit bones and lift the foot that is in lotus off the floor and get into the pose that way. I still find it difficult - and you have to be REALLY careful about protecting knee joints .

If you're teaching a class of intermediates there are some good warm up practices that you could do first - pigeon pose as Viprita suggests is a good one - I also find the cradle stretch excellent (sit in dandasana and bend your right knee and turn your leg out - raise your leg off the floor and place the sole of the foot in the crease of the left elbow and the thigh in the crease of the right elbow). Clasp the hands and gently move the hip back and forth - rotating the hip outwards as you do so.

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Another great technique that my teacher introduced me to was to come into a lotus position while lying on your back, as it takes a lot of pressure off from the spine .After practising the hip opening exercises as a warm up, lie on your back, bend one knee and place the ankle on the opposite thigh, then bend the other knee and gently place it a little closer to bent knee , rather than high up on the thigh. and then sit up using the hands' strength.

Try it first before leading others into this posture coz i agree it is a little tricky especially since it works very strongly on the knees and ankles!
Hope this helps!

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