When I was seeing the Paramhansa Yogananda pictures where they setting in lotus posture and swami Yukteshwar giri , lahari mahashay and Maha avatar babaji they all are setting in lotus posture. I see there they put right leg first than left leg in lotus posture why not they did place left leg over right for setting in padmasan? I all so see my other people also do the same why they not choose left leg first than place right leg in lotus posture?
Jai guru
—Garry, USA
Dear Garry,
The way the gurus are sitting is considered the traditional way of doing Padmasana. Swami Kriyananda, too, sat that way, and in his book, The Art & Science of Raja Yoga, he instructs that “preferably the right” foot goes on the opposite thigh before the left foot does so.
I do not know why that is the preferred way, and I doubt that it leads to a noticeable difference in the meditation experience for most people. In any case, if you sit in Padmasana, I recommend regularly reversing the arrangement of the legs so as to stretch the body evenly.
Blessings on your meditations,
Nayaswami Gyandev
Co-founder of Yoga Alliance
