Reclining Easy Poseसुप्त सुखासन

Lay a bolster lengthways with one short end where the base of your spine will sit, propped on a block if you want more incline. Sit in front of the bolster and cross the shins loosely, then slide a rolled blanket under each outer knee. Lie back along the bolster so the spine and head are supported the whole way. Add a folded blanket under the head so the chin is level with or slightly below the forehead. Rest the hands on the belly, stay half the hold, then uncross and recross the legs the other way. Hold for 5–10 minutes.

Primarily the hip adductors, lower back, with the chest, glutes, hip flexors assisting or lengthening. In mechanical terms: holds an easy cross-legged hip position with the whole upper body reclined and propped.

Knee injury — build the supports under the knees much higher. Pregnancy: keep the torso well inclined rather than flat, and stop if it feels uncomfortable. Reflux or breathlessness lying low — raise the far end of the bolster higher. Recent hip replacement, where crossed legs may be restricted. This is general information, not medical advice — if any of these apply to you, ask your doctor and learn the pose with a qualified teacher rather than from a page.

Yes. Reclining Easy Pose is a beginner-level pose on this site, which means it is learnable in a first class and has a version that works for most bodies. The cautions above still apply.

The honest answer is that nobody has measured a single asana. The 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities publishes MET values for styles of yoga, not for individual poses. Reclining Easy Pose sits closest to Compendium code 02170, yoga, Nadisodhana (seated, quiet practice), at 2 MET — about 74 kcal for 30 minutes of that kind of practice for a 70 kg adult. Holding one pose for a minute is a rounding error either way.