I have trouble sitting full lotus for any extended period. I can take the position, but it puts serious stress on my ankles, so I usually sit zazen in half lotus.
I recently decided that I'm young enough that I might as well get myself able to sit full lotus properly, so I looked into some stretches for it. I thought the problem was in my ankles.
Turns out it wasn't. I was skeptical when I saw people swearing up and down that all the primary stretch is in the hips (because my full lotus doesn't hurt my hips, y'know?), but I did some of the basic hip-stretching yoga poses that were recommended on various forums and, would-ya-look-at-that, after just two days my full lotus is getting easier.
So I've been doing some really basic stretches, sitting a short period in full lotus, and sitting a longer period (until standing seems right) in half lotus, and my entire practice has improved.
Just thought I'd mention. Normally I ignore the neo-hippie new age-y *********, so I ignored yoga entirely (despite the fact that I'm aware of the empirically measurable health benefits), but just a little routine seems to be helping.
I recently decided that I'm young enough that I might as well get myself able to sit full lotus properly, so I looked into some stretches for it. I thought the problem was in my ankles.
Turns out it wasn't. I was skeptical when I saw people swearing up and down that all the primary stretch is in the hips (because my full lotus doesn't hurt my hips, y'know?), but I did some of the basic hip-stretching yoga poses that were recommended on various forums and, would-ya-look-at-that, after just two days my full lotus is getting easier.
So I've been doing some really basic stretches, sitting a short period in full lotus, and sitting a longer period (until standing seems right) in half lotus, and my entire practice has improved.
Just thought I'd mention. Normally I ignore the neo-hippie new age-y *********, so I ignored yoga entirely (despite the fact that I'm aware of the empirically measurable health benefits), but just a little routine seems to be helping.