Meditation Postures: Take Your Pick
It’s not in any way necessary to take on an uncomfortable or difficult position when you’re meditating. There are one or two guidelines, though, that help you make the most of your meditation session. For instance, most forms of meditation call for the spine to be straight and the posture to be erect. The reason for this is that when you sit erect it promotes the circulation of your spiritual energy. This is believed to be your life energy or force.
Even though a straight back is almost universal in the different approaches to meditation, some forms of the practice such as spiritual meditation utilize a variety of postures. Here’s a look at a few of the different postures.
1. Seated position. The person sits erect while keeping the back straight. Spine and head are aligned and straight. The thighs are parallel to the floor. Hands are placed comfortably on the knees or chair arms.
2. Cross legged posture. This is one of the most popular positions, and includes the lotus position.
3. Kneeling posture. The person is positioned with both knees resting on the floor. The buttocks rest on the heels and toes, which are placed side by side. The hands are placed on the thighs.
4. Lying down posture. In yoga this is referred to as savasna; it’s also known as the corpse position. The individual lies flat on the floor with the legs straight and relaxed. This position isn’t used often because it copies the innate position of sleep. A person might doze off at times. This is more useful for stress reduction rather than as a meditation method.
As well as the postures, there are a number of actions or gestures that might form part of the meditation experience. Included in these are hand motions which are termed Mudras. A theological meaning is at the root of these gestures. Founded on the yogic school of thought, they might affect the consciousness. A typical example is the placement of hands in Buddhist meditation. With the thumbs touching, the right hand is positioned on top of the left hand.
Integrating assorted repetitive actions like chanting, deep breathing or humming also assists in bringing on a state of meditation. Some people practice walking meditation. Typically, the eyes are closed or partially closed during meditation. However, Soto Zen practitioners perform their meditation with their eyes wide open in front of a wall.
For thousands of years, meditation has been practiced by countless people for its many advantages. Incorporating meditation into your everyday life could make a huge difference in your mindset and attitude. To gain the benefits of meditation, follow the training of the type of meditation you have decided to practice. Remember that acceptance and persistence are necessary in order to have success. This could be of help at times when you find difficulty in meditating, and it will also improve your concentration in daily life.