Different Postures of Meditation
Since ancient times, people have practiced meditation for the numerous benefits it offers. Incorporating meditation into your everyday life could make a huge difference in your mindset and attitude.
Almost all meditative practices teach that the spine must remain straight and slumping is not encouraged. The explanation for this is that sitting upright encourages the movement 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 spiritual traditions and meditation instructors advise a variety of postures. Here’s a look at a few of them.
1. Seated position. The individual sits upright while maintaining a straight back. 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. Hands rest on the thighs.
4. Lying down posture. In yoga this is referred to as savasna; it’s also known as the corpse position. The person lies down on the floor keeping the legs unbent and at ease. This position isn’t used often because it copies the innate position of sleep. The individual can occasionally nod off. This is better as a means of reducing stress more so than for meditating.
In addition to these postures, there are several gestures and movements that can be incorporated into the practice of meditation. Included in these are hand motions which are termed Mudras. A theological meaning is at the root of these gestures. Coming from the yogic philosophy, they can impact your consciousness. One illustration is the typical Buddhist hand placement. The right hand reposes on top of the left hand with thumbs touching.
Integrating assorted repetitive actions like chanting, deep breathing or humming also assists in bringing on a state of meditation. Some people practice walking meditation. It’s common to keep the eyes closed or partially open while meditating. However, Soto Zen practitioners perform their meditation with their eyes wide open in front of a wall.
To achieve the advantages of meditation, stick to the advice and training of the kind of meditation you have chosen to practice. Be aware that persistence and acceptance are required to achieve success. This could be of help at times when you find difficulty in meditating, and it will also improve your concentration in daily life.