Different Postures of Meditation
Since ages past, meditation has been practiced by countless people for its many benefits. Incorporating meditation into your everyday life could make a huge difference in your mindset and attitude.
Most forms of meditation call for the spine to be straight and the posture to be erect. 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. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1. Seated position. The person sits erect while keeping the back straight. The head and spine are in alignment and not tilted. The thighs are parallel to the floor. Hands are placed comfortably on the knees or chair arms.
2. Cross legged position. This is a very common posture; the lotus position is included in this category.
3. Kneeling position. The individual is on the floor in a kneeling position. Buttocks remain resting on the heels and toes, which are close together. 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 person lies down on the floor keeping the legs unbent and at ease. This posture isn’t that common since it so closely resembles the sleeping position. A person might doze off at times. This is better as a means of reducing stress more so than for meditating.
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. Coming from the yogic philosophy, they can impact your 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. There are also those who use 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.
Benefits of Meditation – Interview with Dada Jyotirupananda
|
|
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life £3.97 In this work, Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in our lives, and awakening us to the unique beauty and possibilities of each present moment. He shows us how this simple meditation technique can enable us to be truly in touch with where we already are…. |
|
|
Teaching Mindfulness: A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Educators £31.56 … |
|
|
TM – Transcendental Meditation Searching for a meditation technique? Learn about the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique in this lively introduction by Robert Roth. The book prepares readers for personalized instruction in the TM technique by a trained teacher at TM Centers located throughout the world. More than five million people of all ages, cultures, and religions have learned this simple, natural technique and use it… |