Today we're going to take a look at how to choose a mediation chair and how to sit during meditation.
Many people like to use an armchair. Unfortunately they generally aren't ideal, because the seat usually slopes so that your hips are lower than your knees, when you need it to be the other way round, and the back slopes which also is not helpful for your body. However if you have a favourite armchair that you really want to use, here are a couple of tips to help you adapt it.
Get a good cushion at your back so that you can sit straight, and you find a yoga block or something similar to put under your hips to lift them so they're slightly higher than the knees.
The best sort of chair has a straight back. An ordinary kitchen dining chair, tends to be ideal or an armchair that supports you to sit straight with both feet flat on the floor.
If your feet don't reach the ground easily or comfortably when you are sitting with your hips against the back of the chair, find some blocks or books to put underneath so your feet can be flat.
If you're wearing high heels, take them off! They look fantastic, but they aren't great for meditating in, as the angle doesn't help your body relax.
So, sit down with both feet flat on the floor (on books or blocks if you need them.) Now check. Your body likes the joints to be at right-angles so just check through the ankles, the knees, the hips, that they are right angled.
Adjust your posture until you're comfortable with your hips right back against the back of the chair, and your back is so that your spine can rise effortlessly out of the hips. You might want to put a little something behind your back.
Now take a deep gentle breath, check your posture and imagine that you've got a cord gently extending your spine up.
Many people, (including me), tend to tip the head back so that the spine is compressed. This is something to watch during the day, not just during meditation, so gently lower the chin and extend the back of the spine so that you feel the extension. It's not just sticking your head down, it's lengthening and dropping the chin.
What to do with your hands? I have three favourite postures:
Gently close your eyes, and lengthen the spine, letting your back be relaxed, coming out of the hips. Check your ankles, your knees, your hips for those nice right angles and adjust until you're comfortable. Take a deep breath and relax as you breathe out.
Smile, and let yourself feel good!
(This is an enormously relaxing thing that you can do at any moment during your day.)
I'll be back next week when we'll take a look at what you need to be aware of if you want to sit on the floor to meditate.
Stay tuned, share this with your friends – we're doing a lot about meditation over the next few weeks – and have a great week.
I believe in you.
Jasmine
Get a good cushion at your back so that you can sit straight, and you find a yoga block or something similar to put under your hips to lift them so they're slightly higher than the knees.
The best sort of chair has a straight back. An ordinary kitchen dining chair, tends to be ideal or an armchair that supports you to sit straight with both feet flat on the floor.
If your feet don't reach the ground easily or comfortably when you are sitting with your hips against the back of the chair, find some blocks or books to put underneath so your feet can be flat.
If you're wearing high heels, take them off! They look fantastic, but they aren't great for meditating in, as the angle doesn't help your body relax.
So, sit down with both feet flat on the floor (on books or blocks if you need them.) Now check. Your body likes the joints to be at right-angles so just check through the ankles, the knees, the hips, that they are right angled.
Adjust your posture until you're comfortable with your hips right back against the back of the chair, and your back is so that your spine can rise effortlessly out of the hips. You might want to put a little something behind your back.
Now take a deep gentle breath, check your posture and imagine that you've got a cord gently extending your spine up.
Many people, (including me), tend to tip the head back so that the spine is compressed. This is something to watch during the day, not just during meditation, so gently lower the chin and extend the back of the spine so that you feel the extension. It's not just sticking your head down, it's lengthening and dropping the chin.
What to do with your hands? I have three favourite postures:
- Palm down on the thighs is a nice, solid posture that often feels good.
- Palm up on the thighs is a lovely releasing and receiving sort of posture. Depending on the meditation, this may be the one that I feel is best.
- The other one is hands lightly clasped over the belly.
Gently close your eyes, and lengthen the spine, letting your back be relaxed, coming out of the hips. Check your ankles, your knees, your hips for those nice right angles and adjust until you're comfortable. Take a deep breath and relax as you breathe out.
Smile, and let yourself feel good!
(This is an enormously relaxing thing that you can do at any moment during your day.)
I'll be back next week when we'll take a look at what you need to be aware of if you want to sit on the floor to meditate.
Stay tuned, share this with your friends – we're doing a lot about meditation over the next few weeks – and have a great week.
I believe in you.
Jasmine
