Different Postures of Meditation
Since ancient times, people have practiced meditation for the numerous benefits it offers. Practicing meditation as part of your daily routine might lead to improvements in your outlook and attitude.
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 considered to be your life 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 posture. The person sits erect while keeping the back straight. Spine and head are aligned and straight. Thighs are parallel with the ground. The hands are placed on the arms of the chair or on the knees.
2. Cross legged posture. This is a very common posture; the lotus position is included in this category.
3. Kneeling posture. The individual is on the floor in a kneeling position. The buttocks rest on the heels and toes, which are placed side by side. The hands are placed on the thighs.
4. Lying down position. This is also called the corpse position or, in yoga, savasna. The individual lies flat on the floor with the legs straight and relaxed. This posture isn't that common since it so closely resembles the sleeping position. The individual can occasionally nod off. 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. Among these are hand gestures called Mudras. There's a theological significance behind these motions. Founded on the yogic school of thought, they might affect the consciousness. A typical example is the placement of hands in Buddhist meditation. The right hand reposes on top of the left hand with thumbs touching.
You can also encourage a state of meditation through the use of repetitive activities like deep breathing, chanting and humming. Some people practice walking meditation. Typically, the eyes are closed or partially closed during meditation. Those who practice Soto Zen meditation, however, do so with their eyes open looking at a wall.
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.
