Which Meditation Posture is Right for You?

There are many types of meditation to choose from and each type has its own peculiar meditation posture.

The way you hold the arms, the hands and even the fingers varies from one type to another.

Most types of meditation encourage sitting with your back straight, your legs crossed in front of you and your chin tucked in so that your neck is aligned with your straight spine.

Another acceptable posture is sitting comfortably in a chair with your back straight, and with both feet flat on the floor and hands resting on your legs.

Whether to keep your eyes closed, or slightly open, is also a matter of choice. Some recommend slightly open eyes to keep you awake and alert.

Here is my favorite...

Personally, because I experience discomfort while sitting for long periods of time, I find my meditations effective even while I lie down flat, either on a mat on the floor, or on a bed, with a pillow supporting my neck.

The Ishayas' Ascension recommends sitting upright in a chair, and not being so comfortable that you might fall asleep. With your feet placed flat on the floor it feels comfortable to have your hands lying one on each leg.

Standing Meditation

Ascension also offers open-eye meditation that you can use anywhere anytime, sitting or standing. This may be one of the reasons I prefer it to others.

In stressful situations with another individual, just thinking one of the Ishaya techniques (called Attitudes) diffuses tension between you. It has proven to be so effective that your partner in conflict also calms down.

Standing in long line-ups at banks, post offices and supermarkets is no longer stressful because once again, just using one of the techniques, with your eyes open relaxes and calms you down.

So before you adopt one style of mediation it is wise to choose one that meets your criteria for comfort.

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