Since ages past, meditation has been practiced by countless people for its many benefits. Practicing meditation as part of your daily routine might lead to improvements in your outlook 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 considered to be your life force.
A straight back is essential to most of the meditation traditions, and is a standard component of the various postures used in this practice. 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. Thighs are parallel with the ground. Hands are placed comfortably on the knees or chair arms.
2. Cross legged position. 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. Buttocks remain resting on the heels and toes, which are close together. 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 position isn’t used often because it copies the innate position of sleep. A person might doze off at times. 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. 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. 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 achieve the advantages of meditation, stick to the advice and training of the kind of meditation you have chosen 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.