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Echo
United Kingdom
48 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 15 2007 : 07:02:11 AM
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Hi,
Up till now, I’ve been meditating sitting astride a zafu in a sort of kneeling position, with no back support. I see that a cross leg position is recommended for the later exercises, and I was wondering if I should try to get used to a new sitting position, or simply continue with what I’m used to?
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Sparkle
Ireland
1457 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2007 : 09:47:09 AM
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Hi Echo
You're very welcome to the forum.
I take it you have started the AYP practices. Can you tell us how long you have been practicing?
Sitting in a kneeling position on a zafu can be very centering and comfortable for meditation.
We do what is most comfortable for us at AYP, a lot of people simply sit on a chair with back support.
You might be thinking of siddhasana when you talk of cross-legged. This involved placing one heel at the perenium, however it can also be acomplished easily with a rolled up sock or other object, instead of the heel.
So I wouldn't worry about having to sit cross-legged. If you are flexible enough to do it easily or if you feel that way inclined then go for it.
It is not however a requirement for the AYP practices.
Hope that helps
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Jim and His Karma
2111 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2007 : 10:02:05 AM
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One thing about the unsupported back:
I started off doing zen meditation, and brought that to AYP...sitting very proper, very straight, on a zafu with no back support. One day I wasn't feeling good, and practiced in bed, with my back against the headboard and a pillow tucked behind me, as Yogani recommended for beginners. I haven't gone back. |
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Echo
United Kingdom
48 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2007 : 11:36:19 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sparkle
Hi Echo
You're very welcome to the forum.
I take it you have started the AYP practices. Can you tell us how long you have been practicing?
Sitting in a kneeling position on a zafu can be very centering and comfortable for meditation.
We do what is most comfortable for us at AYP, a lot of people simply sit on a chair with back support.
You might be thinking of siddhasana when you talk of cross-legged. This involved placing one heel at the perenium, however it can also be acomplished easily with a rolled up sock or other object, instead of the heel.
So I wouldn't worry about having to sit cross-legged. If you are flexible enough to do it easily or if you feel that way inclined then go for it.
It is not however a requirement for the AYP practices.
Hope that helps
Hi, and thank you for the replies!
I’m very new to AYP. It was recommended to me by a friend. I have been practicing Ashtanga for a little over 5 years. I felt that I would like to give more emphasis to meditation and so began Anapanasati a while ago now. At first I thought that I would sit in lotus. I have always found lotus easy, but found that after about 15minutes my back began to ach. So then I tried sitting in a chair and that didn’t work for me. Then I trieds sitting astride a zafu. I found that very comfertable.
I got the impression from reading the lessons that before adding pranayama to the practice, one needed to be comferable in siddhasana, all be it with back support. But it seems that is no necessarily so.
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Noobie question about posture.
