All posts tagged “legs”
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Question for June 23, 2013: Leg Position
Medivate — 13 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 13 years ago — in Question of the Week
When seated on a meditation cushion, how do you hold your legs? What are trade-offs of that posture?
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davidbhayes — 13 years ago — permalinkI think this page may be useful for defining how I actually put me legs in relation to named postures.
Essentially, when I started I mostly sat with my legs crossed in a posture a bit like half lotus. I've seen it referred to as "Quarter Lotus", but it's essentially one leg over the other and just a little in (rather than foot fully on top). It's reasonably comfortable, but not that great. I'd find after long sessions I'd have some strange stretched feeling in my "outer ankle" (for lack of a better term) that wouldn't go away over the course of the day. I found a similar problem when I tried just crossing my legs in the way roughly like what I grew up knowing as "Indian style"--both feet under your legs.
So mostly, now, I do Burmese style, where my legs are roughly parallel on the floor in front and don't overlap at all. It ends up being a bit wider than most other styles, but I've yet to notice any strange lingering effects on my legs from it.
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Question for January 24, 2016: Leg Position
Medivate — 11 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 11 years ago — in Question of the Week
When seated on a meditation cushion, how do you hold your legs? What are trade-offs of that posture?
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Question for December 10, 2017: Leg Position
Medivate — 9 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 9 years ago — in Question of the Week
When seated on a meditation cushion, how do you hold your legs? What are trade-offs of that posture?
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Question for October 27, 2019: Leg Position
Medivate — 7 years ago — in Question of the Week
Medivate — 7 years ago — in Question of the Week
When seated on a meditation cushion, how do you hold your legs? What are trade-offs of that posture?
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NEBULABUFF — 7 years ago — permalinkYou should fold your legs as is most comfortable for you. If you're young and flexible you might sit Full Lotus or Half Lotus. Master Dogen, if I remember correctly, placed a huge amount of importance on posture while meditating - so if you sat in the posture of the Buddha, you are the Buddha, whether you know it or not.
I think (and believe it has been shown) posture is not as important as practice. After all, meditation is not supposed to be a torture session but rather a quiet, comfortable state of awareness. At my age, if I tried to sit Full Lotus I'd probably pop both my knees out of joint! So, comfortably cross-legged works fine for me. I think nowadays TM Teachers even say sitting in a comfortable chair, or even laying down is o.k.
So, however you choose to sit; just sit. That's the most important thing. Blessings.