hello there, I have a posture question to pose: all of the meditation courses and materials I've read so far tell you that you should meditate with your back straight and unsupported (whether you're sitting on the ground or on a chair). However, I find it extremely difficult to meditate with my back unsupported. I find it very tiring, painful after a few minutes, and the result is I can't concentrate on meditating at all when my back is unsupported, for I keep feeling the discomfort and the need to rest my back. I also noticed that my thigh muscles get very tense when I try to meditate with my back unsupported. None of the meditation materials says much about this problem, they mention it as though it was easy to remain with your back unsupported, but I've never been able to do it for more than 5 minutes or so (and in these 5 minutes I was not meditating, I was just enduring the discomfort). It might be because I'm tall and I have a pretty bad posture overall, but what should I do? Should I keep trying to get used to it or should I just accept it and comfortably rest my back? Do you guys have the same problem? Thanks and kind regards, Mantiri
Support your back to be comfortable. Many people cannot sit on the floor unsupported, but they can certainly meditate. Some people need to sit in a chair and that's OK. Are you sure that your back is the problem? If your hamstrings are tight, it can be hard to sit on the floor (if that's what you're doing) without collapsing in your back. Have you tried sitting up on one or more pillows? You want your knees at or below the level of your hip bones. You might want to work on strengthening your abdominal and back muscles so that you can sit unsupported-you're young to have a bad back already.
I know I'm too young to have a bad back :-( but I only recently have I started paying attention to that. And I'm taller than average, which only makes it worse. I usually meditate on a chair, with my back comfortably supported, but I'm uncomfortable with the fact that every meditation material tell you to meditate with your back unsupported, I always have this feeling that I'm doing it wrong and this is hindering my progress. But you're right, I will try to strengthen my abdomen and back, thanks for the advice. kind regards
It is key to have a straight back during meditation - this is the natural human form of posture, and allows your energy to flow well. Try meditating cross-legged on a soft surface like a bed and your problem is probably solved. Don't forget to lean forwards and really let your legs support you. My ankles will hurt if I'm on a hard floor because they are pointy and press into the ground, but the bed solves these kinds of problems as well.
That is why it is supposed to be done in the full lotus position or sitting on your knees like some Buddhists do. I have a bad back and broke a vertebrae. I have meditated many hours a day sitting on the floor in a full lotus with no back support for over 3 decades. But maybe I am just bragging. I am very flexible from doing yoga and martial arts for years. I cannot sit very long cross legged (not in full lotus). Some tall people told me that their legs were too long to sit in full lotus. Some I know meditate sitting in a chair and it can still work extremely well if you are doing the right mediatation. What is Enlightenment
