Meditation advice?

chenjie

Hello. When I sit in half lotus my legs fall asleep after a few minutes (like most people),
This doesn't distract from my meditating, but is it for my legs?

misecmisc1

don't worry, your legs are not meditating

Invincible_summer

You don't have to sit in any lotus position if you don't want to.

I find Burmese to be the most comfortable for me (mostly because I can't even do half- or full-lotus), never had issues with legs falling asleep.


Or are you asking if it's bad for your circulation or something...?

Floating_Abu

Dear @chenjir

This site has some different postures which you could review for your meditations:

http://mro.org/zmm/teachings/meditation.php

Thankyou for practicing.

Namaste.

Abu

etherea

Your legs will become accustomed to the position given time.

person

Its really only important that your back is straight and relaxed. If you have a cushion or a chair this is easy to accomplish without having to put your legs in any special position. So it may work out better for you to find a position for your legs where they don't fall asleep.

Here's some good info on posture

http://www.wildmind.org/posture

snGus

As ethera said, your legs will get used to it. It's just like when you're at the gym and you are instructed to do something you are not used to do: you will feel pain during and after the training session but the pain will end after a few more days of training.

chenjie

NO!!! I'm sorry, I meant to say "is it BAD for my legs?" I forgot to type "bad" haha

driedleaf

Gently ease up on the tension now and then but keep the focus on the breath when you do. Works great for me and makes me want to try and sit the entire day.

Floating_Abu

NO!!! I'm sorry, I meant to say "is it BAD for my legs?" I forgot to type "bad" haha

Jeffrey

I wonder the same thing. I usually don't set a timer I just sit until my legs are numb about 20-25 minutes. Then walking meditation to wake them up.

Floating_Abu

At the Zen monastery we sit on average about 10 hours a day, but our sits last about 25 minutes - intercepted by walking kinhin or just resting kinhin.

Many students who can will sit through those resting kinhin periods. In other words, it depends on the individual and as long as you check your base posture and are not just squashing your legs, then I do not believe it is unhealthy at all.

What is unhealthy is probably more a deluded mindset so zazen or meditation is one of the best ways to address our mental and spiritual health IMO.

Namaste,
Abu

Jeffrey

Does anyone have a medical opinion? Can I just let me legs 'be asleep'?

Floating_Abu

It can be dangerous if you get up too quickly and fall so if it is numb then get up gentle gentle/rub legs *non medical opinion* I also don't squash my legs, which is what usually causes numb legs (hence exploration of sitting options)

DairyLama

Its really only important that your back is straight and relaxed. If you have a cushion or a chair this is easy to accomplish without having to put your legs in any special position. So it may work out better for you to find a position for your legs where they don't fall asleep.

I agree. The purpose of meditation is to work on the mind, not to attempt uncomfortable yogic contortions which are at best a distraction and at worst physically damaging.

Jeffrey

@Floating_Abu (or anyone),

I have a dilema in that a new zen center opened and gives me the opportunity of face to face exposure. They do 30 minutes sitting and my legs go numb by 25. I tried burmese and they went numb after 15! I have meditated for years just doing 20 and 10 sitting/walking.

So I wonder how I can sit in this sangha. I will ask the teacher later on of course. I don't want to sit in a chair because I have cultivated the stability I get from sitting in my usual way, half-lotus is very relaxing. Normally I get a really good peaceful and fulfilling sitting doing my 20/10 and often doing 2, 3, or more of those.

Thank you

misecmisc1

NO!!! I'm sorry, I meant to say "is it BAD for my legs?" I forgot to type "bad" haha

if you do not have any problems in your legs to begin with, then don't worry as i think just sitting in meditation will not do any bad to your legs. after getting up after meditation, just keep in mind to not raise immediately, as you may fall if the legs are numb - so after your meditation, open your eyes and try to move your legs a little bit in the sitting posture and when you feel comfortable with your legs, then try to slowly get up.

ThailandTom

Hey OP, I personally found this to be very helpful to my understanding of meditation more recently.

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/medclass/index.htm

Floating_Abu

@Floating_Abu (or anyone),

I have a dilema in that a new zen center opened and gives me the opportunity of face to face exposure. They do 30 minutes sitting and my legs go numb by 25. I tried burmese and they went numb after 15! I have meditated for years just doing 20 and 10 sitting/walking.

So I wonder how I can sit in this sangha. I will ask the teacher later on of course. I don't want to sit in a chair because I have cultivated the stability I get from sitting in my usual way, half-lotus is very relaxing. Normally I get a really good peaceful and fulfilling sitting doing my 20/10 and often doing 2, 3, or more of those.

Thank you

Hi @Jeffrey

Nice to hear you will get some face to face exposure.

I think the teacher discussion will tell the tale, the reason is because in my last school/city the sits went for 40 minutes, but people could move i.e. there was no Jikijitsu to yell or snigger at them

So maybe this tradition might be more flexible.

At the monastery, sometimes if I have been sitting for a long long time because Roshi is still giving interviews, then I will alternate between burmese and seiza, just to give my legs some variety.

I have also tried experimenting with different cushion heights, and would recommend you do the same.

For eg. in the center, you can grab 2 or even 3 for seiza, and also use knee pads etc. The idea is you are not squashing your own legs, which is what typically causes numbness.

If it is an established group you can also ask someone else to help you check your posture IRL which is often more useful than over the internet.

Finally, I would reiterate that if you feel your feet/legs are numb get up slowly, and massage them before attempting to get up. Protocol usually understands this and it is better to be secure than fall over during kinhin.

With best wishes and let me know how it goes, man!!!

Abu

Jeffrey

@Floating_Abu, thanks. Maybe the cushions will help. I just use a couch cushion at home. For the longest time I didn't use any cushion whatsoever.

Floating_Abu

No problems @Jeffrey, more than happy to help Yah, I know what you mean but I think the cushions can help and maybe that will give you the stability not to sink on yourself. See how you go and let me know how you get on

Best wishes,
Abu

how

I have to wonder why we don't consider that the repeatedly impeading of blood circulation or nerve pathways has any physical consequence for bodily limbs.
Can we think of another activity other than "sacred" sitting, that we would think was OK that caused the repeated numbing of our limbs?.

Floating_Abu

It doesnt have to numb your limbs, thats my point

Floating_Abu

And there is nothing sacred about sitting, its your practice, your life