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Seiza Bench
Seph
Veteran
One piece of 10' x 1" x 6" pine board can yield approximately 3 seiza benches.
A single seiza bench begins with a 34" board.
The cuts are as follows:
One piece of 10' x 1" x 6" pine board. $ 10.00 (yields 3 seiza benches = c. $ 3.33 a piece)
Half meter of material. $6.50 in the sample of paisley pattern I chose.
Quarter meter of 1" thick foam. $ 6.00
Total cost: $ 15.83 + screws/hardware.
Under $ 20.00
This is a picture of the seiza bench I made and use.
In the example above, I used the extra foam and material to sew a thin pillow for my knees.
The nice thing about the seiza bench is that the angle (c. 17 degrees) puts your hips - and thus your spine - at a near perfect angle and allows you to breathe properly.
The sitting position is basically as you would sit on your calves. Your feet and calves are beneath the bench, while your bottom sits on the bench proper.
It is actually a very comfortable position.
A single seiza bench begins with a 34" board.
The cuts are as follows:
One piece of 10' x 1" x 6" pine board. $ 10.00 (yields 3 seiza benches = c. $ 3.33 a piece)
Half meter of material. $6.50 in the sample of paisley pattern I chose.
Quarter meter of 1" thick foam. $ 6.00
Total cost: $ 15.83 + screws/hardware.
Under $ 20.00
This is a picture of the seiza bench I made and use.
In the example above, I used the extra foam and material to sew a thin pillow for my knees.
The nice thing about the seiza bench is that the angle (c. 17 degrees) puts your hips - and thus your spine - at a near perfect angle and allows you to breathe properly.
The sitting position is basically as you would sit on your calves. Your feet and calves are beneath the bench, while your bottom sits on the bench proper.
It is actually a very comfortable position.
11
Comments
I made mine with scraps from the hardware store garbage. Total cost: $3.50, lol!
I put hinges on so I can take it with me travelling, so the legs fold flat.
It's a great thing; I am not flexible, so this bench is the most comfortable way to sit for long times, I have found.
Thanks for posting, Seph.
@ chela
The picture shows right angle brackets.
The traditional way to fasten the legs to a seiza bench is with a router cut to the bottom of the seat that matches the width of the legs. It can also be made with a few saw cuts and a chizel. The Legs slot in and if done accurately enough, only good wood glue is needed.
The other point to add is the 17 degree rake of the seat angle a really a rough average but a bench that's customized for you is supposed to match the angle that your legs approach that seat in the seiza posture. That's so there is no seat edge that presses more into the back of your legs than is nessesary. It's no big deal for regular sits but with extended retreats, you'll notice the difference.
A less ornate version of this:
you can also use folded blankets or folded towels across the calves
or if not culturally a Japanophile, use a chair . . .
@Lobster...
interesting!
Did it have a side to side wabble?
Either way, that foil looks like it might also keep your ass on the ground during warp speed meditations.
Did not wobble.