How Does One Practice Lying Down Meditation?

DaltheJigsaw

How Does One Practice Lying Down Meditation?

Cloud

Easy. Just... lay down. As long as your breathing is unobstructed and you are comfortable (not too comfortable, i.e. falling asleep), you should not find much difficulty in meditation. This at least goes for Vipassana; I know it'd probably give some zazen practitioners apoplexy to ever suggest laying down!

DaltheJigsaw

Thank you!
Yea, I am focusing on Vipassana...
I do Zazen for 15 minutes and the lying down will be my second type of meditation.
Usually, 20 min.

Thanks!

ShiftPlusOne

Same way as sitting without the sitting part. Sitting is preferred because it's harder to fall asleep. If you try to meditate in bed, you're likely to take a nap rather than meditate. Also, the mind does some strange things in that moment you fall asleep, out of body experiences, astral projection, lucid dreaming or hallucination are likely and unhelpful outcomes.

If you can be alert while lying down, go for it. If not, a chair may be a better alternative.

DaltheJigsaw

Thank you ShiftPlusOne.
What about lying on the floor?
Thanks!

ShiftPlusOne

I'd say give it a go. It's all about experience as well as trial and error. I am as likely to fall asleep in bed as I am on the floor. However, I still meditate in bed, before I go to sleep.

I used to have trouble falling asleep, but stilling the mind helps deal with that insomnia greatly. So, in my case falling asleep is actually a good thing, but not very productive in terms on insight. If I want to have a proper meditation session, I use a chair.

DaltheJigsaw

Thank you so much for your time!

Rob3rt

Put a book under your head! It might make you less likely to fall asleep!

BonsaiDoug

It may sound a bit morbid, but this position is known as the corpse pose in Yoga.

You lay on your back on the floor, preferably on a carpet or mat and allow
your arms to rest at your side, with palms upward. Your legs should be
straight and your feet should be gently turned outwards.

sukhita

Rob3rt wrote: »

Put a book under your head! It might make you less likely to fall asleep!

And if you are observing the breath (shamatha/breath meditation), lying down, place a book on your abdomen and use it as the focus point for observing the rise and fall of the abdomen. I found it quite helpful when I'm tired and distracted.

DaltheJigsaw

Thanks everyone!

TheDoctorDonna

Just lie down and dont overthink it. I meditate lieing in bed or in a chair on a regular basis due to a neuro muscular disorder and it works well. So long as your back is straight you should be OK.

DaltheJigsaw

The Doctor Donna wrote: »

Just lie down and dont overthink it. I meditate lieing in bed or in a chair on a regular basis due to a neuro muscular disorder and it works well. So long as your back is straight you should be OK.

Thanks!
How long and do you practice Zen or Vipassana Meditation?
And you right... do not over think it!

VincentJG

Bonsai Doug wrote: »

It may sound a bit morbid, but this position is known as the corpse pose in Yoga.

You lay on your back on the floor, preferably on a carpet or mat and allow
your arms to rest at your side, with palms upward. Your legs should be
straight and your feet should be gently turned outwards.

lol, this pose on the P90X program is what got me into meditation and ultimately Buddhism.

I like to lay on my back when I do breath meditation. I use a yoga mat and a small pillow to support my head when I don't meditate in bed. The biggest risk is losing mindfulness and falling asleep.

Generally I'll try and meditate anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes.