Is full lotus required?

Talisman

I'm having a hard time getting into this position. Most of the time I am able to hold half-lotus, but it hurts my knees and the ankle that sits under. Do you guys know any good stretches for practicing this position?

federica

I never sit full or half lotus. I sometimes sit with just one foot tucked under the other (It's known as the 'Burmese Postion' apparently) But I also have a home-made sitting stool, or sometimes I just sit on my bed with knees up.
Sure, sitting is a discipline, but if there's a physical reason or infirmity, then sometimes it's an impossible one.
Relax, take it easy, don't force it.

Try Yoga.

Linc

Heck no. I sit in seiza with a cushion under me.

ravkes

try the burmese position that's what i use say 10-15 minutes a day for my formal meditation, cause i'm not flexible at all haha
then the rest of the day it's driving position, doing work position, eating position... you get the idea.

charirama

Something you could try is sitting flat on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you.

Keeping the leg relaxed, grasp the inside of one of your knees with your hand and pull it out to the side and back to loosen and lubricate the hip. This movement should be done with the arm not with the muscles in the leg. Do this several times and switch to the other side. The main issue with Padmasana (Lotus position) is flexibility in the hips. Be careful not to strain the knees. There should be no knee pain.

Continue working the hips - it make take weeks or months - until you can get into the position without any strain on the knees before you try and maintain the position.

Have I mentioned the importance of not having any knee pain?

Arahahahant

The most important thing is balancing the minimum tension with the maximum alertness and mindfulness, for this, particularly in longer meditation full lotus always works best for me. You balance without any tension and can stay for several hours at a time. If you can't manage that then go Burmese, if you can't manage that go chair, but not leaning against the back. I couldn't do full lotus for a while till i started stretching alot.

I used three different stretches, quad stretch, hip flexor stretch, and the pull crossed over knee to chest stretch.

Talisman

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll try it out later.

buddhajunkie

I had this theory once that full lotus promoted better concentration. I'm still not sure on the issue.

One trick that I used to do was to start off the session in a type of Burmese position, then halfway through the session, switch to full lotus. (If I tried to go full lotus the whole way, my leg would fall asleep about halfway though).


The pose I use now is Siddhasana (on a cushion), which is a blend of Burmese and quarter-lotus. It's easy to do, but has a lotus tone to it.

I never sit full or half lotus. I sometimes sit with just one foot tucked under the other (It's known as the 'Burmese Postion' apparently)

I know what you're talking about, but isn't "Burmese" supposed to be one foot infront of the other?

fabianfred

The important thing is to keep the back straight...without leaning against a wall or something. This will keep you alert. If you slouch then you will get back pain and cannot breathe well and will soon doze.
Westerners need something under their buttocks to raise them a bit to make their position more balanced without strain....a cushion (zafu) or low stool with angled seat is good. Meditation is difficult and enough suffering will arise, no need to start out with unnecessary suffering. If not in full-lotus or Burmese position then make sure the ankle bones aren't grinding against each other. Every ten minutes check to see if you have started to slouch, and straighten up, even bowing your spine backwards, then relax with spine straight.

BonsaiDoug

I've tried many, and even at the age of 64 I find the Burmese position quite comfortable - usually 30 minutes with no problems.

The key is to sit on a cushion just high enough to allow both legs to lay flat on the floor - one foot in front of the other, not on top of each other (that's too painful).

See here: http://collegecouncil.sheridaninstitute.ca/APPL27670/truonhue/images/burmese.jpg

MindGate

I'm too fat to sit full lotus. :orange:

DharmaField

I was told that if I could sit in full lotus for three hours it would bear great fruit, as well as siddhis (magic powers). I trained myself to do this and whilst it did make sitting more comfortable, it did not result in the promise siddhis. I now sit in half lotus and occaisionally full, but I am getting old and if I don't sit regularly, my legs go to sleep. If you sit regularly it is worth the effort to make it comfortable and full lotus is the best, but half is fine. I can't imagine sitting for too long in other positions, but it is nice to vary them. There are many leg stretches but the best is to sit on the floor as much as possible with one leg over the other.

federica

I'm too fat to sit full lotus. :orange:

didn't stop Hotei....

http://7kilometr.com/images/products/level_2/8514/75e3d65b.jpg

he often sits with one leg up, too.
I think with intention, any position is acceptable.

TheJourney

Yea bro meditation doesn't work if you don't do full lotus. You may as well just give up right now if you can't even do that.

federica

Is that a tongue I see wedged in your cheek, TJ....?