Pain in ankle after meditating

Talisman

I still can't figure out a comfortable position for sitting meditation. I use a cushion and pull one foot up onto the adjacent thigh, but usually this leaves the other foot underneath my leg. While meditating last night, about ten minutes in my legs and back were trembling and it broke my concentration considerably. After finishing, and stretching, my ankles and feet were extremely sore, and I only sat for about 15 minutes. What to do, what to do?

Cloud

There's no right posture. Postures are traditional, i.e. based on tradition, an object of clinging. You can meditate sitting in a chair, or lying on your bed, whatever makes you comfortable enough to meditate without making you too sleepy or obstructing the airway.

Talisman

I find formal sitting meditation to have many benefits in attaining concentration and focus. There's nothing wrong with tradition if that tradition proves worthwhile.

Talisman

I just don't like my ankles hurting after. I think I'm putting my second foot in the wrong place.

federica

This....

I find formal sitting meditation to have many benefits in attaining concentration and focus. There's nothing wrong with tradition if that tradition proves worthwhile.

Is significant, given that you admit that your concentration lapses because of your position. if it hurts - don't sit like that. Tradition be damned, if it feels good, do it. If in doubt, don't.
If someone told you that the traditional meditation posture was actually The Crow, but you broke your wrist each time you did it, would you still persist because it's 'traditional'?

I just don't like my ankles hurting after. I think I'm putting my second foot in the wrong place.

Then where else do you think you should put it?

Talisman

On the other leg, but I'm not flexible enough for full lotus. I'm assuming, as is always, practice will make perfect. I think it probably just hurts because I'm not stretching well enough. But I really like the stability and otherwise comfort of this position. It forces me to remain forcused on the practice rather than letting my mind wander, while also providing enough support to prevent feeling rigid or stiff. Thanks for the insight.

Ada_B

As my Ch'an teacher once said "There is enough suffering in the world without adding to it by sitting uncomfortably".

Try alternating your sitting practice with walking meditation. Or simply change position occasionally.

Talisman

Yea, I'll try switching feet halfway through that will probably work well.

buddhajunkie

Try Burmese posture first. Then, to start moving into cross-legged posture I recommend Siddhasana.

Also, for half- and full- lotus it helps to start out with the knees far apart and only the toe knuckles on the thighs.

Finally, are you using a cushion?

Talisman

http://www.zencenterofdenver.org/GettingStarted/zazeninstructions.html

Found this site and just practiced some of the positions they describe and stretches as well

very helpful

And yes definitely using a cushion

Vangelis

Try different postures as others have suggested but don't worry about it too much. The more you meditate in the sitting position, the more the body gets used to it. I could only do 5 mins when I first started.

genkaku

Talisman -- Do experiment with leg positioning, adding or subtracting cushions ... find out what will allow you to sit strongly for your allotted time. But I think you should know that there is likely to be some pain. Pain is part of life. Not that we have to seek it out or wallow in it, but we do have to face it and investigate it. My teacher, who was abbot of a Japanese monastery, once told me that for the first 18 years, his legs hurt. After that he was less afraid of the pain.

As I say -- this is not a nifty sort of masochism we're after. We all experiment, find the best position we can according to our bodies, and then we sit still and focus the mind ... no matter what.

Talisman

Yea I repositioned my cushion a bit and it makes it easier to place my knees on the ground which helps prevent any trembling caused by instability. Thanks for the tips.

BonsaiDoug

I agree with trying the Burmese position. There is no crossing of the legs or ankles with this one.

Even at 64 yrs of age I find I can sit comfortably in this position for each of my 30 minute sessions. Getting up is another thing. :^(

Jeffrey

Sounds like you were trying full lotus. Maybe try half lotus. It also has a lot of stability. If not that then try burmese (I never done that).

TheDoctorDonna

I sit in a regular chair and just try to keep my posture as correct as I can. I spent a long time working toward sitting in the "correct Posture" dispite having a weaker leg that would drive me nuts when cross leged in any way. I eventualy got it though my head that the basics of a straight back and not being in pain was more important to my practice.

I hope this helps.

buddhajunkie

^^^ if you use a chair I recommend putting something under the back two chair legs to tilt the seat forward. This helps align the spine straight naturally. Of course, you shouldn't be leaning into the back rest.