How you sit for meditation really lays the foundation for your practice. It can mean the difference between an uncomfortable, frustrating practice and one that flows smoothly. Read on for a simple tip that will create comfort, help you breathe deeply, and make meditation more effortless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It might be the least talked about but the most powerful thing you can do to improve your practice! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What I often see are people sitting on the ground without props under the hips, which means they are probably sitting on the tailbone instead of the sit bones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This creates an outward curve at the lumbar spine that\u2019s uncomfortable and unsustainable which is going to be distracting when you\u2019re trying to relax and focus in meditation. Furthermore, this curve also compresses the abdomen which impacts how freely and smoothly the diaphragm can move.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why does that matter? The diaphragm is the main muscle of breathing (it does 75% of the muscular work in breathing!) and we use deep, smooth diaphragmatic breathing not only to prepare for meditation but also in meditation itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s more, the diaphragm also<\/em> impacts the nervous system via the vagus nerve. Stimulating the vagus nerve allows us to shift into the parasympathetic aspect of the nervous system, also known as \u201crest-digest-repair-reproduce.\u201d In layman\u2019s terms: the diaphragm helps us tap into calm vibes, which makes the state of meditation easier to access and our practice more productive. Starting to get the picture about why posture matters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The simplest way to improve your posture for meditation is to add a prop! My favourite prop to use is a meditation cushion. Pillows are often too soft, bolsters, too hard. A meditation cushion filled with buckwheat is my seat of choice because it offers flexible support. If you don\u2019t have a meditation cushion, try folding a firm quilt or blanket up so it\u2019s about 4 inches thick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But take note – how you\u2019re sitting on the prop matters, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSit Prop-erly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n