How do you meditate??

Extending the length of the hamstrings by stretching is far more important to comfortable sitting than flexibility of the knee joints...which would enable a full lotus posture.

Lots of over zealous meditators have torn the meniscus in their knees trying to attain a full lotus before they are ready.

Use nothing more than gravity...dont force the knees down.

 

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What are good stretches for the hamstrings? What are other good stretches? Right now I just sit cross legged leaning against a wall...I know its half-assed. I want to start improving my form. What would be a good initial posture to aim for? What about cushion, zafu?

 

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The only reason some people need to raise their rear off the ground with a cushion/zafu is because their hamstrings and other muscles surrounding the hip joints are too short.

If you look at someone who has been trained in Hatha yoga, or a ballet dancer, or a good gymnast, they can sit cross-legged right on the floor comfortably with no effort at all. No need to lean back against a wall.

Hamstring stretching takes a looong time and is quite painful.

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Runners find it particulary difficult because they are always contracting/shortening that whole area.

 

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and for your overall form work on your core muscles, strive to improve your posture in day to day life, dont slouch around sit up straight. pull ups, sit ups, push ups, squats and holding horse stance will help your form, dont do them fast do it as slow as you can, taking up to 1 min on each sit up or push up, a single decent push up is better than 10 crappy ones,


you have to train your posture and core form before you meditate for long periods of time. try to perfect horse stance your endurance to keep your back straight will increase,

peace.

 

I dont think its necessary to sit in a lotus position to meditate coz if you are not comfortable your mind will constantly be diverted to your strained muscles. As for me i meditate lying down completely flat on my back, focusing on each breath in and out.

 

This is a good one because it requires no muscular contraction...meaning you can maintain the stretch for long periods.

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also when you are lying down flat, with your mental eye go over each part of your body, slowly relaxing the muscles. Start with the big toe on your left/right foot, then the next toe,...and gradually work your way to your head.

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If it were possible to enter true mediation lying down, we would have several thousand years of 'the lying down school'...to gaze and reflect upon.

 

Sounds like a great way to fall asleep.

Meditation is not sleep.

 

back in those days when "Schools" were formed, people use to walk for days together to reach their destination, do a lot of manual labour, ...basically indulge in a lot of physical labour. now we got machines to do it for us. can you imagine walking from california to, say, new york???

now we have to make a concious effort to stay healthy/flexible/fit by joining gyms, walking in the parks, doing yoga, pilates,etc.

 

I didnt say you need to lie down and fall asleep. meditation is about being aware...aware of your body, aware of each breath in/out. it is about focussing on the inside.

you can even meditate by closing your eyes ( shutting out the outside world). you dont have to do complicated yoga poses to meditate.

 

Sitting in the lotus pose to meditate has several benefits. but if you are likely to injure your muscles trying out that pose would you suggest people dont meditate?
Meditation is for everyone. Do what makes you comfortable, relaxes you.
You can take a flight, train, bus or car or walk as long as you reach your destination...

 

he does not sleep, he just sits upright everynight and meditates.

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he is the only guy who could perform 1 finger zen. he was a national hero in china.

peace.

he thinks he is good, i meditate in 1 finger handstand stance. he is just a rookie.

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peace.

 

I know elderly people who pray while counting the prayer beads to meditate. :itold:

 

Just out of curiosity, does anyone here listen to anything while meditating?

the few times I tried it in the start I couldn't concentrate because of outside noises. So I got together some deep ambient intstrumental or enviornmental shit and it helped immensely.

 

there are many types of meditation, lots of people think that only 1 type of meditation is "proper". meditation can be for many reasons and effects. from simply calming yourself quickly, relaxing before a workout to prepare your body, clearing your mind of thought to center it, combating a fear or a problem, or even comming up with new philosophy and ideas.


peace.

 

i listen to some music when doing certain types of meditation. sometimes i even meditate while in very very slow movement doing taiji training,


it all depends on what i am doing,

peace.

 

I agree. I have heard of people who when given problems to solve say they need to meditate on it.
Meditation describes a state of concentrated attention on some object of thought or awareness. It usually involves turning the attention inward to the mind itself.

 

I prefer to have no noise at all. Complete Solitude and Silence.Even with music sometimes my concentration wavers which defeats the purpose of meditating.
But us city-dwellers dont have much choice.

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In the olden days swamis/yogis would leave home and meditate in the mountains for peace and quiet.Now if we go to meditate in the mountains we would probably be trespassing some resort owners property

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