CHAIRS &
Meditation
chairs have several advantages over sitting on
the floor or a regular chair. Meditation
requires harmony of body and mind, in the sense
that physical discomfort should not interfere
with the meditation experience. To expand our
consciousness and achieve clarity of mind, it is
important to be as comfortable as possible
during the meditation session. Sitting in any
one position for a length of time is bound to
cause cramping and distress. Specially designed
meditaton chairs can provide the proper support and
alignment necessary to allow you to get the most
out of your meditation experience. It is
important to note that regular chairs do not
mold to the body in the same way as an
ergonomically designed meditation device.
The best meditation chairs for zen meditation have a slight forward angle,
which prevents you from slumping during
meditation. However, take care that the chair is
not too steeply angled, as this will cause
overarching. The ideal tilt should be no more
than a few inches. The best option is to
purchase a meditation chair that you can adjust
according to your height, weight and comfort
level. Having an experienced person on hand to
guide you through the meditation process and
adjust your posture is also a good idea.
A sitting device may be particularly useful if
you are practicing Zen meditation, which
requires several sitting postures. Zen
meditation chairs can be made out of numerous
materials and come in several different styles.
You can choose the style that best suits you as
long as the device enables your diaphragm to
contract and expand freely.
Zen meditation is all about discovery and inner
peace. Contrary to popular belief, self denial
and physical discomfort detracts rather than
enhances the experience. It is difficult to
expand our minds and awareness when our legs are
cramping beneath us. A meditation chair is a
device which allows us to focus on what’s
really important during our meditation session.
With the proper tools and surroundings, the
meditation experience is sure to be a positive
one.
