An alternative to sitting is standing in meditation.
This is helpful to many who's backs quickly become painful while sitting still.
It can also help to stimulate alertness if you are drowsy at meditation time.
As with the advice for sitting meditation,
maintain a standing posture that is “upright and dignified, but not rigid”.
Develop a habit, both in meditation and in life,
of sitting and standing in such as way that your torso and head are well balanced over your hips.
While standing, additionally take care to
Locking your knees is a temptation
because it can allow your legs
to withstand a longer period of standing,
but it puts your knees at risk as well as your circulation.
It is better to start with shorter periods of standing meditation
with slightly bent knees.
Gradually work your leg muscles up to longer periods.
This is helpful to many who's backs quickly become painful while sitting still.
It can also help to stimulate alertness if you are drowsy at meditation time.
As with the advice for sitting meditation,
maintain a standing posture that is “upright and dignified, but not rigid”.
Develop a habit, both in meditation and in life,
of sitting and standing in such as way that your torso and head are well balanced over your hips.
While standing, additionally take care to
- balance your body over your feet.
- find the comfortable separation between feet,
- somewhere near having each foot under each hip is likely to be stable and comfortable
- avoid locking your knees
Locking your knees is a temptation
because it can allow your legs
to withstand a longer period of standing,
but it puts your knees at risk as well as your circulation.
It is better to start with shorter periods of standing meditation
with slightly bent knees.
Gradually work your leg muscles up to longer periods.