PRACTICES

A popular position among Japanese is the kneeling posture known as seiza. In the seiza posture, the knees are placed flush with one another and the forelegs are tucked under the buttocks so that the buttocks and torso actually sit on the heels. The toes should be relaxed and kept flat against the floor. A cushion may be placed between the heels and buttocks in order to minimize the pressure of the body�s weight.

If the legs are tight a simple cross-legged posture is all right. But this position is generally not recommended, for it is unstable and tends to throw the weight of the body toward the buttocks, causing the lower back to strain and tire more quickly. The lotus and half lotus are more advantageous because they allow the pelvis and spine to be aligned with minimal effort and distribute the weight of the upper body evenly between knees and buttocks.

If physical problems prevent sitting in any of these positions, then sitting on a chair is also possible. The feet are firmly planted on the floor; the back is upright and relaxed but not leaning on the back of the chair.

When sitting in any of these positions, a round firm cushion should be used to raise the buttocks off the ground as well as a square or rectangular flat cushion to protect the knees from the hard floor. It is also a good idea to drape a towel over the legs to prevent them from becoming chilled.