March 14, 2003
Dear Coach Ilg,
I am trying to start a meditation practice. I am curious about the origin of the sitting position used in meditation. A friend said that he finds sitting cross-legged to be very uncomfortable - he feels that lying down is more comfortable and also gives him a greater feeling of connection with the earth. I talked to him about doing yoga, and how the use of specific postures will help him with his sitting, but admitted that I did not know why sitting cross-legged was "the position of choice".
- Kevin, OR
Student Kevin -
There is tremendous science behind the appropriate meditation posture. Essentially, a strong meditation posture such as Siddha-asana (accomplished posture) conditions the structural and energetic aspects of the lower urogenital diaphragm which both sparks and seals the vast fields of interior and cosmic energy within the pelvic base.
Meditation, like the spiritual Journey itself, has little concern with what feels "comfortable" to our ego or our current state of physical fitness. It's about training the mind and moving us Higher.
Through asana, the body is made strong and supple to sustain the meditation posture. Along the way of making the body open and strong, the mind learns how to concentrate. Thus, concentration (dharana) precede meditation (dhyana) in Classical or Ashtanga Yoga.
Meditation is but a training effect from a concentrated and manageable mind.
i bow to you,
steve ilg, RYT
wholisticfitness.com