Since ages past, meditation has been practiced by countless people for its many benefits. Practicing meditation as part of your daily routine might lead to improvements in your outlook and attitude.

Almost all meditative practices teach that the spine must remain straight and slumping is not encouraged. The explanation for this is that sitting upright encourages the movement of your spiritual energy. This is considered to be your life force.

A straight back is essential to most of the meditation traditions, and is a standard component of the various postures used in this practice. Here’s a look at a few of them.

1. Seated position. The individual sits upright while maintaining a straight back. The head and spine are in alignment and not tilted. The thighs are parallel to the floor. The hands are placed on the arms of the chair or on the knees.

2. Cross legged position. This is one of the most popular positions, and includes the lotus position.

3. Kneeling position. The individual is on the floor in a kneeling position. The buttocks rest on the heels and toes, which are placed side by side. The hands are placed on the thighs.

4. Lying down position. In yoga this is referred to as savasna; it’s also known as the corpse position. The individual lies flat on the floor with the legs straight and relaxed. This position isn’t used often because it copies the innate position of sleep. The individual can occasionally nod off. This is more useful for stress reduction rather than as a meditation method.

In addition to these postures, there are several gestures and movements that can be incorporated into the practice of meditation. Included in these are hand motions which are termed Mudras. A theological meaning is at the root of these gestures. Coming from the yogic philosophy, they can impact your consciousness. A typical example is the placement of hands in Buddhist meditation. With the thumbs touching, the right hand is positioned on top of the left hand.

You can also encourage a state of meditation through the use of repetitive activities like deep breathing, chanting and humming. There are also those who use walking meditation. It’s common to keep the eyes closed or partially open while meditating. However, Soto Zen practitioners perform their meditation with their eyes wide open in front of a wall.

To achieve the advantages of meditation, stick to the advice and training of the kind of meditation you have chosen to practice. Remember that acceptance and persistence are necessary in order to have success. This could be of help at times when you find difficulty in meditating, and it will also improve your concentration in daily life.

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