Where can I get a comfortable small meditation chair? I am never completely comfortable 100% when I meditate until now
—Christophe Brayer, United States
Dear Christophe,
People all have unique bodies and to find the best meditation chair for you will require that you try out options. The principles of seating are that your spine is straight. This means the natural curves at the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical areas are all preserved and in balance, the chest is uplifted and the heart open. This involves drawing the shoulders gently back and uplifting the heart area. The head is centered on the spine, and the chin is parallel to the floor. The feet are firmly placed on the floor, not dangling. It is very important you feel relaxed and centered in your meditation position. In meditation we want our posture to facilitate our energy rising up to the spiritual eye, the point between the eyebrows, in such a relaxed way that we can ‘drop the body’ and dive deep into meditation — but not falling asleep, which is why meditation lying down is usually not a good posture.
On our website at Meditation Mini Course is a free how-to-meditate course which includes a lesson on proper seating which I think you will find helpful. I encourage you to take a look at the seating lesson and then try out chair options with these principles in mind. Most people can adapt an easily available chair for meditation, using cushions or blankets as needed, and do not need to purchase a chair that is designated just for meditation. There is an ideal seat for everybody, and it is well worth your time to find the right one for you. It can help to have a friend look at your meditation posture and give you feedback using the principles. Also know that over the years bodies change and so adjustments in seating are needed.
Many blessings on your meditation practice,
Nayaswami Mukti
