Seven Point Posture
What Is The Seven Point Posture?
The seven-point posture is an ancient posture which is the most common pose for performing a successful meditation. It is something that has been demonstrated for many years and is one of the most general yet effective postures to practice meditation in. To do this pose, seven different instructions are demonstrated in order to maintain and correctly do the pose as best as possible. However, if at any moment you feel discomfort or pain, stop, and modify the position into one that is the most comfortable for you. It is more important for you to be comfortable than to be forced into a position; this posture is meant to be as comfortable as possible to relieve any distraction from the body, abling you to focus solely on your chosen meditation.
So, without further ado,
Sit yourself down in a relaxing spot on a flat surface, light some candles, turn on some calming music, take a few deep breaths, and finally, let go of your anger by screaming and cursing into a pillow to let Becky know she better watch out, even if she doesn't exactly know what for.
Great.
Now, you're ready.
Let's begin...
Step 2
ARMS AND HANDS
Relax your shoulders and release any tension you may have been holding with a few deep inhales and exhales.
Leave a bit of loose space between your arms and your body to allow the air to circulate properly.
Place both your hands on your lap and put your right hand on to your left one, both palms facing upwards.
Keep your palms slightly curved and align your fingers in opposite directions. Touch your thumbs together above your hands to create a squared- semi-circle type shape.
Keep your body relaxed.
Step 5
MOUTH AND JAW
Both your mouth and jaw should be relaxed; holding tension in these two places may affect the efficiency of your meditation as it will be the main focus point instead of your meditation.
Don't clench your teeth and keep them loosely and naturally apart. Keep your lips together or at a slight parting, whichever one is the most comfortable for you.
The best way to be breathing is to breath in and out of your nose, which is why your lips should preferably be closed, unless you have trouble with this breathing technique and prefer to breathe out of your mouth.
Step 1
LEGS AND FEET
There are a few different sitting positions you can perform this in.
The first is a Full Lotus position; Place your left foot on the top and inside of your right thigh, and your right foot on top and inside of your left thigh.
A more simplified version is the Half Lotus; Placing one foot on the thigh of the opposite leg and the other foot on the floor beneath it.
Alternatively, you can sit cross-legged on the floor or sit upright in a chair if you prefer. When using a chair, make sure to have both feet on the ground.
Step 4
EYES
It is recommended to keep your eyes open a little bit in order to let some light through, but not so much that we get distracted by images coming into focus and attract your attention.
Keep them open just a tad, with your gaze directed at the floor in front of you, or on to your lap.
If you find this difficult, then let your eyes close gently, making sure not to tighten them because this may hinder the light that will brighten your inner vision and keep you awake.
If you do find yourself drifting off to sleep, it is best to open them up a little to allow more light to enter.
Step 7
NECK
We recommend not to have your head raised too high or too low; the most efficient way is to have the head and neck just slightly looking downwards.
Your neck is a vital element to make sure not to strain as it can likely cause pain or neck stiffness if it is strained, or if a muscle is pulled too much.
Allow yourself to relax and concentrate on the meditation. However, if you find that your head is slowly going forwards or backwards, simply sit in front of a wall and place a pillow behind your head, so that your head is resting onto the pillow instead of straining in any other position.
Step 3
BACK
Your back must be straight during this practice; it is one of the most important things to maintain during the posture because it prevents slouching and later minor back pain if not maintained well.
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It may be helpful to imagine someone pulling a string upwards from your lower back and through the top of your head, straightening it to a great extent.
Also, imagining that your vertebrae are stacked one on top of each other, a bit like someone stacking bricks on top of the other, may also help maintain an upright position.
Step 6
TONGUE
Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, allowing it to soften and sit nicely and comfortably. Any restraint will cause tension and unnecessary focus on the mouth.
if this is uncomfortable for you, gently let your tongue rest as it is. There should be no forceful positions as this can make it extremely distracting from the meditation itself.
If you're feeling a little restless or find it hard to relax, take a few deep breaths in and out of your mouth, and then go back to breathing through your nose. This will help relax your mind and body.