Postures For Meditating: Part 3 — The Burmese Posture

A third position that you can take is known as the ‘Burmese posture.’ This is where your lower body is crossed with one leg folded in front of the other. It’s possibly the most common posture for meditators to take and is taught across the globe as the best position for mindfulness.

Start by shaking your legs, rotating your ankles and just generally moving your lower body. Get the blood flowing a loosen up any tightness and prepare to take the position. You can even stretch if you feel it necessary. Just do whatever you feel you need to be the most comfortable for your meditation session.

Then, place either a blanket, rug or mat upon the ground to make it more comfortable. You can also put a cushion or pillow on top to make it even cozier. Sit upon the cushions and release your knees to the floor. If they do not touch the ground, then use more cushions to heighten your pelvis. Stretching out the inside of your legs should give you more mobility in your hips and therefore let your knees sink lower.

The heel of your left foot should be touching the inside of your right thigh while the right foot should lie gently in front of your left foot with the toes running up the shin. You can now allow your hands to rest on the inside of your lap or atop each thigh; it’s down to you. Try placing a small cushion on your lap, if you find that comfortable, and then placing your hands on top of that.

If you do find that this position is the most comfortable, then you may want to consider investing in a zafu. A zafu is a special cushion for meditating which simply rests on top of the ground to make the floor more spongy and embracing.

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