LotusSitters

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Comment by Graceful Yoga on March 17, 2009 at 6:38pm

ISam, I'm struggling with it some it too, well, somedays are pretty good, and others not. I actually started out strong, but lately I've been having a problem sitting for the 20 minutes.

Thanks for sharing that great quote.

Comment by Sam on March 17, 2009 at 1:14pm

I'm still finding it tricky to sit every day and only averaging 3 days a week so far, so it's being a frustrating experience for me. I was finding the 20 mins a real hurdle so shortened the time to 10mins and I'm still not sitting consistently.

Part of the trouble, apart from whatever else is underlying my resistance to sitting quietly with myself, is that I have been sitting in the evenings. By that time, of course, I'm already tired or there's something on the TV I want to watch or I have to eat because I'm late in from yoga... etc etc ad infinitum. There's always a reason, isn't there?! Anyway, I'm thinking maybe mornings would be better... I'm not a morning person but maybe 10mins quiet time then would help to make me a better one. It's worth the experiment as I'm not giving up on this meditation malarky. Apart from anything else, I've just received this:

"Meditation is painful in the beginning but it bestows immortal Bliss and supreme joy in the end." Swami Sivananda

...on Twitter. I don't really mind if I never get to the immortal Bliss and supreme joy bit, but it's nice to know that painful beginnings are the norm. I was beginning to feel a bit put out that meditation was making me grumpier instead of serene.

Comment by Graceful Yoga on March 17, 2009 at 9:38am

For those of you who are doing Tricycle's 90 day Zen meditation challenge, how is it going for you? Are you still doing it? I've been writting about it a bit on my blog (www.gracefulyoga.blogspot.com), and so far it's been a good experience. Not always easy, but always worthwhile.

Comment by Kirsten on February 10, 2009 at 9:12am

I'm still sticking to a chair for anything over five minutes. My body seems to get completely stiff, otherwise.

Comment by Kuan Yin on February 10, 2009 at 8:45am

My feet, one or the other, always fall asleep too! I usually alternate between a bench, and a cushion, and kneeling over two cushions. One time I happened to find the perfect sized cushions and was able to sit a four day retreat cross legged the whole time! I was so excited, but I ended up straining the ligament behind my left knee which bothered me for a whole year! Now I'm more careful to progress slowly.

Comment by Graceful Yoga on February 10, 2009 at 6:44am

My foot falls alseep too. I find that kneeling (sitting on a yoga block) for longer periods of meditation to be helpful.

Comment by LotusYogini on February 10, 2009 at 6:25am

Last night my husband and I went to attend our first Zen meditation.
It was a very informal group and very different from the Tibetan Buddhism center we visit.
We keep talking that we liked the informal approach at the Zen center and the fact that Zenspace is non-temple affiliated and just a group of practitioners learning on their own is non-intimidating.
So last night after our discussion and instruction we entered into meditation room. Denver was a trooper and did the sitting meditation. Mind you the meditation is from 7:30-9:00; broken into 30 min sections.
After the fist 30 min. I had to move a bit because my legs fell asleep. Typical.
I found my husband in the lobby area. His hips were bothering him. So we decided to sit with the instructor for the next 30 min. sitting in the lobby area. After the 2nd 30 min sit Denver's legs were killing him; and my leg fell asleep.
We talked for a bit to the instructor and we will work our way up to the full meditation time.
However, Denver will use the flat back chair for his hip issue. That way he can truly focus on what he is there for; not the pain.
I need my right leg to not fall asleep! :)
So it was interesting and we are enjoying what we are gaining along the way.

Comment by Ovidia on February 9, 2009 at 6:17pm

Thanks for link, Kuan Yin. Will definitely go look at it too!

Comment by Graceful Yoga on February 9, 2009 at 5:57pm

I signed up for it too. Looking forward to it.

Comment by Sam on February 9, 2009 at 4:20pm

Thanks for the link, Kuan Yin, I've signed up for the community and am looking forward to getting started. I've had great difficulty with maintaining a daily meditation practise so I'm hoping that the structure of this will help like WoYo has helped my asana practise.

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