Does anyone have a suggestion for a seiza bench?

[Steven]

I have gotten to the point where I can no longer sit in the Burmese position for longer than 10 - 15 minutes before my lower back starts hurting pretty bad. I switch to seiza with the zafu between my legs and butt, but I end up trading back pain for ankle pain. I've looked into some benches on Amazon.com, but I thought I'd ask around here before I made my final decision.

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[Jishin]

I have a Seiza bench. It is less stable than sitting Burmese. I alternate Seiza with Burmese and this works well minimizing back pain. :-)

Gassho, John

[Taigu]

The answer is not found in the bench or zafu, but what Alexander technique calls your use. Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique would be pointers and help you to get the pain out (rather, to get you OUT of the pain zone), that is to say, to allow a natural process and not get in the way with muscular rigidity. It costs. You don"t have to pay Treeleaf a penny because it is our choice to offer free Dharma, AT, Pilates, do cost, because it is the job of these guys to help you ( Jundo is a lawyer, I am a language teacher). If you have the money, seek a good AT or Pilates teacher. If you don't , find out and explore. It is a fascinating journey to meet obstacles, they are the very core of our best teaching moments.

whatever , good luck.

I was myself plagued with back pain everytime I sat and for years until I met AT.

gassho

T.

PS: sitting can be performed lying down, see my humble attempt to describe sitting last summer.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11166-How-to-sit-written-in-July-2013

[shikantazen]

Here is an earlier thread on Alexander technique which has some useful links. I'll probably take this sooner. Not sure how I can find a good teacher who can teach this so that it is useful for my zazen.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-8679.html

Gassho
Sam

[Steven]

The answer is not found in the bench or zafu, but what Alexander technique calls your use. Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique would be pointers and help you to get the pain out (rather, to get you OUT of the pain zone), that is to say, to allow a natural process and not get in the way with muscular rigidity. It costs. You don"t have to pay Treeleaf a penny because it is our choice to offer free Dharma, AT, Pilates, do cost, because it is the job of these guys to help you ( Jundo is a lawyer, I am a language teacher). If you have the money, seek a good AT or Pilates teacher. If you don't , find out and explore. It is a fascinating journey to meet obstacles, they are the very core of our best teaching moments.

whatever , good luck.

I was myself plagued with back pain everytime I sat and for years until I met AT.

gassho

T.

PS: sitting can be performed lying down, see my humble attempt to describe sitting last summer.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11166-How-to-sit-written-in-July-2013


Thank you for the insight Taigu, I will give it a try before spending money on a bench. However, I face lower back pain whenever I sit, whether it be zazen, driving, or watching TV (I can't even sit in a chair in a meeting at work without intense lower back pain). I spent four years in the military as an infantryman carrying awful loads of weight on my back. I will keep an open mind though and try out your suggestions, perhaps it is something that will help alleviate my pain on and off the zafu.

gassho2
Steven

[Jundo]

In addition to Taigu's very wise and experienced advise, here are a couple of threads on choosing or building a Seiza Bench should you wish to give that a try too.

Jeffrey built one ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11410-Seiza-Bench-Project-Done%21&p=111113&viewfull=1#post111113

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?9133-Meditation-bench-question

and on posture in general ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11332-Sitting-Question&p=109145&viewfull=1#post109145

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11311-Postration&p=108591&viewfull=1#post108591

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?10531-Sitting-and-Posture&p=93598&viewfull=1#post93598

Gassho, J

[MyoHo]

Hi Steven,

Although I agree with Taigu and think you should explore why you have these complaints, a bench is actually very very easy to make! I have made several in the past. All you need is some wood a few screws and a good saw.

http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/about-the-western-chan-fellowship/supplies/make-a-meditation-bench-zen-meditation/

hope this helps? Making stuff is also good practice you know?

Gassho

E.

[Ryumon]

I agree with Taigu's suggestion about the Alexander Technique. But I got a wonderful seiza here:

http://www.meditationsupplies.co.uk/shop/category_6/Folding-Seiza-Benches---Meditation-Stool.html

If you're not in Europe, they won't help however,

Gassho,

Kirk