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Cosmic Fusion
3. Spine: The spine should be straight but not stiff and in good
vertical alignment with gravity. You can imagine your head being
pulled up by a string. As it rises, allow the spine to elongate,
increasing the space between vertebrae (Fig. 4.3).
Feel as if a string is lifting
your head up.
Pull your chin back slightly.
Sit up
straight on
your sitting
bones.
The feet should
firmly touch the floor.
Fig. 4.3 Correct Sitting Position
Some people find their backs become tired during long rounds
of meditation. Good alignment helps prevent this by taking some
of the stress off the muscles and putting it instead on the skeletal
structure where it belongs. The skeletal structure is designed
to support hundreds of pounds without effort when properly
aligned. Practicing Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Tai Chi is very helpful
for strengthening the muscles you use in sitting and for learning
the body mechanics of good alignment.
The spinal column houses many nerves, and it is also a major
part of the Microcosmic Orbit pathway. If the spine feels relaxed,
clear and open, the mind will feel more awake and alert too.
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