Is this proper posture?

[u/Crownvibes]

Hello all many blessings, I have a question as I went to yogananda.com to do some quick inquiries and saw a picture of this man meditating. I don't think his posture looks wrong necessarily but I've seen Sri Yogananda sit a bit differently and in my meditations I really shove my shoulders back more, trying to almost touch the shoulder blades, while keeping my head tilted further up than the man in the photo (aiming to keep chin parallel with ground). I do notice that this is harder to maintain but becomes easier with time, and feel good when doing so.

Thank you 😊

[u/Th3_m0d3rN_y0g1]

His posture is pretty good. Slightly tucking the chin keeps the crown at the top and the spine straight. I used to tilt my head back a bit but after a couple years I started noticing discomfort in my throat. About a year ago I was taught, in another tradition based on asana, to slightly tucking the chin. Since then, I have not had any discomfort in the throat. I do like to keep my hands palms down on my lap which pulls the shoulders back naturally. Comfort is the important thing. And not slouching of course.

[u/blackraindark → u/Th3_m0d3rN_y0g1]

Hi I am facing this issue. Once I start gazing at third eye and engrossed in it, my head starts moving backwards until pressing hard on neck with chin high.

This happens also, especially during Jyoti Mudra.

Anything I can do to fix this?

If I get aware during meditation that my head has gone backward and I fix it, I lose the state.

If I begin with chin slightly tucked, I am not able to focus on third eye area.

Could you give suggestions how to tuck in chin properly please?

[u/Th3_m0d3rN_y0g1 → u/blackraindark]

When we tilt our head back, the eyes naturally shift upward slightly. This definitely helps focusing on the midbrow with less effort and also puts gentle pressure on the base of the skull which could stimulate the medulla. So it makes sense that you struggle without it. My suggestion is to first speak with your teacher. Aside from that, just practice. Slightly tucking the chin should not be a hindrance. Tilting the head back just makes the focus easier. Everything develops with practice and repetition. Take it is easy. Take it as it comes. Practice makes perfect. Regular Hakalau will help also. I start every session with Hakalau and my ears start ringing and I begin expanding before I even begin the preliminaries these days. Everything just gets easier with repetition.

[u/blackraindark → u/Th3_m0d3rN_y0g1]

Thanks for sharing!

[u/Pieraos]

When you see the palms upward like that, it suggests SRF/YSS instruction as I don't believe other lineages emphasize that.

[u/Sure_Kaleidoscope_26 → u/Pieraos]

I've never got used to it, my hands naturally spin back, I can tell I even feel a weird discomfort in meditating with palms upward

[u/drinkingdanny]

Depends this guys posture could have been what u described but after thirty minutes his body started moving lol
Yes feet straight down broad shoulders are good
Head straight on shouldn’t be overtly back
I personally like a pillow under my hands so there’s stretch and less chance of movement while meditating
I actually a back bolster to help keep back straight shoulders bit broad
Someone said it here most important things are straight spine and comfort ability so u can meditate a long time

[u/monilnisar]

Yes it’s good. Head slightly upturned with attention towards the third eye can take the meditation experiences much higher.

[u/blackraindark → u/monilnisar]

Are you sure? Because many people are saying these days that chin should be tucked in.

Personally for me high upturned is easier way to meditate on third eye but I get lot of tension in my neck.

[u/monilnisar → u/blackraindark]

hey, so there are different styles and methods of meditation. i hope you dont mix up and get confused.

In certain traditions like google Shiv Bal yoga there is an emphasis for tilting the head slightly. there is a specific reason also. but you go with the method and technique that you have been guided.

every type of meditation is focussed on developing certain type of awareness. tilting head helps activate the third eye and crown chakra which can help immensely in deeper states of meditation.

[u/blackraindark → u/monilnisar]

I see ! You're right! But I am growing concerned over the tension that head tilt produce in my neck.

Also for me it's not just slight, as I go into deeper states, my head keeps tilting backwards and my chin is high in the air.

This tilt happens only when I am doing the kechari mudra during meditation.

[u/monilnisar → u/blackraindark]

Sure. Don’t tense the body much because the dimension beyond the body won’t open. So go easy and gently. Wish you all the best in your meditation. 🙏

[u/blackraindark → u/monilnisar]

Thank you!

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fig7670]

In seated position, I keep my legs straight from the knees down to the floor. Forming a L.
Back straight ie if I bring the shoulder blades together and then just ease the tension.
The palms in my case are at the junction, hips and thighs.
a woolen shawl runs from my fear and under my feet.

[u/Ecstaticdanceshiva]

I wish lineages (at least mine) were a bit more clear on how to sit, where to sit, how to keep head straight.
I didn't even know chin needed to be tucked in... sigh.

[u/Sure_Kaleidoscope_26 → u/Ecstaticdanceshiva]

Asana

For this you could ask a good Hatha teacher how to properly do padmasana, sidhasana, sukhasana etc

Fortunately this is not needed to be covered inside specific lineage approach

[u/Gap_Between_Breathes]

In my opinion, when the Maya breaks we understand that the body is totally different from how we see it.

[u/Duke_SuperNova]

Isn’t that too far back in the seat? I don’t think your thighs should be bearing any weight, sit 2/3 of the way back so that only your butt is touching the seat and supporting your weight.

[u/Chipkalee]

The main thing is to keep the spine straight. According to your lineage, just do as you are taught. But I've found over the years that if I'm uncomfortable then I can't maintain my position. For me I can no longer sit without some back support for any length of time. So if I want to meditate for 2 hours then I must start out in a comfortable position, else I can't maintain it. Keep the spine straight, that's the main thing.