There are a lot of people who find the Japanese Sitting Position also known as seiza unpleasant and difficult. However, this classic Japanese pose can focus your spirit, calm your heart, and even have helpful effects on your health.
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What Is Seiza – A Japanese Sitting Position?
Simply put, Seiza is actually sitting (za) with a right (sei) pose. In this event, a right pose means an erect spine and neatly-folded legs with feet tucked under your body. This way of sitting is a must when doing a broad assortment of customary Japanese cultural activities, including classical Japanese dance, tea ceremony, eating, and a lot of martial arts.
The Significance of the Japanese Sitting
It holds two diverse meanings, including:
- As Good Courtesy:
It is the case when sitting seiza at ceremonies and rituals in holy places. It possibly originates from customary cultural practices like the tea ceremony.
- As A Symbol Of Apology Or Submission:
Dogeza refers to placing the hands in front of you and lowering the head while sitting in this position. Just like seiza as civility most likely derives from tea ceremony, seiza as submission possibly originates from rules regarding sitting seiza before the great personages.
The Advantages Of Seiza
It isn’t astonishing that a lot of individuals find sitting in this position to be unpleasant and difficult. However, it has certain advantages that one should not ignore. Seiza is a good pose for meditation. In traditional Japanese culture, this pose is supposed to have an aptitude to make the practitioner more focused and calmer. Conversely, there are also advantages of Seiza that can be validated by medical science. For one, this sitting position may be hard to practice, but it permits core muscles to stretch out correctly. It denotes that the back and abdominal muscles are trained somehow by sitting in a Seiza position.
Here are some great seating ideas for Floor.
There’re also ergonomic advantages that one might reap from sitting in this pose. First of all, it assists in maintaining an excellent posture. People who deal with bad posture may go for practice sitting in Seiza right away. Sitting in an erect pose also improves the blood flow in your body. A rather shallow advantage of this Japanese sitting on floor, though it is one that a lot of individuals will definitely appreciate, is that it keeps dress wrinkle-free. Since you are sitting in an erect pose, it provides little room for the dress to develop wrinkles, keeping them gazing new and good.
Despite the diverse advantages that this sitting pose yields, one should always remember to practice it moderately. It may have benefits, but it also has problems, and such risks become more obvious when Seiza is performed for long periods. Practicing Seiza too much can be detrimental to your knees, as it can reason terrible knee aches.
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Problems With Seiza:
A few newbies might have issues with this pose as it demands great flexibility in your hips and knees. A few might experience weariness in their back as they aren’t accustomed to sitting straight (because of extended periods of slouching). A lot of individuals hold tension in their shoulders and neck; they might find it hard to relax in this pose. Others with frail back muscles may experience an arching back and slouch in their hips. Students with hip mobility limits might prefer one hip to the other, which can reason unsteadiness. A lot of students have mobility issues in their ankles and knees.
Overcoming Issues:
With all the methods in Karate, you require patience. It is no different with this sitting pose. Give yourself time to learn it. Know about the issues each time you sit and try to utilize the right form. We are searching for a balanced posture. The European bad habits of sitting might make the task of perfecting this pose take a little longer, but if you practice it regularly, you can surely master it in no time.
Seiza Sitting Ideas
1. Pillows for Seiza
EMOOR Japanese Buckwheat Hull Seiza Cushion
This product, unfortunately, has only one review, and the rating is 3 stars out of 5. There are two main sizes available; medium and large. There are also many colours available, like; checked black, checked blue, hemp leaves red, sakura black, and striped navy blue, etc.
The dimensions of the medium-sized pillow are; Width 9 x Length 9 x Height 5 inches. The dimensions of the large-sized pillow are; Width 9 x Length 8 x Height 7 inches. The fabric of the outer pillow is 100% cotton. The material used for the inside of the cushion is fumigated, Buckwheat Hull.
This product can also be used for everyday purposes, aside from Seiza. For example, customers can even sit on this pillow in a cross-legged style and can be used as a pillow for napping. The product’s material is also capable of absorbing excess moisture. There is also the advantage of carrying this product around without any problem as it weighs only 1.65 pounds.
Seiza Cushion
This product is a set made in Vermont by a skilled woodworker. The bench is made of maple, which makes the overall product sturdy and very appealing. It has many features that make it one of the top-worthy purchases. It has a zippered carrying case for the bench. And the bench is without hinges.
There is also the option of removing the legs, hence making it easier to store and travel with this product.
There are strong four magnets to ensure stability. The material for the cushion is 100% cotton. The dimensions of the product are 7 inches wide and 18 feet long. There are Velcro straps that ensure that the product is stable during its use. The customers are provided with many options when it comes to the color of the cushion, such as; burgundy, navy, white, sage green twill, and khaki, etc.
Chairs for Seiza like Floor Chairs
1. NEEDS Portable Easy Seiza Chair
This product has a rating of 2.8 stars out of 5 on Amazon. The product comes in a bag and can be folded easily. It is in color black, which is neutral and goes with almost everything.
This chair will assist customers successfully for Seiza. It will also prevent the customers’ limbs from going numb, hence, ensuring that the customers are comfortable. The dimensions of the product are 8.7 x 4.5 x 6.7 inches.
This product only weighs 8 ounces, therefore making it very easy to carry. Because the product does not weigh much and is not huge, it won’t require a massive amount of space for storage. The reviews of the product highlight that the product is indeed of good quality and ensures consumer satisfaction.
2. Adjustable Seiza Chair Posture Corrector by Japan
While this product has only one review, it does have a rating of 3 stars out of 5. It comes in 2 colors; black and purple. Having these options is suitable for potential customers.
This chair is not only portable, but it is also very light and compact. The dimensions of the product are 7.7 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches, and it weighs around 6.7 ounces.
3. Japanese Inches Rattan Straight Seiza Chair
This product generally has good reviews on Amazon. It has a rating of 4.4 stars out of 5. The dimensions of the product are 41 x 28 x 13 cm, and the material is rattan. It is handcraft, and the color is light, which makes it possible to be used in any home environment or style.
The product weighs 10.6 ounces, and the shape is rectangular. Reviews suggest that the product is sturdy and stable. Moreover, it allows the consumers comfort, which was its aim in the first place.
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Seiza Benches
1. Boon Decor Meditation Bench Cushion for Kneeling Seiza
While this product may have very few reviews, it does have a rating of 5 stars out of 5. And to some, it may be enough evidence that the product is indeed excellent. The bench comes in many colors, like; elephant brown, elephant salmon, global weave burgundy brown, global weave purple, Indochine royal purple border.
This feature is very attractive as it allows consumers many options. There are 2 Velcro straps attached to the bench, which will prevent the bench from falling or slipping.
These Velcro straps are 5 feet long and will standard mediation benches that are 7 or 7.5 inches wide. The dimensions of the product are 17.75 x 7.7 x 1.5 inches. The consumer, to clean and maintain the product, can remove the cover through a zipper and dry clean it. The reviews, in general, are very positive and highlight the contention that the product is worth the money.
2. Little Meditation Seiza Bench
This product has excellent reviews that highlight the fact that customers are satisfied with it. It has a rating of 4.2 stars out of 5. It comes in 2 colors; black and white.
What makes this bench even more appealing is the fact that the height is adjustable. Customers have three options when it comes to adjusting heights; it can be adjusted from either 6, 7, or 8 inches from the floor.
This feature is appealing because it shows that a lot of effort and thought was put into the making of this product, and it shows that consumers’ comfort matters. It allows consumers to have a setting that enables them to reach that crucial relaxed space. The product has a curved base that fits with the user’s body. The product only weighs 11 ounces, making it very portable. And that also allows the product to be stored easily as not a lot of space will be required. Reviews show that customers are delighted with the features overall, and they are also pretty happy with the price of the product.
3. Meditation Bench by Acacia wood
This product is quite simply the ideal choice. It has been selected as Amazon’s choice and has a rating of 4.4 stars out of 5. It comes in 3 colors; Zen Black, Royal blue, and natural.
This feature not only allows customers more choices but in general, these colors are appealing and can be adapted to any room setting and environment. The product is handmade from sustainable acacia wood, and there is a cushion attached to the bench for comfort. The height of the bench is around 5 feet and 11 inches.
The product cannot be folded. And while this may lead to some problems when it comes to folding, it does, however, ensure stability during the usage of the product. The pedestal legs are rounded and angled, which is fastened very securely. The dimensions of the product are 18 inches in length, 8 inches in width. The product may be tough to carry as it weighs around 5.3 pounds and cannot be folded. But it is beautifully designed and made by skilled furniture makers.