moderate Seiza · 正座
Kneeling
Kneeling with the hips settled back over the heels. Tall, alert, and surprisingly restful — the traditional Japanese sitting posture, and the one that keeps the spine stacked with the least effort.
What it asks of you
- Knee flexion and ankle plantarflexion (pointing the toes back)
- Tolerance for weight through the front of the shins
How to sit it well
- 1 Slide a seiza bench or a firm cushion between your heels to take the load off the ankles and knees
- 2 Let the sit-bones rest down; lengthen up through the crown
- 3 Point the toes straight back, not tucked
- 4 Come out and shake the legs the moment they tingle
Good for
- Tea & meals
- Focused desk work
- Meditation
- A tall reset from slumping
Props that help
- Seiza / kneeling bench
- Cushion between the heels
- Rolled towel under the ankles