Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Back Support with a Meditation Bench (Seiza)
This is the first of several posts that demonstrate a back support device I designed for sitting meditation. Today I will focus on how it works with a meditation bench.
The objective was to design a single back support device that would work with a meditation bench or a meditation cushion (zafu.) I alternate between a bench and a cushion to shift the stresses around my body to support a lifetime of meditation practice.
The principle design needed to accommodate a "Normal" support position and an "Aggressive" support position to help with back injuries I've sustained (see earlier posts 1st injury and 2nd injury.)
The Normal support position provides a cushion for arm support at the wrist. The length of most people's upper arm is shorter than their torso. During extended sitting "dangling" arms put stress on the back, especially if you have a weak or injured back.
The thing that is unique about this back support is that the cushion has long straps that wrap around your back and fasten in front. The straps perform 2 purposes. They hold the pillow in a fixed location. (I found that without the straps pillows gradually shift forward over a sit and stress my back.) The straps also put a very light pressure against the lower back. This pressure helps support the back (which feels great) and is also an early indicator if you start to lose your posture. (I find that sometimes I start to lean back and the straps make it obvious.)
If I am doing lengthy sitting sometimes I need a short period (15-30 minutes) of even more support. The straps are designed to also create arm loops that allow the cushion to rest firmly against your back. I put a gazillion button holes in the straps to make it very adjustable. (Velcro would have been great except that unstrapping velcro in the zendo after zazen is not very sangha-friendly.) You can adjust how much pressure you want by how close you make the arm loops. I have found that short periods in the Aggressive position allow me to go back the Normal position and be comfortable for quite an extended time.
It took a lot of experimenting to get this to work correctly but in the end it has exceeded my expectations. I find that I can sit for extended hours comfortably. If you suffer from back pain during zazen (sitting meditation) I'd really appreciate any feedback about whether this looks like it might help you?
Namaste & Friendly Bows _/|\_
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| Meditation Bench Back Support Normal Position Front View |
The principle design needed to accommodate a "Normal" support position and an "Aggressive" support position to help with back injuries I've sustained (see earlier posts 1st injury and 2nd injury.)
The Normal support position provides a cushion for arm support at the wrist. The length of most people's upper arm is shorter than their torso. During extended sitting "dangling" arms put stress on the back, especially if you have a weak or injured back.
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| Meditation Bench Back Support Normal Position Side View |
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| Meditation Bench Back Support Aggressive Position Side View |
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| Meditation Bench Back Support Aggressive Position Back View |
It took a lot of experimenting to get this to work correctly but in the end it has exceeded my expectations. I find that I can sit for extended hours comfortably. If you suffer from back pain during zazen (sitting meditation) I'd really appreciate any feedback about whether this looks like it might help you?
Namaste & Friendly Bows _/|\_
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Zen is Timeless (but posting isn't)
Coming back from an interlude of activity. I didn't want to post any more until I finished designing, creating, and testing the "meditation back support device" I've been working on. Wow, that's a mouthful.
Good news. I finally finished the device and I've been testing it the past few weeks. It's AMAZING!!! After I sewed it together and did the first sit I knew I was very close. I had to tweak a couple of design features to dial it in...now it totally exceeds my expectations.
The thumbnail shows what it looks like. I'm currently by myself in the mountains so I can't take a picture of it in use. When I get home I'll post an update with "action" shots of me sitting with the "meditation back support device."
I think that this could be a huge help to anyone who practices zazen and has back problems. I'm considering having them made and selling them with the proceeds going to my local sangha. We'll see. If I do then I think we should have a naming contest and the winner gets a free "meditation back support device"...zenza?
This week I will post a couple of additions to the book review section. So if you are looking for a good Zen read you might check that out.
Friendly Bows _/|\_
Good news. I finally finished the device and I've been testing it the past few weeks. It's AMAZING!!! After I sewed it together and did the first sit I knew I was very close. I had to tweak a couple of design features to dial it in...now it totally exceeds my expectations.
 |
| Meditation Back Support Device |
The thumbnail shows what it looks like. I'm currently by myself in the mountains so I can't take a picture of it in use. When I get home I'll post an update with "action" shots of me sitting with the "meditation back support device."
I think that this could be a huge help to anyone who practices zazen and has back problems. I'm considering having them made and selling them with the proceeds going to my local sangha. We'll see. If I do then I think we should have a naming contest and the winner gets a free "meditation back support device"...zenza?
This week I will post a couple of additions to the book review section. So if you are looking for a good Zen read you might check that out.
Friendly Bows _/|\_
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