SeizaBench.com http://seizabench.com Guide to meditation benches, meditating, and more. Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:03:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 The Importance of Seiza in the Martial Arts http://seizabench.com/the-importance-of-seiza-in-the-martial-arts/ http://seizabench.com/the-importance-of-seiza-in-the-martial-arts/#comments Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:00:27 +0000 admin http://seizabench.com/?p=23 In addition to being a meditative position, as in zazen (seated meditation), seiza is the traditional manner of sitting in a variety of traditional Japanese martial arts, such as kendo, iaido, judo, jujitsu, karate, nunjutsu, as well as activities such as ikebana (flower arranging) and shodo (calligraphy).

Seiza in Kendo

The site below lists detailed instructions for seiza as it relates to Japanese martial arts.
Link: Seiza No Kamae – Ninjutsu

]]> http://seizabench.com/the-importance-of-seiza-in-the-martial-arts/feed/ 0 Bamboo Seiza/Meditation Bench http://seizabench.com/bamboo-seiza-meditation-bench/ http://seizabench.com/bamboo-seiza-meditation-bench/#comments Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:44:16 +0000 admin http://seizabench.com/?p=20 YogaTrader.com offers a unique eco-friendly folding meditation bench made of bamboo.

The Bamboo Meditation Bench reduces knee, hip, ankle and back stress with effortless spine alignment. The special curved bottom surface of the legs allow you to slightly adjust spine and pelvis alignment better than a fixed flat bottom bench. Tight hinged bench legs fold up for portability and storage. Made with beautiful and sustainable fast growing bamboo with an eco-friendly natural oil finish.

Seiza Bench

We have tried it and agree that it is a very comfortable, portable bench, especially with the optional cushion.

Seiza Meditation Bench from YogaTrader.com

]]> http://seizabench.com/bamboo-seiza-meditation-bench/feed/ 0 Seiza Bench Plans http://seizabench.com/seiza-bench-plans/ http://seizabench.com/seiza-bench-plans/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:19:59 +0000 admin http://seizabench.com.s44494.gridserver.com/?p=15 If you are interested in using a seiza bench, but can’t afford one or simply want the experience of building one yourself, there is an excellent resource at MichiganBuddhist.com. Lee Braiden gives step-by-step instructions on how to build a meditation bench with very simple raw materials and some basic tools.

Making a seiza bench

Click here for more details: Making a Seiza Meditation Bench [PDF]

]]> http://seizabench.com/seiza-bench-plans/feed/ 0 Meditation Video – “The Fly” http://seizabench.com/meditation-video-the-fly/ http://seizabench.com/meditation-video-the-fly/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:06:23 +0000 admin http://seizabench.com.s44494.gridserver.com/?p=13 Here is an amusing video with a great lesson at the end:

]]> http://seizabench.com/meditation-video-the-fly/feed/ 0 Health Benefits of Meditation http://seizabench.com/health-benefits-of-meditation/ http://seizabench.com/health-benefits-of-meditation/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:48:49 +0000 admin http://seizabench.com.s44494.gridserver.com/?p=3 HealthAndYoga.com has an interesting article that lists the top health benefits of meditation.  They note that although meditation is traditionally considered a spiritual practice, it has many health benefits.

The yoga and meditation techniques are being implemented in management of life threatening diseases; in transformation of molecular and genetic structure; in reversal of mental illnesses, in accelerated learning programs, in perceptions and communications beyond the physical, in solving problems and atomic and nuclear physics; in gaining better ecological understanding; in management of lifestyle and future world problems.

Meditation

Some of the listed health benefits are: lower oxygen consumption; decreased respiratory rate; increased blood flow and slowed heart rate; increased exercise tolerance in hearth patients; and deeper levels of relaxation.

For a complete list, click here.

]]> http://seizabench.com/health-benefits-of-meditation/feed/ 0