prolonged right leg numbness after zazenkai

[Jundo]

Full traditional sieza without a cushion was something we did in my martial arts days, so maybe I am used to it but I sit a variant of what is normally suggested. I sit with the zafu flat in its normal orientation, with my legs either side.

Just a footnote: Traditional Seiza in Japan is very different from Seiza in the west, and involves sitting directly on the heels without any bench or support (I start to sweat after about 20 minutes, as do many younger Japanese who are no longer used to it):



That is --NOT-- recommended for Zazen (especially for Sam without his doctor!), although Zen monks are expected to sit such way for various ceremonies and for long periods!



Many people in the west sit their modified Seiza with either a wooden bench or a sideways Zafu.



Gassho, J

STLah

[Onkai]

Somehow I t’s the reverse for me, I feel more pressure on the knees if the zafu is flat rather than on its edge.

I have started to do the following exercises for the lotus position, though I am not optimistic about being able to do even a 1/2 lotus:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nnUluhSXx6w

Gassho,
Gareth
Sat

Thank you for that video. I've been having pain in my hip joints and those stretches targeted the painful areas and felt really good.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Jundo]

Thank you for that video. I've been having pain in my hip joints and those stretches targeted the painful areas and felt really good.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

Management at Treeleaf cannot officially endorse or comment on that video in any way, good or bad!

Become a human pretzel at your own risk!

I do know a heck of a lot of older Zen priests, Japanese and western, who have blown out their knees from too many years of Lotus. The great Dai-En Bennage Roshi, for example ...



Gassho, J

STLah

[Onkai]

Management at Treeleaf cannot officially endorse or comment on that video in any way, good or bad!

Become a human pretzel at your own risk!

I do know a heck of a lot of older Zen priests, Japanese and western, who have blown out their knees from too many years of Lotus. The great Dai-En Bennage Roshi, for example ...



Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you for the warning. I usually sit half lotus or quarter lotus. My hip joints hurt throughout the day (not when sitting) but my knees feel fine.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Meitou]

Respectfully Meitou an IRL Yoga studio with proper qualified teachers will absolutely cater for those with health challenges in a way Juki describes. Unfortunately a lot of gyms say they do Yoga classes as part of a larger membership but the person teaching often has little to no Yoga qualifications. May I suggest that you don't give up if an IRL studio is what you would benefit from attending, just look for lineage like Juki has mentioned - a bit like finding a good Zen Buddhism teacher, you've got to sort the wheat from the chaff.
Gassho
Onka
Sat

Our two yoga groups here (small town) cater for all abilities and levels of fitness but not in the same class, but in different classes over the span of a week, sorry not to make that clear. I know both teachers personally, they are both excellent, highly qualified. I haven't attended classes in a couple of years as I can't justify paying yearly insurance and subscription fees if I'm not sure I can commit to regular attendance, hence I use online classes.
Gyms here do not teach yoga, which is still occasionally regarded with suspicion as a religious cult, but this is all by the by.
Sorry for one sentence extra, even after editing
Gassho
Meitou
Sattoday lah

[Jimbodhi]

As the years go by, seems my butt just gets further from the floor. Here's my current set up: adjustable keyboard bench and a memory form pad thats wedged up in back with a small cushion to get the angle right and viola! Works great for me.

Best,

Jimbodhi

Sat today

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[Candycoated]

This I interested in, especially the recorded concept.
✨🙏✨

[Inshin]

Somehow I t’s the reverse for me, I feel more pressure on the knees if the zafu is flat rather than on its edge.

I have started to do the following exercises for the lotus position, though I am not optimistic about being able to do even a 1/2 lotus:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nnUluhSXx6w

Gassho,
Gareth
Sat

Thank you soooo much for sharing this! I want to work on my hips flexibility (and overall fitness) and was planning to start waking up at 5am to fit some ashtanga primary series in my hectic schedule but this I can realistically do every day!
Gassho
Sat

[Tomás ESP]

Since I also get leg numbness while sitting zazen, I was wondering if anyone would be so kind as to give feedback about my posture .

Front: https://postimg.cc/9wyvrQDP

Back: https://postimg.cc/JDkF2z5w

Side: https://postimg.cc/ykBGLBJ5

Legs: https://postimg.cc/q6p96dy9

Thank you!

Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaH

[Shoka]

Since I also get leg numbness while sitting zazen, I was wondering if anyone would be so kind as to give feedback about my posture .

Front: https://postimg.cc/9wyvrQDP

Back: https://postimg.cc/JDkF2z5w

Side: https://postimg.cc/ykBGLBJ5

Legs: https://postimg.cc/q6p96dy9

Thank you!

Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaH

Tomas,

Which leg tends to go numb first?

Gassho,
Shoka
Sat

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[Jundo]

Hi Tomas,

You had mentioned to me that it is your right leg. You will need to try various things, changing your position or posture slightly, to see what helps by experimenting. When the numbness goes away, you will know that you have discovered the cause.

Looking quickly, maybe your Zafu is just a little sagging and flat. I think it could be a little higher and firmer (just a bit).

Also, maybe your left heal is pressing into your right thigh in the picture? You may want to leave just a tiny gap between the left foot and right leg.

Also, your pants look a little tight (and maybe your underwear? ). Check that, and try looser fitting clothes that don't pinch the groin etc.

Finally, sometimes I have my legs go asleep when I sit on a Zabuton like you are doing. The thick pillow of the Zabuton is the cause. I see that you have a hard wood floor, so you need some cushion. Maybe try a piece of carpet, or something not so thick like a bathroom mat, so rest your legs instead of the thick Zabuton.

See if any of that helps, and report back. If you need to fill your Zafu, there is much information online about how to do that.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+fukk+a+zafu&oq=how+to+fukk+a+zafu&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.4582j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Kotei]

Hey Tomas,

When looking at the 'Back'/'Front' pictures, it looks a bit like a curve in your spine (head to your right / shoulder left / belly right / buttocks left.
Maybe you're sitting too much on the right buttock? Maybe it's just a feature of your spine.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Tomás ESP]

Shoka, in this case it is the right leg. Thank you very much for all of the advice Jundo. Sorry about the pants, forgot to change into a more adequate outfit for the pictures . Kotei indeed, it might be the case, hadn’t noticed! Thank you all for chiming in with support and/or advice

Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaH

[shikantazen]

An update on my original issue: The leg numbness went away after 30 hours.

I realized this numbness could be due to my recent vegan diet which is leaving me with calcium and (may be) b12 deficiencies both of which can cause the numbness. So fixed that and seeing if that helps

Gassho,
Sam
ST

[Tai Shi]

prolonged right leg numbness after zazenkai

My body will no longer let me sit long even on a straight back chair. About 8 years ago when I realized I wanted to be a Buddhist I purchased a cloth covered wedge of foam to make chair sitting easier. It was called “a Buddhist chair cushion.” All it probably was just a wedge of foam. Try a pillow for the tush. And, straight back chairs are acceptable. I can no longer sit long on a SB chair, so I sit in chairs with arms and padded seats. I am 69 and then I was 62.
Gassho
sat / lah
Tai Shi


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