Ok, didn't really know where to put this but training and fitness kinda works with it right?

Anyway, I was wondering. I'm a big fan of meditation and do it quite alot (more than the average teen anyway I'm pretty sure ), and I can reach a pretty good level of relaxation. However, when I exit meditation after a long session I usually find that my feet and sometimes my calfs have fallen asleep. I just went through a meditation session and I could hardly even walk afterwards, kept sort of stumbling into a half crouch. So, my question is, is there something I'm doing wrong or is this just something I'll have to deal with?

How are you meditating? Sitting, laying or standing? I'm guessing its sitting?

What is your mind doing? Where is your attention when you meditate?

How do you close a session? Do you open your eyes and off you go?

Try to give as complete-a-description as you can.

Well, nowadays I prefer the shaolin style seated position (legs crossed, with one leg lying in front of the other). Sometimes a just sit down, close my eyes and make my mind go blank, focusing on the breathing and chi flow. I'm also a big fan of guided meditation, right now I'm experimenting with the Silva method, which is basically focusing on various parts of the body and relaxing them, finally imagining that ones body is not a part of yourself, as if you where a severed head almost. When exiting meditation I use the 1-5 count (counting upwards to 5 and coming out of trance further for each ascending number).

In the said Silva method ones mind is supposed to be imagining a passive, serene scene (once full physical relaxation is accomplished)

meditator wrote:
Well, nowadays I prefer the shaolin style seated position (legs crossed, with one leg lying in front of the other). Sometimes a just sit down, close my eyes and make my mind go blank, focusing on the breathing and chi flow. I'm also a big fan of guided meditation, right now I'm experimenting with the Silva method, which is basically focusing on various parts of the body and relaxing them, finally imagining that ones body is not a part of yourself, as if you where a severed head almost. When exiting meditation I use the 1-5 count (counting upwards to 5 and coming out of trance further for each ascending number).

Ok...

First off, I'll say that I'm not a fan of guided meditation - it seems far to "new-age" to appeal to me.

I'll go through a few points from your post, then give you an exercise to try.

Sometimes a just sit down, close my eyes and make my mind go blank, focusing on the breathing and chi flow.

You shouldn't have the mind go "blank". You should quieten the mind and turn it inward. Also, don't focus on Qi flow. It's really common to become so attached to it, that you can inadvertantly cause blockage in the meridian system.


finally imagining that ones body is not a part of yourself, as if you where a severed head almost.

Hmm, I'm guessing this is part of the guided meditation you do? As I said above, I'm not a fan of it. In this instance, you should not be seperating the head from the rest of the body. Again, this can cause blockages and stagnation, possibly contributing to the problem you mentioned in your first post.

When exiting meditation I use the 1-5 count (counting upwards to 5 and coming out of trance further for each ascending number).

I think you might be coming out of your sitting too quickly. I'll cover this below:

Sit cross-legged (not necessarily half or full lotus), back straight and the head suspended. Let the tip of your tongue touch the roof of your mouth, and breath slowly through your nose. Let the eyes close naturally. Link your fingers, making a sling out of your hands and resting them in your lap, as if supporting the dantien.
Sit quietly for a few minutes and let your muscles start to relax. As you start to relax, guide your mind gently down your body, from the crown of your head to your toes, as if a scanner is passing over you. Go slowly and feel for any tenseness or stiffness. Don't try to do anything with it at this point, just acknowledge it, and keep scanning down. Don't force it however.
When you reach the toes,gently scan down again, this time feeling that, when you reach a blockage, your mind is a wave on the ocean, gently washing over the blockage. Don't try to blast it away, just gently wash over each one once per scan. Do as many of these "washing" scans as you feel comfortable with.
When you're ready to end your session, guide your intention to the dantien (the energy field where Qi resides, it's located internally, approximately 3 finger widths below the naval, on the inside.) and sit quietly for a minute or two. Then, gently rub your hands together to warm your palms, then place each hand over your closed eyes. Slowly, open your eyes into the darkness of your palms. Blink slowly a few times to lubricate the eyes, then slowly lower your hands, letting light in slowly between your fingers, letting your eyes get used to the light.
When your eyes are fully exposed, slowly rise to your feet. Stand for a moment or too in order to allow your Qi to settle. Gently lift each knee up to the stomach to stretch out the legs. Walk gently around for a couple of minutes to re-engage the legs.


This is the method that I generally use, and I don't have any problems with my legs afterwards.

Hope this helps.

This sounds like a good excercise... and I have to agree with you on the new age thing. Anyways, I'll try out your method of meditation next time. Thanks a bunch mate!

That all sounds like good advice to me - I've been a meditator for about 15 years.

I'm a bit freaked-out you raised this topic today, I was wondering if anyone was going to mention it!)

There's more you can do, but I won't complicate matters. Sometimes 'less is more.'

Some Daoist meditation techniques can help with posture when sitting.

Also, just be aware that meditation can bring you more into the body - some people tend to 'bliss out' and get far too out of their bodies before they've learnt to be truly present in the here and now.

I wish you well.