Course XIX - Teaching 6: Main Differences in Postures

First, the three main postures shall be considered since at every moment we are assuming one of them, that is, the standing, seated and lying down posture. We got so much used to pass from one to another posture, or to remain for hours in certain posture, that we have lost any critical sense to notice if our present posture is correct or not. Only sometimes, after being seated long time and dealing with an absorbing task, we notice that our continuous tension on certain muscles of the back and legs becomes unbearable. We change position straightening the back momentarily, and a little later we find ourselves again in the same position as before.
But in the standing position, which is somewhat easier, we find certain weakening habits. Usually we lean the weight of our body only on one leg, and when the latter is tired, we pass this weight to the other one, while we ever look for a wall or the frame of a door to lean on.
Deficiencies and lack of relaxation in lying down postures, which usually we assume to rest, are the outcome of deficiencies acquired in other postures.
Therefore, old usual incorrect postures should be replaced by new habits and by practicing exercises and continuous self-control, assuming in the beginning those postures described in this course, until the inner awakening of a sense of natural posture. Henceforward, any description of future postures assumed is unnecessary.
Generally, postures can be divided into three groups, according to their characteristic influence. There are favorable postures to vegetative life; favorable postures to mental life; and finally favorable postures to mystical individual life.
Through vegetative postures, that is, through postures that stimulate physical wellbeing by increasing good health and vitality, the body is in tune with universal physical energies. Externally, a wide and steady contact with the support, that is, with earth, can be recognized in them. On the other hand, this support decreases in mental postures; therefore, certain absorption along with mental activity stimulated by the sense of balance is obtained and kept quite awake by reducing the support.
It is very difficult to say something about mystical postures, since they can be very different according to him who practices it. Generally, in such posture bodies look like lifeless.