Seiza Sitting Training | How To Sit Seiza Like A Pro | Best Practices

In most Japanese traditions you are required to sit kneeling on the floor in the sitting position that is known as 'seiza'. It is common in martial arts such as aikido, kendo or karate, and also in performance arts as tea ceremony to maintain this posture and sitting style.
For a lot of people this is the cause of agonizing knee pain, but with a few simple exercises you can start training yourself to make it much less horrible.
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[@theteacrane]

*The World's First Online Tea Ceremony Course* Learn the Japanese Tea Ceremony with Tyas Sosen 👉🏻 academy.the-tea-crane.com/tea-ceremony

[@closeencountersoftheweirdkind]

I usually just do an explosive backflip from the kneeling position and land on my feet

[@theteacrane]

You should teach me one day 🙏🏻

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much! This is an important posture in many cultural traditions. I'm teaching it to a Muslim gentleman who needs to practice it during prayer. Gradual development is very important! 🙏

[@micheledelcol2934]

Very useful tips. Thanks, Tyas!

[@sumiashleykubota2810]

Perfect instruction!!!!! I was waiting this. Thank you!

[@theteacrane]

Thank you!

[@horrudu4081]

Nice video. I'm used to seiza from my Aikido practice, but we have never discussed details. I would usually get up by doing something similar to a shikko step: going forward a step with one foot to a position where the knee would be in front of me in about an 90 degree angle. The other foot would follow the first as if tied together with a rubber band. The knee would still be in its original place, but the lower part of the leg would be turned along the floor about a quarter of a circle. From that position I would just rise up. Never been recommended that way I think, but it has just felt natural and you end up in a nice hanmi. It's a nice fluent movement, but probably not as delicate nor as proper as this one.

[@nickolas7906]

Extremely useful for deep meditation. That's my experience

[@Draedaja]

I needed this about... 20 years ago (yay Karate) but still very useful now. Thanks a lot for this thorough video!

[@lisaray9404]

Thank you so much for the video and lesson. I hope to be as graceful and skilled as you are in the seiza; but I need to start practicing now. May I mention that I just saw the video that Mr. Shogo made of the tour of your fine tea house. It is a lovely place, and I especially enjoyed the tour of the gardens. I took note of what you said about keeping all the natural elements in balance with one another. It was very inspirational. Again, thank you so much for the video and lesson. Please have a wonderful day! 😊💖🙏

[@theteacrane]

Thank you! Best of luck with your practice 🙏🏻

[@DevilMarshawLaw]

That really helped my seiza in my Aikidō practice. Thanks!

[@theteacrane]

That’s really great! Happy to hear you got some actual benefit out of this video. 🙏🏻

[@hopper__]

Thank you so much! I was wondering for quite a while if it's alright to put one feet on top of the other while sitting, and I'm so glad you explained it! Now I can feel at ease sitting the way I like most

[@theteacrane]

Glad you found some use in my video 😊🙏🏻

[@agnostiker09]

Thanks a lot and greetings from germany.

[@vanetamona9918]

Hi, do you mind picking that up for me? Yeah, my knee cap- right over there. Thanks

[@theteacrane]

Here you go! … where shall I put it? …

[@ylangylang1088]

I really appreciate this video.

[@garyhoang9923]

Thanks. I have to do this in judo and this was helpful

[@Jizzzor]

Thanks man !

[@shillinhite3911]

I'm a fat westerner and I can only sit like this for about a minute before I start feeling discomfort and my legs start to fall asleep. I'm trying to build it up a bit so that I get better at it. Thanks for the video.

[@meinhendl]

very well explained . thank you very much !

[@fabiogarcia1431]

That's great explanation.

[@theteacrane]

Thank you!

[@shijokingo3]

Thank you Tyas!

[@iyamarina1574]

Awesome!

[@TheZenYuzu]

How long can you stay like this?

[@denis.l4194]

Can Seiza cause health problems because of having numb legs to often? Thank you

[@theteacrane]

Not that I have experienced or am aware of after 15 years of sitting in this position frequently.

[@iumitakeda8243]

Thank you. Greetings from Brasil

[@Lucas-yy3dh]

Great vid! I also love your guitar intro. Did you do it yourself?

[@theteacrane]

The Music is by a friend of mine, Yuki Katayama 🙏🏻

[@theteacrane]

©︎ Music & Sounds courtesy to Yuki Katayama open.spotify.com/artist/2B1TgWfAWvqd52taJOuSEO

[@oldtimerbjj]

Hello. Very useful video! A question about the clothing, what is it called? /Thomas

[@theteacrane]

What I am wearing in this video is the ‘samue’. Traditionally it is work clothing used by monks, but makes a great everyday replacement for kimono.

[@oldtimerbjj]

@@theteacrane Thank you for your answer🙏

[@vincenovoa]

Thank you for this informative and interesting video! I started iaido last month and I'm practicing seiza as well. I'm having trouble picking my feet up and pointing them when I come up from seiza. I'll keep practicing and hopefully it will decrease the pain. How many minutes do you recommend practicing everyday? Thank you once again!

[@theteacrane]

Gradually increase the time you sit as you improve and get accustomed to the position.

[@raytaylor3868]

I just started learning massage, Shiatsu to be exact, we sit in seiza and Thai positions. It's been very hard on my knees and hips, are there any particular stretches that I could do to gain more flexibility/comfort in my joints?

[@theteacrane]

Unfortunately I can’t help with that. Although I have used the cow-pose in the past to get more hip flexibility.

[@Lorak2246]

Hi. Can someone explain sitting in Anza for Brazilian Jui Jitt Sui. Have test today but unsure how to sit crossed legged.. Front or back?

[@theteacrane]

Good luck with your test 👍🏻

[@vijayakumarp7593]

Nice video. As I have Rheumatoid Arthritis unable to sit in Vajrasana (Seiza position). I am 77 years old.. (though I used to practice Yoga, all these asanas from my younger ages I find lots of stiffness in the joins. Can you suggest any ways to loosen my joints and safely achieve this postures. Appreciate your response 🙏🙏🙏

[@theteacrane]

Thank you for your comment. However, I would prefer you'd see a doctor about this. I don't know of the effects of arthritis and whether seiza should be practiced with this condition or not.

[@dnnisamn6886]

Hi I always tend to sit seisa when watching tv or using device by prolonged time.When I stand up I feel knees cracking sound, should I worry about it? I dont feel pain but bit tired . Ps:Ive been doing this posture around 3 years

[@theteacrane]

Not to worry about the cracking in the knees. It happens, but isn’t dangerous or anything.

[@charlottereynolds8394]

Question: I have congenitally bad knees and have had 6 surgeries on the left one alone including one in the last 6 months. I cannot use a Stairmaster or do squats. Is Seiza a possibility for me even with practice? I feel like my orthopaedist will fire me if I ask him. What do the Japanese do when they have very bad knees? Is there an alternative manner of formal sitting for ritual ceremonies when one of the participants has knees like mine? And if so, what is it? I've searched and searched and can find nothing, but modern Japan has a 33% rate of knee problems in citizens over 60, so they can't ALL be sitting Seiza.

[@JewishMacaroni]

You should ask your orthopaedist. Don't be afraid to explore possibilities

[@ItsaMeCeline]

I tried “training” my legs for this for about a month. Now I can do it for 10mins lmao 😭😭😭 but that’s it.

[@xTeeak]

Hi, thank you for the tips and explanations. I have started practicing seiza few years back after a recommendation from my friend (to help alleviate back pain) and the shift in the mindset of something as easy/hard as sitting has been huge since that for me - sometimes I even prefer sitting on a floor (eventhough hard floors here are not really made for sitting). I have still a lot of difficulties staying in the position for more than 10-15 minutes and I usually start to fidget around 7 minutes in .. question if I may: is it okay to shift your feet a bit from time to time to help prevent your legs from sleeping and be able to stay in position longer or should I strive for a very still position? Thank you again for your wisdom you share so kindly with the internet void .. :)

[@theteacrane]

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Regarding your question, it is absolutely fine changing the position of your feet, like which one is in top, etc. from time to time to maintain a comfortable position. It should certainly not become torture.

[@Vorteks-et1nw]

Would a warmup before doing this be needed?

[@closeencountersoftheweirdkind]

People are usually impressed, especially in the tea house

[@theteacrane]

I am sure they will be!

[@eddyer3393]

Hello Ellie in Space Put a reply here if you come to this place We give thanks to The Tea Crane seiza

[@theteacrane]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@eddyer3393]

@@theteacrane You are welcome love your shoes slippers socks Ellie in Space has her show on KZbin please visit her sometime say Hi. The creator economy is a diverse crew. toe be sure Kind of an odd question: Are you sensitive? empathic keeps coming up. it reads as "I feel for you." but I can't say if it is reaching, seeking, looking or an I feel you - THey are like echos all I do is report Running a message for a fallen Valkyrie and don't know who the messages are for. What they mean or even the context. It is like a reed in the wind bend, relax That was for someone else. No worries. kind of thing. Welcome aboard it is a motley crew

[@KrisVesel]

I used to sit seiza for years. At first knees were soon painful, but I slowly increased to 25 or 30 minutes. But 3 years ago my feet started falling asleep within 7 - 10 minutes of sitting and no subtle change of position prevents that. Any ideas? I'm asking because I cannot sit cross-legged due to my spinal condition and now seiza is lost for me, too...

[@theteacrane]

Falling asleep is not a problem. My feet fall asleep too, but I let them be and then use the techniques in this video to wake them up again.

[@klompe7801]

It hurts 😅

[@sati59]

Can't sit on ankles 😥

[@theteacrane]

Yes it may be painful to some.

[@sati59]

@@theteacrane Can we move Ankels and sit in middle of heels ? {It's not much painful}

[@theteacrane]

@@sati59 Yes, of course you should always look for a position that is comfortable to you. And there is no meaning in hurting yourself.

[@om0107]

I am indian .. i have sitting in crisscross and seiza all my life without knowing people need a training video for this .. we even sit and eat in this position.

[@theteacrane]

Don't take anything for granted ;)

[@afzalismail7715]

It's hard when you've spent all your life sitting on chairs

[@rainynight02]

So no way to just prevent my legs going numb? 😭

[@theteacrane]

There are stools and devices that help lifting up your hip so that less pressure is put on your calfs, which help prevent going numb. But if you sit in seiza during a service of tea as the host it is not recommended to use these. Your legs will go numb in this case, and you may want to practice in ways to quickly get feeling back and be able to get up in an elegant way :)

[@Yakuo]

🧿🌀🙏🌀🧿

[@sati59]

Anime 🎐 style of sitting ...!

[@theteacrane]

It’s a very real sitting posture though.

[@stevebeschakis9775]

I'm a vulgar barbarian. I use a chair.

[@theteacrane]

It is a bit difficult though to whisk a bowl of tea that is placed on the floor from a chair. Or do you use a table too? 😉