Have you ever wondered, whenever you go to a place of worship, why do people always sit on the ground and receive prasad or meals??
Even our ancestors used to sit on the floor cross-legged to eat.
This might amaze many of you but this simple act of sitting on the floor has an in-depth connection with one’s physical & psychological wellbeing. If you don’t believe me, the reasons I will discuss below will prove my point.
1) It is a form of YOGA
When you sit in a cross-legged position while eating, you automatically do an asana known as Sukhasana. With absolute ease now you are multitasking. You are eating as well as doing yoga. This posture allows the mind to calm down and applies the pressure to the lower spine which facilitates relaxation.
2) It aids in Digestion
When you sit on the floor and bend forward to eat and come back to your natural position. This back and forth movement helps muscles in the abdomen to secrete digestive juices and helps in digesting the food very quickly.
3) Assists you in Mindful Eating
When your body touches the ground the mind automatically calms down. So, you automatically eat slower. Also, in this position the body is in a heightened state of receptivity to accept nutrition. In my personal experience I have noticed that whenever I sit on the floor to eat, I can never overeat. Even if I want to do so, my body doesn’t cooperate.
4) Helps you sustain a Good Posture
When you sit on the floor, the body’s posture is automatically corrected, with a straight spine. Expanding our spine and pushing our shoulders back, beats all the frequent pains and aches that are caused by a bad posture.
5) Makes you Humble & Grounded
A sadhu or a monk always sits on the floor to meditate. Why does he not choose a chair?? Well, there is definitely a reason for it.
According to spiritual beliefs when you sit on the floor it is easier for you to connect to your spiritual side. It makes you humble. Eating while sitting on the floor thus becomes a spiritual practice.
Do you know??
Humans are not conditioned to sit on a chair. Sitting on a chair is a recent phenomenon. Even the kings used to sit on the floor and eat. In so many parts of the world, the chairs are still not common.
If you have never sat on the floor, initially it can be challenging. But with consistent practice, it will become more comfortable than a chair.
If you have never tried eating while sitting on the floor, I guess ‘NOW’ is the time.
How do you all eat at home??
- On a dining/chair/sofa?
- Always on the floor?
- Occasionally on the floor??
Please do share with us in your comments.
Inspired me to try something new: eating while sitting on the floor. Whenever possible, I’ll now choose to sit on the floor and enjoy my meals. It feels more comfortable and natural, and it’s a great way to connect with my body and the food I’m eating. Thanks for the great post and the new idea!”
When I started sitting on the floor to eat, it was very challenging but now it feels so comfortable and natural.
I feel so much connected when I am sitting on floor to have meals
Yes that is the best way to have meals actually.
thanks for reading this.
Knowledgeable article. In modern houses these days arrangements are to sit on either sofa or dinner table to eat. So on daily basis we follow that practice only. But now we will try to follow atleast 2-3 times to eat while sitting on floor.
Thank you Meenakshi.
Given the set up we have these days even I am unable to always sit on the floor while eating but we can try as much as possible.
So very well articulated Kritika ji. Thanks for sharing.
The Mooladhar and Swadhishthan chakras push the pranas upwards naturally all day long. Like a vapor rising with heat. When we sit with folded legs on floor this push of prana gets a pause as the vayu from legs is not pushing upwards as legs are folded.
While sitting on chair the legs are hanging down calling for increased blood flow. In such case the push of prana is excited and not paused. At night, when one lies down the legs are straight with body flat and blood and vayu flow equally smooth.
When one sits on ground with folded crossed legs, the digestive energies are kick started at soft pace. Not as fast as when one sits in vajra asan.
I can go on. But I am so happy that you are educating people in right things. Best wishes
Thank you for your kind words and appreciation.I appreciate your knowledge and perspective on the subject.It is an honour to hear from you.
It’s fascinating to understand how different postures can impact our energy and digestive processes
This is written and explained so well. I will be trying to adapt this for sure. Thank you so much for the wonderful article.
Please try to have at least one meal per day while sitting on the floor. I will sure you will notice many positive things.
We in our family occasionally sit on floor to eat with children. But we will try our best to mostly sit on floor to eat atleast 2 meals.
That is great
WOW. Natural steps to be in yoga while eating/sitting.
Yes absolutely
Please try to have at least one meal per day while sitting on the floor. I am sure you will notice many positive things.
Only I eat on the floor in our house, not sure how to make them sit in the floor 😄
You continue eating on the floor, I am sure others would also join you soon. 🙂
We used to always sit on the floor in my grandparents home. Only after we moved to cities we started to sit on the dining table. Food is so much integral in our cultures , in every temple food would be served on the floor. Only if we have problem sitting on the floor, table would be provided. In my place people also have to wear tradition South Indian dress ( bare chested with shawl on the upper body and lungi for men). I was also told to go sit in the back for not following this( I was wearing jeans). Other thing which is still followed Sitting on the floor , we are supposed to consecrate the food by using water and some chant.
Yes, same happened for us as well. But now we are consiously trying to sit on the floor and have our meals.
I feel inspired to try this. Thanks for sharing!
That’s amazing, please try it.
I loved reading your blog. Something which we are loosing today . Thank you for taking back to basics .
My pleasure always. 🙂
So true that sitting on the floor will let the body decide the right quantity to eat and make us connect with it better. Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips that help us reconnect to our original ways of life. Namaskaram 🙂
Yes, as someone who is super fond of eating, I would tend to over eat.But if I sit on the floor and have meals my portions are effortlessly controlled.
You listed all 5 reasons, and briefly explained them. The blog is easy to read, understand and to remember, it is another eye opener for me about how ignorant it is to be judgmental, I thought it was uncivilized way of eating, and assumed people sit on the floor to eat because they could not afford a chair. Thank you for shed light on this. 🙏
Thank you Helena for your words of appreciation.
Wonderful post with facts…..very common but nowadays we are not paying attention to everything except our ingestion habits.
Thanks kritika for knowledge sharing post.
So very well articulated Kritika ji. Thanks for sharing.
The Mooladhar and Swadhishthan chakras push the pranas upwards naturally all day long. Like a vapor rising with heat. When we sit with folded legs on floor this push of prana gets a pause as the vayu from legs is not pushing upwards as legs are folded.
While sitting on chair the legs are hanging down calling for increased blood flow. In such case the push of prana is excited and not paused. At night, when one lies down the legs are straight with body flat and blood and vayu flow equally smooth.
When one sits on ground with folded crossed legs, the digestive energies are kick started at soft pace. Not as fast as when one sits in vajra asan.
I can go on. But I am so happy that you are educating people in right things. Best wishes
Thanks for sharing wonderful article.
Thanks to you for taking out time to read it