Use a comfortable, sustainable position

Sit or recline in a posture you can hold without strain, so physical effort does not keep arousal up.

Why it works

Muscular effort and discomfort feed proprioceptive signals that the brain can read as tension or threat. A relaxed, supported posture removes that input, lowering the baseline the relaxation response has to overcome. Comfort is functional here, not indulgent.

How to do it

1. Sit in a supportive chair or recline, letting your weight be held.
2. Relax the obvious holding spots — jaw, shoulders, hands.
3. If lying down makes you sleep instead of relax, sit upright instead.

Evidence

A comfortable position is another of Benson’s described elements, consistent with the well-established link between residual muscle tension and felt arousal. (mechanistic)

Comfort supports the response; it does not by itself elicit it. The repetition and passivity remain primary.

Common mistake

Forcing a rigid, "correct" meditation posture that creates strain, which quietly keeps the nervous system activated the whole session.