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Q:  I was wondering if you had any advice for me regarding meditation.  Whenever I sit down to meditate -- always on a meditation cushion -- I feel the urge to fidget, mainly because of my back problems. I try to sit upright but not too tense, and have even tried smiling because it supposedly relaxes all of the muscles in the body, but nothing seems to ease the pain I feel in my back when sitting down to meditate, causing me to fidget, thus delaying meditation at all. Any advice?
 

Thanks,
 J
 

Q: Hi! I have a problem that has been bothering me for quite some time.  Any help or advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated, though if you can't help me I appreciate you taking the time to read this.
 Anyways, I first noticed this during yoga but it definitely affects other aspects of my life as well, which makes it a larger problem than at first I thought. I noticed that during relaxation, when I close my eyes, I can't fully relax the area around my eyes or my eyes will open. It seems I have to squint to keep my eyes closed. It is the same when I try to go to sleep. I think this has caused me to squint all the time and I have constant strain and discomfort around  my eyes every day. I always thought this was normal, but I'm  starting to think it is not.
I have found yoga to be very beneficial overall, but I on't think I can receive all the benefits if I can't fully relax,  though I don't know if there is a way to fix this problem. Perhaps it is just the way my eyes are built? I tried asking an eye doctor at my last checkup but she was not helpful at all. Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

 Thank you! M

A: Well there are two options you can try and see if either of them work for you. 
 Option 1- Push your cushion up close to a wall where you can sit with your whole buttocks propped up (not just the sit bones) and your back against the wall for support. 
 Option 2- lay down. I know this sounds a bit strange but I found doing pranayama this way ( breathing exercises) much more beneficial. It allowed me to focus on the breath rather than my aching shoulders. It may allow you to move into a deeper meditation. 
 Practicing yoga asana (postures) regularly, especially hip openers, will gradually allow you to sit more comfortably and for longer periods. Once a week, try meditation in the traditional way for a short amount of time and build up- say 5 minutes to start. Combining this with a longer meditation in a more comfortable position will allow you to experience the benefits of meditation but eventually build up your ability to meditate in a more traditional position.

A: Great question. I have never had a student experience something like
this but I may have a solution. I would suggest looking around in your area for a yoga supply store or health food store that carries eye relaxation pillows. The ones I think most appropriate for you contain flax seeds, which are cooling to the eyes, and lavender or chamomile, which are relaxing to the eyes and to the body as a whole. A good quality eye pillow will have a nice weight to it-not too light- you want to feel an even pressure on the eyes. Also look for one that has an inner pillow with a removable and washable outter pillow case that you can wash. The average price range is between $12 and $20. They are great for yoga, headaches, and just general relaxation. Being a flight attendant as well
as a yogi, I also carry one in my suitcase to help with jet lag.