Have you ever asked why do some cultures eat on the floor?
Many Asian countries such as India, Japan, and even China, have an old tradition of sitting on the floor while eating. This habit uses asana, a unique yoga posture, that has a lot of health benefits.
Continue reading this article, you will know why many countries still keep this tradition until now. Besides physical ones, it also brings emotional bonding to families.
Let’s take a look!
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Health Benefits
Eating on the floor brings a lot of benefits to you both physically and emotionally. Moreover, the reason why do some cultures eat on the floor is its family meaning, with everyone sitting down to dine together. The tradition improves the family’s bonding.
The position also relaxes the body, which is good for a happy and peaceful family gathering.
1 – Help to improve digestion
When you sit on the floor, you normally sit cross-legged which is a digestive position. It is believed that when one sits in this pose in front of food it automatically signals your brain to prepare for digestion.
Aside from that, when eating from a dish on the floor, you will have to bend forward somewhat and then return to your starting posture to swallow. The muscles in your belly are triggered by this steady back and forth movement, and the secretion of stomach acids increases, making it much easier for you to digest food.
Improving digestion while eating on a mat (Source: Brightside)
2 – Lose weight
Sitting on the floor while eating can also help you lose weight. When you sit in this position, your brain relaxes and becomes better able to focus on the food you are eating.
Furthermore, this position allows you to keep track of how much food you’ve eaten and makes you feel full faster.
This is because the vagus nerve (the major nerve that delivers information from the stomach to the brain) sends messages to the brain while you eat, telling whether or not you are full.
3 – More flexibility
The muscles in your lower back, pelvis, around your stomach, and those of the upper and lower abdomen stretch as you squat or sit, reducing pain and discomfort.
As a result, the digestive system is able to relax and maintain a normal position. Furthermore, this position does not compress the stomach in any way, making it easier to eat and digest.
Why Do Some Cultures Eat On The Floor?
4 – Eat mindfully
It is easier to eat mindfully when sitting on the floor with your family. It not only aids in focusing on food, but it also helps in making better eating choices.
This is also the best way to eat the right amount and types of food since the mind is peaceful and the body is ready to take nutrition.
5 – Better blood circulation
Do you notice that when eating, you feel warmer and, in some cases, sweat?
That is because our stomachs need all of the energy they have to take the food we eat.
Good blood circulation is one of the most important parts of digestion.
Your heart tends to work overtime to keep up with this process. When you eat while sitting on the floor, your heart benefits from better circulation since blood is easily flown to all the organs.
This is in contrast to the process when we sit at a dinner table and chair, where blood travels to the legs since they are lower in the body than the heart.
As a result, eating while sitting on the floor provides a healthy heart with strong muscles to help it cope with the stresses of everyday life.
6 – Relax mind and body
This is ideal for meditation and can help a lot with stress relief. It is a great pose to practice breathing exercises as well, which improves the flow of oxy throughout the body.
You can relax the shoulder muscles while aligning the spine.
Besides, like all other yoga practices, it helps in keeping good posture and the relaxation of muscle and joint problems. You can still move freely, keep your back upright, or strengthen your legs.
According to many types of research, the ones who follow this habit have a longer life than those who do not.
It is because mastering the habit of standing up needs core strength and quickness.
Persian eating manner (Source: The Seattle Globalist)
How To Comfortably Sit On The Ground?
Try the following sitting poses if you want to sit on the floor.
It may take some time to figure out what makes you feel most at ease.
1 – Kneeling:
Kneeling is a typical floor position that can be done in a variety of ways:
- Begin by standing. Take a step backward with one leg. Place your weight on your front leg.
- Lower your back knee to the ground slowly, keeping your toes on the ground and your ankle flexed.
- Put your shoulders on top of your hips. Bring your front knee all the way to the floor. Knees should be shoulder-width apart. Your buttocks should be resting on your heels.
You can now, one by one, place the tops of your ankles on the floor.
The soles of your feet will support your buttocks. In Japanese culture, this pose is known as “seiza.”
Bend one knee and place your foot on the floor to relieve pressure on your knees. Kneeling on a mat is another option.
2 – Cross-legged:
- Take a seat on the floor. Bend both knees and stretch them outward. Place one foot beneath the knee of the opposite leg.
- Shift your weight from your feet to your hips. Put your stomach over your hips.
- Sit on the edge of a folded blanket to relieve pressure on your hips. Cushions can also be placed beneath your knees.
3 – Long sit:
You can stretch your quad muscles by the long sit. To rest in this position, do the following:
- Take a seat on the floor. Straighten your legs in front of you. Point your toes upward as you flex them.
- Keep your stomach in front of your hips.
- To avoid rounding your back, sit on the edge of a folded blanket.
You can also spread your legs wider than shoulder-width apart from the long sit. This is referred to as a straddle sit.
4 – Squatting:
Squatting, also known as the squat sit, helps you to easily transition from standing to lying down. To sit in this position, do the following:
- It is a good idea to stand with your feet hip-width apart. Firmly put your feet on the ground.
- Lower your buttocks slowly until they are just above the floor.
- Maintain an upright posture with your shoulders and chest.
In this video, Joe Miller will teach you how to sit comfortably as a yoga practice: How to sit comfortably on the floor: Yoga anatomy?
Why Do Some Cultures Eat On The Floor: Frequently Asked Questions
1 – Is Eating While Sitting Healthy?
It works your core and lower back, which are both important for strength and flexibility.
As you stand up, floor sitting positions like the squat help to build up all of the muscles in your leg.
2 – What Is Eating On The Floor Called?
You can call it “sukhasana”, or “easy pose”. This is a habit, ritual, and wellness practice in countries like Japan, India, and China.
It allows you to sit taller with each bite and increase hip and ankle mobility.
3 – Is Sitting Cross-Legged On The Floor Bad?
Sitting cross-legged incorrectly can cause low back discomfort and poor posture.
Avoid hunching your back while sitting cross-legged to avoid this. Maintain a neutral spine posture.
Also, instead of putting your weight on your feet, keep it on your hips.
4 – Should You Rest After Eating?
Do not sleep immediately. After a meal, lying down can help to slow down digestion. It might also cause you to feel bloated and cause heartburn. Before going to bed, wait at least 2 hours.
5 – What Is Horigotatsu?
This is a traditional Japanese table that sits low to the ground and has a lower floor beneath it, allowing people to stretch their legs.
You can now sit in a tatami area like we would in a Western-style chair.
Conclusion
So, what is the most comfortable position to sit in? While a comfortable position will likely differ from one to one, constant movement and changing your position frequently are the keys to effective practice.
In conclusion, why do some cultures eat on the floor? This tradition gives a lot of benefits to your physical health. Moreover, it brings family comes closer together while having their meals. These changes could be as simple as shifting your weight or getting up and stretching. Simply saying, pay attention to your body. It will tell you what it needs.
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