before coming to japan i had some experience with meditation and thus knew how to properly sit in seiza style. during the Japanese tea ceremonyeveryone including the guests have to sit in seiza for the duration of the whole session. we have to opportunity to walk for a few seconds to pick up our Chawan, and during the Nakadachi break. this break is after the kaiseki meal and omogashi sweets. this divides the Japanese tea ceremonyup into two parts. during the second part the guests are served Koicha thick tea, then again wagashi or dry sweets which are followed by Usucha or thin tea. during the first part and the second part the guests and the Teishuor host are sitting seiza.
some hints for sitting seiza for two to three hours:
1) try to fold one of your big toes over the other, this will slightly open up and bend your feet outwards which allows the blood to flow less restricted through the legs.
2) While the teishu host is preparing the tea during the tea ceremonyand there is no need to communicate, you can lift your bottom off your feet by leaning forward. creating an almost ninety degree angle with your knees. this will allow blood to flow more freely to bring back life to the numb legs.
3) if you’re just starting with the Japanese tea ceremony you might be wearing pants or slacks (hopefully not jeans, which would be an insult to this ancient tradition and to the host). if you’re considering attending more tea ceremonies, i would suggest that women buy a Yukata or Kimono, and men wear a Hakama. this is better because the pants or slacks are cutting into the back of your knees while sitting seiza obstructing the blood flow. Kimono, Yukata, and Hakama are not too tight and usually wont cut into the back of the knees.
4) reduce or stop smoking. smoking cloths up the arteries and…. well you know the story.
