Can this be applied as Conscious breathing by Franz Bardon?

[Yathnos]

I was searching youtube and found this interesting video describing conscious breathing : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7WFq17NxWA

Can this be use as in Franz Bardon Step I? Also does anyone have stretching exercises to help adapt into sitting in full lotus posture?

Blessings and Peace

[Dea]

Yes, pranayama is a very good help to the IIH, and metaphysical practice or physical practice in general.

As for stretching for the lotus posture, try doing the 'butterfly' stretch. That's when you have the soles of your feet meet close to the groin area, while you slowly try to push your knees to touch the ground (as they will be trying to stand up with the soles touching). Just so you know, lotus posture is not necessary to learn, it is just something useful to have. Personally, I can't do it for too long, so I just sit cross-legged against a wall.

[Yathnos]

Normally i will sit crosslegged against a wall but in 30m my legs will go numb and since i want to go for hours of meditation i need to learn sitting in a different position that lets me be comfortable more time.I will do the stretching exercise to see if i can sit in lotus position in 1 month.

Peace

[Dea]

If you're just starting out, it wouldn't be very meaningful to sit for hours in meditation. You'd more than likely be sitting for hours with your eyes close, and maybe fall asleep. I recommend trying to control your thoughts for about 5-10 minutes at a time if you're starting out. If not, maybe 15-20. Unless you're flexible, lotus position will be far more uncomfortable, and you may not be able to hold it for more than a few minutes at the most when starting out.

[Isotope420]

my legs also start to go numb after a few minutes in the lots position, unless I am raising apana and doing pranayama. Does this go away with time? Or am I doing the asana wrong?

[Searching]

Lotus position is best attained through relaxing. Stretching helps too, but relaxing into everything is really the best way to go to get into the position and remain their comfortably.

I first didn't think lotus was that big a deal. I've always been inflexible and never really bothered working towards it. Then someone told me something that boosted my confidence, and that is, our skeletons/bone structure can easily get into lotus position. The only thing keeping us from doing so is the tensions we carry in our muscles and ligaments and other sorts of things. Many of us have a tendency to tense up, contract muscles, and that hurts our ability to stretch.

Now, over time you can stretch yourself out so that you can get into lotus position and hold it for long periods of time even if you are still tensed- the tensed things will just be stretched out. But I have found that it's much quicker and much more enjoyable when you really relax into it.

[BubbaFett]

Just sit in a comfortable chair and relax. It's not the position your in, it's the ability to relax and focus that matters. Well don't lay down you will go to sleep.  I'd start out with at least 20 minutes a day and add 5 minutes per week.

[Searching]

Well don't lay down you will go to sleep.

Actually I prefer lying down, it's my favorite meditative position 

If you fall asleep don't do it, of course, but don't be discouraged from trying it, you might not fall asleep, and you might get a great round of meditation out of it.