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Meditation is one of the most beneficial ways to incorporate self-care. It helps reduce stress and increases self-awareness, imagination and creativity. It can even help the function of your internal systems. Any amount of meditation is good, but once that begins to lengthen, the practice really starts to sink in. So how do you stay seated in a cross-legged position for that long? Well, you use a meditation cushion!
In this guide, we’ll explain the various types, from large square zabutons to zafus and half-moon crescents. Do you want a single pillow or a set with a mat? Does it need to be able to travel with you to your yoga class? We’ll even discuss the best types of filling. Once you’ve soaked up all this juicy information, head on to our top ten to discover the best rated cushions to buy from Amazon.
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Table of Contents
Before choosing the first meditation cushion that looks very 'zen', you need to determine which type is best suited for your needs. This section will run through the various things to consider when shopping for your ideal cushion.
As with yoga, you should never try to force your body into positions that feel too uncomfortable. While Sukhasana (cross-legged pose) is easy for some, others find it extremely difficult, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But to enable your body to feel more comfortable during meditation, you need to choose a cushion suited to you. This section will go through the four main types to choose from.
A zafu meditation cushion is probably the most popular type out there. The traditional round shape with gathered sides allows the curved edges of the cushion to slope downwards. This shape puts your body in an ideal position that allows your knees to droop over the edges where they can rest on the floor, a little lower than your hips.
By sitting on the front of the zafu, your body will be aligned in the perfect meditation posture with a straight back and a supported foundation. Sitting at around 5-6 inches high, this type is an excellent choice for those who have difficulty sitting cross-legged.
A zabuton is a large square or rectangular meditation cushion. These can be used alone, but many people also use them with a zafu placed on top. By doing this, the zabuton allows you to comfortably sit in a meditation posture for longer, as your knees and ankles will be resting on a soft surface instead of the hard floor.
That said, if you aren’t up for purchasing two cushions, a zabuton can be used on its own to give all-round comfort. If you only want to buy one cushion, it’s best to choose a zabuton as this will allow softness under your knees and ankles, and if you still need elevation, you can fold it a little to give you some height.
Another advantage is that you can also fold these in half and secure them with a strap to use as a bolster for practicing yoga.
A V-shaped, crescent or half-moon meditation cushion supports both your pelvis and your thighs but is usually a bit smaller and lower to the ground than a zafu. This makes it a brilliant choice for those who are looking for a bit more comfort but who are already flexible while sitting crossed-legged.
If you struggle with flexibility whilst sitting on the floor, and your knees tend to be elevated to at least 6 inches above the ground, this cushion won’t give you the amount of support you need. However, if you are pretty flexible, a crescent cushion is small enough to use whilst sitting on a chair cross-legged – you can even use it while working at your desk.
A zen yoga pillow is a little like a zafu cushion but in a rectangular shape. This choice gives you the most elevation out of them all, making it great for people who struggle sitting on the floor and have tight and stiff hips.
The rectangular shape also provides increased stability, supporting you in limiting any wobbliness, which you might not get with the zafu. A rectangular pillow is of a similar height to a zafu, sitting at around 5-6 inches tall, but is much wider, which helps support your thighs.
There are many ways to fill a meditation cushion, and each type of filling has its advantages and disadvantages. This section will walk you through the most popular options.
Sitting on a meditation cushion filled with buckwheat hulls is often compared to the feeling of sitting on a bean bag or sand as they mould to your shape when sat on.
This is an organic filling that provides a comfortable, flexible base but also feels stable and firm. Buckwheat hull cushions are easy to refill and also maintain their shape even after long periods of use.
A kapok fibre filling is said to be the best choice for stability, but it also remains very soft and comfortable to sit on. Kapok is a lightweight, natural material that is often used as a substitute for silk.
It also has antimicrobial and antifungal properties making it naturally hypoallergenic and mould resistant. A couple of potential flaws are that Kapok cushions are difficult to refill and can flatten over time.
If you’re looking for something soft and comfy, go for wool. These are the comfiest of all cushions, but they won't provide as much support as the sturdier fillings. If you're just doing short bursts of meditation, 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, wool will be fine.
But if you're prone to sinking into a deep meditational state for longer sessions, you might want to pick a sturdier filling.
As well as thinking about what’s on the inside, you also want to be checking the outside of your cushion too.
As you will be sitting on it regularly, the outer material needs to be made of a high-quality, durable fabric so that it doesn’t get easily scuffed or worn away – you'll also want to make sure it’s easy to clean. Some common materials to look out for in meditation cushions are cotton, canvas and velvet.
Your ideal meditation cushion might not be the same as your friend's. Aside from personal taste, this largely comes down to your shape and size. Essentially, the taller you are, the more lift you will need, meaning the higher the cushion needs to be.
As a guide, 5-8 inches is suitable for most people, but if you're particularly petite, you might not need that much, and if you're particularly tall, you might need to add a little more. Ideally, you want your cushion to allow you to sit at a slight forward angle with your knees lightly touching the ground.
The last thing to think about is the colour of your meditation cushion. Whilst this might not be an essential factor for some, meditation cushions have developed quite a bit in the last few years, and there are now hundreds of super stylish options.
Maybe you’ll just be tucking it away until you indulge in a little me time, but thanks to Pinterest, many people are starting to create a dedicated zen space in their homes, complete with yoga mats, salt lamps and incense. A cushion in the perfect colour can top off that aesthetic, making you want to spend more time getting in the zone!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Leewadee Meditation Cushion Set | £68.39 High Mid | All the Support for Your Meditation Journey | ||
2 | Present Mind Round Zafu Meditation Cushion | £26.90 Mid | The Highly-Rated Zafu Meditation Cushion | ||
3 | Blue Banyan Zafu Meditation Cushion | £17.00 Low Mid | The Adjustable and Affordable Zafu Cushion | ||
4 | Present Mind Crescent Meditation Cushion | £24.90 Mid | A Washable and Refillable Crescent With Great Support | ||
5 | Mindful Modern Crescent Meditation Cushion | £63.52 High Mid | A Crescent Cushion To Support Your Spine and Hips | ||
6 | Leewadee Large Square Zabuton Mat | £35.99 Mid | A Portable Zabuton for Meditation on the Go | ||
7 | Leewadee Yoga Block Pilates Brick | £14.52 Low Mid | An Eco-Friendly Natural Bolster for a Sturdy Base | ||
8 | Handelsturm Pillow Block | £16.06 Low Mid | A Thai-Inspired Cushion and Yoga Block in One | ||
9 | Basaho Zabuton Meditation Mat | £38.95 Mid | A Basic Zabuton That's Soft and Washable | ||
10 | Laeto Sports Zafu Cushion and Zabuton Mat Set | £64.99 High Mid | Test Two Types of Cushion With This Simple Set |
Finally, we come to our number one recommendation! Rather than just one cushion, you get the benefit of two, and at just under seventy pounds, it’s not too pricey. In the pack, you get a nice square zabuton to rest your ankles comfortably and a zafu to elevate yourself to the desired posture, ready for some inward thinking.
We also love the beautiful olive green design that makes this an excellent addition to any meditation corner or zen room. Both cushions are made from eco-friendly organic materials, and the zabuton contains a tie so that you can roll it up and use it for yoga postures.
This zafu cushion from Present Mind is the number one bestseller on Amazon with nearly one thousand reviews and a 5-star rating. Hence, it’s also one of the top 3 on our list! The cover is completely detachable and machine washable making it easy to care for, and with 100% cotton, you know it’s good quality.
The cushion has a height of 6.2 inches, which is ideal for most people, and it’s filled with high-quality buckwheat, meaning that it will snugly mould to your body shape whilst providing essential support. Coming in four colours, you should be able to find one that you like.
Blue Banyan is a popular brand in the yoga and meditation world, and they’ve designed a range of meditation cushions to help you achieve the perfect posture in your moments of zen. This particular shape will help relieve pressure from the knees, ankles and back whilst supporting the ideal alignment of your spine.
It can be used both with a zabuton or alone, and it’s made of cotton fabric and filled with organic buckwheat, enabling it to mould to your body to provide perfect support. There’s also a little pleat in the cushion where you can add or remove the filling so that you can adjust it perfectly to your liking, not to mention that it’s super affordable.
Another crescent-shaped meditation cushion, this one from Present Mind will allow you to tuck your legs in closer to your body. It also supplies broader support for your legs and hips, making it a great choice if you feel uncomfortable when in a meditation pose for a while.
This choice is the standard height – 6.2 inches or 15 cm – so it is suitable for most people and comes in six lovely colours. The cover is 100% cotton, detachable and washable, making it easy to care for, and the inside is filled with buckwheat husks providing that stable yet soft cushioning.
This crescent-shaped meditation cushion is a fantastic choice if you struggle with flexibility. The cushion curve supports both your hips and thighs and naturally encourages you to move into a more forward-tilted position, supporting both your spine and hips.
Filled with a buckwheat hull, it will mould around your shape, and the cover is completely removable for easy washing. It even has a carry handle, so you can bring it to your office for a mid-afternoon stress break or to a yoga session for after-class meditation.
If you’re looking for a base for your zafu cushion to support your ankles and knees, this could be just what you need. It comes in a range of colours and designs to suit any zen area, and like all Leewadee’s meditation products, it's made from eco-friendly, natural and organic materials.
Filled with kapok, this provides excellent stability but still manages to feel soft underneath your sit bones. The cushion comes with a carry strap, so it’s easy to bring along to your yoga sessions, and it’s fitted with double seams enabling extra durability. Excellent for those with a bit of flexibility, but not the best if you need a little more support.
This rectangular cushion from Leewadee is an excellent buy if you’re looking for a versatile cushion. It works both as a meditation seat to perch on the edge of with your knees sloping towards the ground, or, again, as a yoga bolster for support with other positions.
Made from an eco-friendly organic material and filled with kapok, this is one of the best for creating a stable base on which to sit. It’s very sturdy, however, it cannot be washed in a machine and is very difficult to refill, so it might not be the most durable option.
Another rectangular option from Handelsturm, this one can be used either as a stable base for meditation or as a bolster for yoga. Filled with kapok, it’s hypoallergenic, antibacterial and antifungal, although unfortunately, the cover cannot be removed, refilled or washed.
What’s great about this choice is that there are a total of 25 lovely colours and designs to choose from so you should be able to find one that suits you! The filling also makes this cushion very sturdy, allowing it to return to its original shape after use.
Next up is a zabuton meditation cushion from Bashaho. The design might be a bit basic, but it does the job, and there is a range of 8 colours to choose from. The fabric is made from 100% cotton, which can easily be removed and machine washed, making it very easy to care for.
It doesn’t, however, contain any sort of strap to fold up, so it’s not the best choice if you want to take it on the move. Stuffed with wool, this is a very soft option but not a stable one, so it is better suited for lightly resting your ankles whilst also sitting on a zafu, rather than for use on its own.
If you’re new to meditation and sitting in a cross-legged position for an extended period, you might not know which type of cushion is best for you. If that’s the case, try this set from Laeto Sports. It includes the standard zafu cushion and a zabuton, so you can try out which works best for you.
Unfortunately, the zabuton doesn’t seem to be large enough to be able to place underneath the zafu, so it might not be easy to benefit from both together. But, depending on your current flexibility levels, sometimes all you need is one.
While meditating, your body remains in one position for a prolonged period of time, so your posture and position are of utmost importance. Having your body in the correct alignment enables you to sit still, sit peacefully and focus on your goal without causing any discomfort.
Using a meditation cushion can help you achieve the optimum position of a straight back whilst allowing the natural curves of your spine to fall into place. Without this adequate support, your body can succumb to the shape of the surface that it rests on.
This can cause parts of your body to feel stiff and sore as your hips, spine, and shoulders become misaligned. This leads to discomfort, but worse than that, it can actually provide long-lasting damage. As with desk sitting, if you’re remaining in a single position for a prolonged time, you need to make sure you’ve got the correct support.
Author: Roxy Pratley
No. 1: Leewadee|Meditation Cushion Set
No. 2: Present Mind|Round Zafu Meditation Cushion
No. 3: Blue Banyan|Zafu Meditation Cushion
No. 4: Present Mind|Crescent Meditation Cushion
No. 5: Mindful Modern|Crescent Meditation Cushion
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