When the word meditation is mentioned, most people imagine someone sitting cross-legged on the floor with their eyes closed. If you’re one of these people, you may wonder why anybody would need a cushion to balance their bodies while in meditation. It all depends on an individual’s comfort and stability levels. Someone sitting cross-legged on the floor right from a young age may find it easy to meditate without a cushion, whereas others may find it difficult to sit on the floor for meditation.
Meditation cushions are of great help in this situation. They give you the comfort, stability, and balance you need when meditating. The right meditation cushions can help to relieve the pressure on some stressed areas in your body, thereby improving your focus when you meditate.
So, if you clicked this article wanting to know more about these, you have come to the right place. Keep reading to learn about some of the basic concepts related to meditation cushions. In the last section of this article we discuss the top 5 meditation cushions you can consider investing in for improved concentration, stability, and body balance.
What Are Meditation Cushions?
Meditation cushions help to keep your body comfortable, balanced and stress-free during meditation. You need to be seated comfortably to meditate the right way and get the most out of it, and some forms of meditation require you to sit for long periods. When you have cushions, you can sit comfortably without feeling any pain or pressure on your spinal cord, hips, or legs.
Meditation cushions mainly aim to support the spine, keeping the hips elevated above the knees. In today’s stressful world, most people practice meditation to keep their minds calm and relaxed. When you experience discomfort or pain while meditating, you cannot enjoy the benefits of this calming practice. During these times, you can use a meditation cushion for sitting comfortably, as these cushions support your spinal alignment perfectly while relieving all pressure & stress from the joints.
Do You Need a Cushion to Meditate? Why?
Now you have learnt that meditation cushions help improve your balance and stability, some of you may still wonder if you are one of them. The reality is that these meditation cushions encourage you to meditate daily, as they improve your overall posture and make you feel relaxed. Since they are affordable and come in various sizes to support your body, we don’t see any harm in you using one of them right away. It is never too late to start if you have never used one before, and once you start using these cushions and realize how comfortable they are, you will never go back to meditating without them.
You might be surprised to learn that many Buddhist monks in China and India also used mediation cushions thousands of years ago. Well, the only difference was that these mats weren’t as sophisticated as they are today in those days. These monks weaved their own cushions using dried grass and twigs. As years passed, the materials used for making these cushions and the filling inside them kept changing, but their purpose remained the same – to help you focus on your routine by aligning your spinal cord and supporting your joints.
The Different Types of Meditation Cushions
When you set out to buy a meditation cushion for yourself or others, you will come across many types and patterns. Here are the 5 basic types of meditation cushions you should know about to have a clear picture before choosing the right one for you.
Zafu Pillows/Cushions
Known to be one of the earliest types of meditation cushions, they were created and widely used in China. Today, these pillows are an integral part of Japanese Zen techniques. Here, there are two styles you can pick from – the traditional style and the Zabuton style.
The traditional style of pillows or cushions resembles a flat mat-like structure but is slightly thicker. The Zabuton style of cushions is designed for extra comfort and stability, as it comes in an elevated pattern. The round-pleated design of Zabuton cushions is highly popular because it helps you to sit cross-legged for extended periods without any discomfort. While sitting on the curved edge of the elevated portion, your legs can rest on the cushioned, flat surface below. The edges and corners of these cushions have soft and round ends, so they don’t cause any irritating sensation to your legs, thighs, or spinal cord.
Crescent-Shaped Cushions
If you have an existing knee or back problem, or chronic pain in your joints, crescent-shaped meditation cushions give you the much-needed comfort when you meditate. Your knees and ankles will get excellent support, thanks to the design of these cushions.
Rectangular Meditation Cushions
Though rectangular cushions are pretty basic and don’t support your knees and joints, they are excellent choices for those just starting their meditation journey. You can get rid of pain in the hips that you would otherwise experience when sitting cross-legged when you use these cushions.
Round Mediation Cushions
These are incredibly comfortable and full, giving you the much-needed stability when you sit cross-legged or in other poses when meditating. They are very functional and versatile as well.
Foldable Meditation Cushions
These are very flexible, as you can use them in multiple ways. You can stretch out these cushions flat like a mat, or you can fold them to a certain extent to provide you with spinal support & stability. You can also elevate it as high as you want, based on your requirements.
All meditation cushions need to be filled with appropriate materials to help you be comfortable and pain-free. The fillings shouldn’t cause any itching or allergic reactions in your body, as they can impact your focus during meditation. The success rate of a meditation cushion depends on its filling. What are the most common types of filling used in meditation cushions? Read on to find out more about this.
Fillings Used in Meditation Cushions
Some of the most common fillings used inside meditation cushions to help them serve their purpose are:
Buckwheat Hulls
These hulls are firm. They are highly durable, as their shape doesn’t get distorted. One of the best features of buckwheat hulls is that they can provide the same quality of cushioning even after many years of usage. It is also quite versatile because it can change in such a way to match your body’s shape, thereby making it a fantastic choice for people who want to tailor their meditation cushions according to their poses and body postures.
If you want a meditation cushion that will stand the test of time, and if you intend to spend many hours sitting down while meditating, the ones filled with buckwheat hulls are good for you. These may be slightly more expensive than the ones filled with other materials, but the money you spend on them is worth every dime, as you can enjoy the returns for many years.
Kapok Fibers
The kapok tree is commonly found in Thailand and Indonesia. The fibers from this tree are highly silky, and they can withstand extreme changes in temperature, mildew, and mold. These fillings’ texture resembles polyester, but kapok fibers are firmer and more durable than polyester. These fibers tend to flatten a bit with a few uses, adapting to your postures.
However, these fibers get entirely flat when you use them for a long time. You cannot use these cushions anymore, and you have to replace them with immediate effect to experience a pain-free and comfortable meditation routine. Some people may not like the texture of buckwheat hulls; they can opt for kapok fibers instead.
Wool
These remarkably soft fillings are known for their increased and positive energy–giving properties. They are way softer than kapok fibers. Their lightweight properties make them an excellent portable option.
Cotton Fibers
Cotton fibers are soft, but they get very loose within a few months of usage. When they lose their fullness, they become unfit for use. They also get spoiled when exposed to mildew and mold. Therefore, not many people use meditation cushions with cotton fiber fillings. However, if you are sensitive to other fillers, you opt for safe cotton fibers.
Tips on Choosing the Right Meditation Cushion
After seeing the many types and patterns of cushions available, you may still be wondering which type is best for you. So, here are a few tips you can keep in mind when choosing the right meditation cushions for your requirements.
Understand Your Posture
The first thing you need to consider when buying a meditation cushion is to understand your meditation posture. If you are new to meditating, you need a cushion that will help keep your back straight, your knee and ankle joints supported, and your spinal system well-aligned. This way, you can be assured that you will not face any distractions or discomfort while meditating. Most of the time, uncomfortable body postures lead to cramps, muscle pains, and many other disturbances, which may make you give up meditating. Choosing the proper meditation cushion in line with your body posture will help you eliminate this problem and encourage you to practice every day.
Think About Your Comfort
There is no hard and fast rule you need to follow while meditating. You can choose a method that suits your comfort and practice it consistently to reap the many benefits meditation brings. For example, if you cannot sit down cross-legged on the floor for a long time, you can opt for Seiza-style meditation chairs. Seiza is a Japanese meditation style that you can do without sitting down cross-legged. Have a complete assessment of your body before getting a meditation chair, as it helps you better understand your comfort level.
The Construction of the Cushion
As we saw in one of the earlier sections, meditation cushions are made from materials like buckwheat hulls, cotton, wool, and Kapok fibers. Each of these materials has a different set of pros and cons. So, it is better to learn about these materials in detail before investing in one. For example, buckwheat hulls are very firm and great to set up in the corner of your home. However, the rugged texture of this material may not be suitable for all. So, know what you need after trying out these materials personally to avoid regrets later on.
The Benefits a Meditation Cushions Offers You
Have you ever wondered why meditation cushions are particularly popular these days? With their attractive colors and creative patterns, these meditation cushions are visually appealing, but that’s not the only reason why people love them. These meditation cushions bring about many benefits for your mind and body while meditating, which is why even experienced meditators endorse them. Some of the benefits you can enjoy when you use meditation cushions are:
- Improved comfort levels by keeping your body at an elevated level, thereby avoiding pain and discomfort of all sorts
- Greater stability than before while meditating, especially while trying postures like the half-lotus, child, or arched back
- Increased meditation duration every day, as you don’t feel any cramps, pain, or discomfort during the process
- Improved focus on meditation, as the cushions take away all the physical distractions you may experience
- Great flexibility, as you can carry these meditation cushions wherever you go
- Good blood circulation in all the joints and spinal areas, as the cushions provide excellent stability and spinal alignment
- Great visual appeal, as they come in excellent colors, beautiful patterns, and innovative shapes
So, with these facts on hand, are you all set to get a meditation cushion for yourself? Listed below are our top 5 models of meditation cushions that are highly popular today due to their durability, stability, and functionality. You can look into their features in detail and choose the one that suits your requirements and budget constraints.
The Top Meditation Cushions Available Today
1. Meadow of Enlightenment Cushion
When you invest in this meditation cushion made from natural fabric, say goodbye to pain and cramps while meditating. It helps you sit comfortably and meditate to your heart’s content. This cushion can keep your hips at an elevated position and is also available in 5 colors.
Some of the attractive features of this cushion are:
- Varying height settings to help you get the perfect posture
- Eco-friendly natural fabric
- Extremely durable as it is filled with buckwheat hulls
- Comes with an easy to clean & maintain cushion cover
- Handle enables you to carry around the cushion easily
- Since it is highly versatile and functional simultaneously, it is one of the most sought-after meditation cushions by experts worldwide.
2. Mindful Jungle Cushion
Available in 5 attractive colors, this gorgeous meditation cushion gives you the peace and comfort you need while meditating. Since it makes your hips sit elevated, you will not find any discomfort even when meditating for a long period of time. This one comes with a list of interesting features like:
- Adjustable height settings
- Made from natural fabric that doesn’t cause any allergies or sensitivity
- Aids in improving posture and stability
- Easy to carry wherever you go, thanks to the carry handle
- Filled with buckwheat hulls that will stand firm for many years
- Easy to wash cushion cover
- Like most of the other models listed here, this meditation cushion weighs just 1.6kg, which makes it a good, portable option.
3. Retro Print Cushion
If you had put off your meditation routine because of backaches, cramps, or pains in your joints, it is now time for you to resume your routine. Thanks to these natural, life-saving meditation cushions, you don’t have to exert much pressure on your bod These cushions come with the following functionalities, which make them very popular.
- Flexibility of different height settings
- Carry handle to carry around these cushions easily if you travel
- Comes with buckwheat hull filling
- Excellent posture settings to align your spinal cord
4. Natural Meditation Cushion
Made from high-quality, sustainable materials, these meditation cushions look visually appealing and are highly functional. You will feel an internal sense of calmness and balance when you sit on these cushions while meditating. They come with adjustable height settings, an easy-to-carry handle, an easy-to-wash cushion cover, and buckwheat hulls as fillings. They help to improve your posture, and encourage you to meditate for a long time, every day.
5. Natural Print Cushion
These meditation cushions are made from natural, eco-friendly fabric, which gives you excellent comfort and stability when meditating. Even people with chronic back and joint pain felt extreme relief when they used these meditation cushions because they help keep the hips elevated, thereby reducing the stress on the pressure points. The adjustable height settings and posture control settings make these meditation cushions highly popular.
Conclusion
As you can see, meditation cushions are of different types, and provide you with many benefits while meditating. When you choose the right cushion, you can get rid of all the discomfort (like cramps, pain and other distractions) while meditating, thereby helping you improve your focus. Happy meditating!
