Best Meditation Cushions: Comfort For A Clear Mind

best meditation cushions

According to an ancient Hindu text, there are more than 112 ways to meditate.

Whether you focus on your breath or visualise, you can pretty much meditate anyway you want to. The one constant you do need, however, is comfort. 

Meditation is a time for clearing the mind and a form of relaxation for many.

This can be difficult if you’re sitting uncomfortably, have bad posture, the best meditation cushion is needed to support you.

Ordinary head pillows and cushions just go flat and aren’t fully supportive.

Using a meditation cushion will make the experience more comfortable, encouraging you to practice it more often.

It'll help both beginners and the experienced relieve any aches or pains associated with sitting on a hard floor.

Ready for a deeper meditation?

Here are our picks for the best meditation cushions.


Our Top Picks on best meditation cushions


Image

Product /Model Name

Filling

Height (inches)

Price Guide

Rating

Buy Now

Seat of your Soul Buckwheat Therapeutic Meditation Cushion

Seat of your Soul Buckwheat Therapeutic Meditation Cushion

Buckwheat

5"

$

Bean Products Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion

Bean Products Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion

Buckwheat

6"

$$

YogaAccessories Round Cotton Meditation Cushion

YogaAccessories Round Cotton Meditation Cushion

Cotton Or Buckwheat

6"

$

Peace Meditation Yoga Buckwheat Bolster Cushion

Peace Meditation Yoga Buckwheat Bolster Cushion

Buckwheat

4.5"

$

Alexia Meditation Seat

Alexia Meditation Seat

Foam

NA

$$$$$


How Will a Meditation Cushion Help?


As you already know, meditation offers a huge number of benefits to your health and well-being.

But are you getting the most out of your meditation sessions?

If you find yourself distracted by discomfort, or are cutting your time short due to being uncomfortable, then a meditation cushion is an essential addition to your meditation kit.

Offering more support and comfort than an ordinary pillow, meditation cushions are specifically designed to cradle and support for hours on end.

Designed to elevate your pelvis above your hips and knees, providing optimal relaxation positioning, meditation cushions increase blood flow and allow you to sit comfortably for long periods of time.

They won’t go flat, come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit every individual need, and are made from durable materials.

Good posture is crucial to effective meditation, and whilst flexibility plays a large role in being able to maintain alignment and posture, a meditation cushion makes things a whole lot easier.

The color of your meditation cushion can also play a role in your relaxation.

Look for colors that affect your personal energy in a way that will help you get the most out of your session.

Creating an appropriate color scheme in your meditation space will heighten your relaxation and allow you to reap the benefits of meditation.


What are the Different Shapes and Sizes of These Cushions?


To cater for all personal preferences and needs, meditation cushions come in a range of shapes and sizes. Let’s look at these in a little more detail.


Zafu


Acircular cushion which is very useful for meditating in the lotus position.

You sit in the edge of the zafu so that your knees slope down, creating the ideal spinal alignment.

Zafu cushions are perfect for people of average height, but those on the taller end of the spectrum may not find the elevation quite enough.


Zabuton


This is a versatile, rectangular cushion that can be folded to suit individual needs. They’re larger in size that zafu cushions, but do have built-in knee support.

Quite often, zabutons are used in conjunction with a zafu for elevation, but you can gain some height by folding part of the zabuton under itself in order to use it on its own.


V-shaped cushion


These type of meditation cushions provide support to the pelvis and hips, and are suitable for slightly more flexible meditators who are simply looking for a little more support.

They’re small in size so offer great portability if you travel to your meditation sessions.


Zen


This cushion offers great elevation and stability, making it ideal for those who are little on the stiff side as well as taller meditators.

It doesn’t offer any padding for the knee area, but can easily be used in conjunction with a zabuton cushion for more comfort.


To choose an ideal cushion, consider the elevation you need, as well areas that need support and padding.

Don’t be afraid to try a combination of several cushions to find what suits you best.


What to Look for in a Quality Meditation Cushion


One of the most important factors in finding a suitable meditation cushion is your height.

Second to this, your experience in meditating will play a part in what cushion will work best for you.

Check out my tips for buying a quality meditation cushion for both beginner and advanced meditators.


Beginners


Generally speaking, (but not always) beginner meditators are less flexible and may find sitting cross-legged for lengthy periods of time uncomfortable.

Look for a cushion that offers good elevation as well as padding around the knees and ankles.

This may mean using a combination of two cushions for optimum comfort.

Cushions with quality filling such as kapok will offer ongoing support and won’t flatten over time like cotton, polyester and some types of foam.

For beginners who feel they need more stability, look for cushions filled with buckwheat hull.

These cushions are slightly heavier, but conform to the shape of the user and offer a more stable meditating experience.

Color isn’t a crucial, but for beginners, setting up a peaceful and enticing meditating environment means you’re more likely to meditate on a regular basis.


Advanced


For those who have been meditating for a long time, a cushion that provides long term comfort is essential.

Elevation may not be absolutely necessary here, although taller people will definitely benefit from some extra lift.

Hip flexibility is generally quite established in advanced mediators so the ability to sit in a cross-legged position is achieved on its own.

This means that you need to look for a cushion that supports the knees and ankles as you sit and is filled with durable material to hold its shape for the duration of your lengthy meditation session.

Meditating for extended periods of time can cause your cushion to become dirty more quickly.

Keep an eye out for cushions with breathable, hypo-allergenic covers and fillings such as kapok, ideally the cover should be able to removed and washed when needed.


5 Best Meditation cushions



Seat Of Your Soul Buckwheat Therapeutic Meditation Cushion


Seat of your Soul Buckwheat Therapeutic Meditation Cushion

Seat of your Soul have designed a well-deserved five-star meditation cushion that suits all needs.

The cushion is filled with completely natural buckwheat hulls that give sturdiness and durability that cotton or foam stuffing couldn't.

It also forms a mold, kind of like memory foam, of your backside, making it even more comfortable.

The cushion is stuffed for firmness, but hulls can be taken out to adjust to your desired softness.

It has a removable cover that is made with 100% organic cotton, and it’s machine-washable.

The cushion can come in a crescent or round shape.

The crescent is 5-inches high, 17-inches wide and the zafu (round) cushion is 5.5-inches high and 15-inches wide.

This meditation cushion is very well made, and Seat of your Soul is so sure of it, they offer a 100% lifetime guarantee on it.

It's one of the best meditation cushions for beginners to try.


Bean Products Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion


Bean Products Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion

This zafu (round) meditation cushion is similar to Seat of Your Soul, filled with removable buckwheat, but it has some other great features.

The cover not only comes in a very wide variety of colors, but you also get your choice of cotton or hemp material.

This cushion is 6-inches tall and 3-inches wide.

It also has a handy carry handle and weighs only 5.5 pounds.

There's also an extra-large option that's 18-inches wide, weighs 7.5 pounds, and is one of the best meditation pillows for any body shape.


YogaAccessories Round Cotton Meditation Cushion


YogaAccessories Round Cotton Meditation Cushion

YogaAccessories have a great meditation cushion.

This one is also round or crescent-shaped and comes in a variety of colors.

The stuffing can be either cotton or buckwheat hull.

It's packed in tightly to provide sturdy support while meditating.

The cushion cover can come in either cotton or silk, giving a different option to the others on our list.

It can still be taken off separately and washed thanks to the hidden zipper and washed.

It also has fun, colorful patterns available if you fancy something a bit different to a solid color!


Peace Meditation Yoga Buckwheat Bolster Cushion


Peace Meditation Yoga Buckwheat Bolster Cushion

The Peace Yoga meditation cushion is designed to bring something new into your meditation or yoga workout.

This cushion comes in several colors, and the cotton cover is removable and machine washable.

The interior is densely filled with buckwheat hulls and comes in its own sealed plastic bag to protect it and give it a long-lasting lifespan.

It has a handle and comes 13- or 16-inch wide. It's bout 4.5-inches tall and weighs less than 3-pounds, making it the best meditation pillow to take back and forth from a yoga class.


Alexia Meditation Seat


Alexia Meditation Seat

The Alexia meditation seat was certainly designed with the natural curves of the human body in mind.

The difference you notice right away between this and other brands in the shape.

It looks like a little chair, but that’s what makes this so supportive.

It keeps the feet comfortably off the ground in a natural way that doesn’t bother knees or ankles.

This cushion has a sturdy internal structure suitable for most body types. It comes in leather, vegan leather, or fabric.

It’s actually quite stylish and will make you want to get meditating!

True, it’s on the pricey side compared to others, but if you’re serious about your meditating, this is one of the best meditation cushions you can get.


Conclusion


Your mental workout shouldn’t leave your body deflated. A bad posture can lead to aches and pains later in life.

Take care of your body while you take care of your soul.

Use one of our picks for the best cushions for meditation, and you won’t be worrying about your posture when working on clearing your mind.