Serenity and peace of mind are only achievable in an organized and well-equipped moment of relaxation. Beyond the total silence that must imperatively reign in the room, sitting on a comfortable pillow also provides this quietude. It is therefore important to choose the best meditation pillow that withstands intense stresses.
These accessories support your practice and put the odds in your favor to achieve your goals: reduction of chronic pain, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. After extensive research, we have selected and analyzed some of the top-rated models, which we will introduce to you in this article. Also, you’ll find in this guide practical information to find a meditation pillow perfectly suited to your meditation programs.
More features: carry handle, subtle zipper, mandala pattern
This round zafu puts you in a natural seated position that supports good posture, so your spine can stay upright through longer sessions. The buckwheat hull filling can be added or removed through the zipper until the height and firmness feel right.
The cotton cover comes off for machine washing, and the handle makes it easy to take to a yoga class or out to the garden. The generous 16-inch round shape leaves extra legroom for cross-legged sitting and deeper meditation.
More features: full-zip cover, reinforced carry handle, available in purple, orange and blue
This rectangular bolster is built around a single piece of high-density foam rather than shredded fill, so it gives even support and keeps its shape over time. At 25.6 x 10 x 6 inches it gives you a stable seat for cross-legged meditation and works well under the knees or spine in restorative poses.
The soft corduroy cover zips off completely for machine or hand washing, and a reinforced side handle makes it easy to carry to class or hang on a shelf at home.
More features: ergonomic design for seated meditation, can also be used as a floor cushion
If you want a proper meditation cushion without spending much, this crescent-shaped model from Hihealer is a smart choice. The buckwheat hull filling shapes itself to your body but stays firm, so you stay stable during longer sessions.
The crescent shape is made for seated practice. It supports your spine and takes pressure off your knees and ankles, and you can also use it for yoga, stretching or as a floor cushion.
More features: eco-friendly; handmade; comfortable to sit on
The Monk & Llama pillow is also another rectangular pillow. However, this is filled with buckwheat hulls. The cover is made of cotton. The product is made of eco-friendly materials and is handmade and comfortable to sit on.
This model takes the best you can find in a yoga cushion with an eco-friendly filling material and guaranteed organic cotton cultivation. If you are looking for a yoga cushion that meets ecological requirements, you must look at this model. This pillow is ideal for sensitive people. We also liked that this model is also particularly pleasant to the touch and hypoallergenic.
More features: comes in a variety of patterns; soft to touch; multifunctional
Our option of the best floor pillow meditation accessory is a flat, square, ergonomic floor pillow with multiple tufting. This pillow comes in one size of 22 x 22 x 3.94 inches, weighing 2.14 lbs. The pillow may seem large on the floor, but it remains lightweight. The cover material is made of linen while it’s filled with cotton. The linen material makes it soft to the touch. Very multifunctional, it comes in a variety of materials.
What differentiates this pillow from other models is its bohemian/Indian style. It’s ideal for yoga in the living room, balcony, and outdoor use. Even kids can use it in their playing room.
More features: washable cover; adjustable; GOTS-certified
A very popular product because of its excellent value for money, this model is obtainable in seven colors. This yoga pillow consists of a filling of buckwheat hull. The cover is 100 percent cotton, 100 percent organic, and very durable. Note that it is possible to wash this cover in the washing machine. In terms of size, this is a high profile with a height of 6 inches and a diameter of 12 inches.
This is perfect for starting meditation at home without hurting yourself. If you are looking for a bigger pillow, this is it! The pillow is designed for lotus position meditation. The weight of the set is 2.06 pounds, which is relatively small and allows children to handle the pillow.
More features: add or remove hulls to tune firmness, suited to meditation, yoga and floor sitting
This zafu takes the traditional approach: a cushion filled with buckwheat hulls that shift and settle under your sit bones, lifting your hips so your knees can rest lower and your back stays upright. You can remove some of the hulls for a softer, lower seat or keep them all in for firmer support.
The sturdy handle makes it easy to carry to a class, a retreat or an outdoor session, and it works just as well as extra floor seating at home.
As more and more people adopt home meditation as their daily practice, the supply of meditation pillows continues to grow, making the selection more difficult. To be sure to make the right choices, you must take into consideration the posture you take when you practice your meditation. This will determine the type of pillow that will be ideal for you. In this buying guide, we’ll provide you with more information on meditation pillows, why you need one, and how to choose one.
The use of a pillow and other accessories is important to ensure your comfort while sitting in different postures while meditating. Most people are only interested in accessories like the yoga block or the mat. Many ignore the wonders that a good pillow can bring. If you are not yet convinced about the need for a meditation pillow, any of these five reasons might change your mind.
Even without your yoga bolster, you can use your pillow for relaxing poses. It can be used to support the knees in inclined twists. You can also lie on it in the Bound Angle Reclining Pose or “Baddha Konasana.” The material will support the lower back.
Each person can find the model that suits them according to the morphology of their body. The same goes for your mind and the movements you want to achieve during the session. By testing a pillow, an individual can automatically determine whether the item is right for them or not. A good pillow generates a good meditative vibration.
Each time you sit on this pillow, you will automatically feel the comfort and well-being that it brings to your body. Some yoga practitioners even claim that certain types of pillows can generate positive energies.
From the size to the shape, filling material, cover material, and the possibility of washing it, in this section, we’ll see some of the features to consider in a meditation pillow.
Between the full lotus, half lotus (crossed legs), or the kneeling position (seiza), there are different meditation postures, and you can use more than one for your meditative practice.
And, depending on your personal preferences or the demands of your meditation program, some type of support is, in most cases, necessary to maintain proper alignment and comfort during sessions. You should therefore pay special attention to the shape adopted by the meditation pillow. Here are the different options:
Shaped like a half-moon or round and featuring lateral expansion pleats, the Zafu meditation pillow allows the legs to rest comfortably, raising the hips and upper body. It is well suited to people of average height and who have fairly good flexibility. If you do not fall into these categories, avoid this type of meditation pillow, as you could expose yourself to problems with your balance. Finally, it should be noted that this type of meditation pillow is ideal for lotus or similar sits in which your knees are lying flat. The Mindful & Modern Meditation Cushion and the Gaiam Zafu Meditation Cushion are examples of good zofa pillows.
This is a variation of zafu that works well for almost everyone, but especially for taller people. Also, for those who are less flexible, the Cosmic Meditation pillow has extended sides to support the thighs.
Often preferred by more experienced meditators, the rectangular meditation pillow is suitable for people of average or smaller height but also those with greater flexibility. A typical example of this type of shape is the TEXSTEAD Rectangular Yoga Bolster Pillow and the Monk & Llama Pillow.
When it comes to choosing your meditation pillow, you will need to know which height you need or which you prefer. It must be between 4.5 to 6 inches so that the knees are not too high in relation to the pelvis.
However, be careful not to choose a pillow that is too high as this could cause back pain. So you have to find a balance.
The width of the yoga pillow, it’s very simple: it must be adapted to the width of your buttocks. Also, consider that you might be taking your pillow with you everywhere or considering packing it in your suitcase for the holidays. If this is the case, it must have a more compact size and maybe a handle, like the one on the Gaiam Zafu Meditation Cushion. As regarding the weight, this should not be more than 2 pounds.
Look for materials like cotton (or another breathable, easy-to-clean fabric) for the cover of your meditation pillow. It is also advisable that the cover be removable and machine washable.
Meditation pillows are made from a variety of materials, and you should take the time to think carefully about the material used for the padding. That being said, kapok and buckwheat hull are the two main options.
This is a fluffy material similar to cotton. Kapok is an all-natural fiber harvested from the pods of the kapok tree found in Asia and parts of the southern United States. When incorporated into a meditation pillow, the kapok becomes dense and firm. This lightweight natural material has the particularity of not compressing like cotton, polyester fleece, and foam products.
The pillow is then very stable while remaining flexible. It also has the unique ability to retain its softness after many uses.
Dark and saucer-shaped buckwheat hulls are the outer husk of the buckwheat grain. When a meditation pillow is stuffed with buckwheat hulls, it provides an effect comparable to a pile of sand but with much less weight. This type of pillow, however, weighs more than those filled with kapok. On the other hand, buckwheat hull pillows have the advantage of being more stable and of adapting quite easily to the shape of the body, at the same time creating a feeling of being very anchored.
Some mediation pillows are filled with cleaned and uncluttered, spelled hulls. This allows them to adapt perfectly to your body type and to support the spine. Among other known benefits, spelled husks also promote natural relaxation and ensure good temperature and humidity regulation. In addition, mediation pillows with this filling can be emptied or refilled according to your needs.
Many meditation pillows are designed to be light and portable, but if these parameters are a big deal for you, you might be well advised to consider purchasing an inflatable model. These types of mediation pillows play the card of convenience. So, when you’re not using your pillow, you can easily fold it up and store it – or slip it into your bag to take with you for meditation practice on the go.
Rated 9.9 out of 10, the Mindful & Modern Large Zafu Meditation Cushion has a removable, washable cotton cover over natural buckwheat hulls. Its large 16-inch round shape allows good cross-legged posture. A subtle zipper lets you add or remove filling to set your ideal height. It is our overall best meditation pillow.
Our Premium Pick is the TEXSTEAD Rectangular Yoga Bolster Pillow. Rated 9.8, this rectangular-shaped model offers you everything you need to enjoy your meditative practice in the best possible conditions.
Offering the best value, the Hihealer Crescent Meditation Cushion earns a 9.5 rating. This is a crescent-shaped cushion filled with buckwheat hulls that mold to your body while staying firm.
