How to Choose a Meditation Cushion

by Rosy Gown Digital Marketer

Selecting the correct meditation cushion or pillow depends upon a couple of criteria including meditation posture, proper alignment, comfort, and the appear and feel from the cushion.

So Why Do I Want a Meditation Cushion?

The body is neither flat nor predictably curved. Without correct support, the body will succumb towards the form of the top which it rests. This generally causes the legs, sides, spine, shoulders, and mind to misalign and can lead to discomfort. Meditation cushions or pillows, yoga blankets, yoga bolsters, along with other props can greatly enhance your posture and luxury level during meditation. Just like any practice, whether construction or cooking, meditation necessitates the proper tools to make sure an effective rehearsal.

Meditation Posture

Sitting Meditation PostureCommon meditation postures range from the traditional full-lotus, half-lotus (six-legged), kneeling (seiza), chair sitting, and laying (Shavasana) postures. You can utilize several postures for meditation like the half-lotus for the morning meditation after which savasana in the finish of the yoga session. The opportunity to meditate most of the sitting or kneeling postures is decided usually by the versatility of the ankles, knees, and sides. Generally, some form of support is required to be able to maintain proper alignment and luxury during meditation.

Proper Alignment

Throughout a sitting meditation either in the entire or half lotus posture, a strong foundation is vital. The spine ought to be erect using the back curved in, top of the back curved out slightly, the neck curved in slightly, and also the mind level (the "S" curve). This alignment naturally supports the body, enables for that finest comfort, and reduces force on the spine components. Within the lotus posture, the standard Zafu and Zabuton Meditation Cushions work nicely.

The Zafu Meditation Cushion, the standard round pleated cushion, enhances the sides and torso so the legs can rest easily. One normally sits around the fringe of the zafu so the thighs slope lower slightly. This posture rolls the sides forward allowing the natural curve within the spine. Once the spine is within its natural alignment, the rear, shoulders, neck and mind assume an appropriate upright posture that's low maintenance during meditation. When used by itself, the zafu is perfect for persons of average height and who've normal to excellent versatility.

Taller individuals and individuals with increased limited versatility have a tendency to take advantage of a greater lift. Sitting directly on the top from the zafu can increase lift, but may lead to an unsound feel with difficulty maintaining balance and proper alignment. An oblong meditation cushion may be used using the zafu to improve lift and permit for positioning from the cushions to create proper alignment.

Cosmic Cushion and Zabuton Meditation Cushion Pillow Set A unique variation towards the zafu may be the Cosmic Cushion. This cushion includes a fortune cookie shape and built-in slope that creates proper alignment with greater comfort. The extended sides from the cushion offer the thighs, and also the heel cutout enables the heels and ankles to become positioned carefully towards the body. The Cosmic Cushion can be useful for most everybody but is a perfect cushion for taller persons and individuals who're stiffer. A lesser loft form of the Cosmic Cushion might be ideal for persons who're shorter than 5' 6" and have average to excellent versatility.

For individuals preferring merely a slight lift, but nonetheless desire a cutout to permit close positioning from the heels, the Heavenly Buckwheat Bean could be the best answer. Greater versatility may be required to be able to feel at ease around the Heavenly Buckwheat Bean, due to its lower lift.

The Oblong Meditation Cushion is a straightforward solution that may provide lift for correct alignment. Because this cushion has straight edges, it won't hinder positioning from the heels. The lift isn't as high because of the standard zafu and it is liked by individuals with greater versatility or who're of average height or lower. The oblong meditation cushion is oftentimes liked by more knowledgeable mediators.