Zen is a little bit of a buzzword recently, however its roots go deeper than simply discovering a way of interior peace in every day life. Zen is an historical observe that many Buddhist Monks comply with. On the coronary heart of Zen observe, is a meditation known as Zazen.
Zazen invitations one to come back to a cushty seated place and drop right into a deep meditative state, identical to the Buddha. Many individuals use a Zafu meditation cushion to boost their Zazen meditation, and right here you will discover out why…
What are Zafu meditation cushions?
A Zafu meditation cushion is a selected kind of cushion utilized in meditation observe. It’s mentioned to offer comfy assist for the physique to can help you drop right into a deeper state of meditation. They’re spherical in form, with about 5 to six inches in top, which is often adjustable relying on in case you add or takeaway a number of the filling.
The Zafu meditation cushions have been utilized in monasteries by Zen monks, in addition to in yoga studios, houses, and wherever else the place you’ll discover folks sitting in meditation.
Typically, you will note folks meditating with a cushion set, which features a flooring mat or flooring pillow too. However on this article we’ll merely be the advantages of the Zafu meditation cushion (and recommending you a few of our favorites).
To make use of a Zafu meditation cushion you sit your hips on the pillow after which cross your legs. This may enable your knees to be suspended from the bottom whereas supplying you with comfy assist beneath your buttocks. This cross-legged place is essentially the most comfy, and well-known meditation poses.
If this isn’t comfy for you, you could attempt to use the Zafu meditation cushion however sit within the seiza place, by bending your knees and having your ft tucked beneath you.
How can a meditation cushion enhance your meditation observe?
A zafu meditation cushion will enhance your meditation observe by rising your consolation and inspiring you to sit down in meditation for longer! The longer and extra regularly that you just meditate, the extra insights you could uncover.
Once you sit on a cushion, it helps you by barely tilting your pelvis ahead, elongating the backbone, and creating a greater pure posture.
Zafu meditation cushions additionally enhance the angle between the hips which is able to cut back the pinching of the hip flexors, and on the identical take the pressure off the knees.
If you’re somebody who experiences physique ache whereas seated in a meditation place, a zafu meditation cushion may very well be the answer for a cushty and supportive observe.
What are Zafu meditation cushions product of?
Zafu meditation cushions are often product of pure supplies. For instance, most are comprised of sturdy cotton materials across the exterior and are full of buckwheat hulls on the within.
There are some manufacturers that use microfibers and artificial supplies, however we often attempt to discourage the usage of these as they launch microplastics within the setting.
The place can I get the very best zafu meditation cushions?
There are such a lot of zafu meditation cushions obtainable on-line however what it’s good to look out for are ones made with natural and pure supplies, that is available in a mushy but supportive form, and which can be full of pure and light-weight supplies akin to buckwheat hulls.
Listed here are a few of our favourite Zafu meditation cushions with hyperlinks to organize them on-line.
High Decide: Waterglider Worldwide Zafu meditation cushion
The Waterglider Worldwide Zafu Meditation cushion is the highest decide for a lot of causes.
Firstly, the quilt is made with 100% natural cotton and the within is made with buckwheat hull, making a 100% pure and biodegradable product. Their buckwheat provider has been within the trade for over 20 years and has a state-of-the-art facility to make sure high-quality, clear buckwheat hulls.
Secondly, the store helps new refugees by giving them the work to assist produce these cushions.
And eventually, these cushions present final consolation! Folks like to meditate on these cushions, and each on-line evaluate speaks extremely of those Zafu cushions.
As a bonus, they’re simple to scrub and straightforward to dry. For the standard and supplies used, they’re very inexpensive too and can final for numerous years in case you maintain them in a dry place in your house.
Whether or not you might be merely including 5 minutes of meditation to the tip of your yoga class, you wish to enhance the size of your present meditation otherwise you wish to create slightly dwelling temple of Zen, that is the selection for you. Store on-line on the Amazon web site and add one to your digital cart immediately!
Specs:
- Sizing: 14″ width by 6″ top
- Weight: 5.24 lbs
- Colour: 10 variations to select from
- Environmentally pleasant, made with 100% pure fibers
- Inexpensive
- Helps refugees within the USA
- Sturdy high quality that lasts a few years
Amazon’s High Decide: Gaiam Zafu Meditation Cushion
The Gaiam meditation cushions are full of buckwheat hulls that lightly conform to your physique’s form. The outside zipper permits you to alter the filling to make it roughly strong based mostly on private choice to be able to discover essentially the most comfy seated place.
This cushion feels mushy on the hips and comfy on the backbone, permitting you to sit down on the ground for longer. This light-weight cushion is straightforward to hold from dwelling to your meditation or yoga class, therefore we advocate this Gaiam pillow for many who wish to carry this round to completely different locations.
Though not product of pure supplies, the microfiber cowl is mechanically cleanable with a zipper that permits you to take away the quilt for laundry. The duvet additionally has an easy-to-carry deal with for portability and the choice to hold up for storage.
This cushion additionally comes as a bundle deal on the location, with the flexibility so as to add on an additional flooring zabuton to guard the ankles and knees whereas meditating too. Shopping for as a bundle will prevent time in establishing your private home Zen house and it is going to be a mixture that you just love. We advocate getting each for final consolation.
Specs:
- Sizing: 15.5″ diameter x 6″ top
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Colour: 2 colour selections (black and teal)
- You may alter the amount of the filling
- Most light-weight Zafu cushion for touring
- Should buy in a bundle pack with a Zabuton for further consolation
- Buyer opinions are very optimistic
- Straightforward to take away cowl and wash very quickly
- Lengthy-lasting when saved in a dry place
- The coated materials is comprised of microfiber (not 100% environmentally pleasant)
- Solely two colours to select from
One other Nice Possibility: Hugger Mugger Meditation Cushion
The Zafu meditation cushion by Hugger Mugger is full of natural buckwheat hulls that type to your contours. We love that the amount of buckwheat hull may be adjusted to create the very best sitting place in your physique and backbone. We additionally advocate that you just strive a couple of completely different heights, to see what feels essentially the most comfy in your physique.
This Hugger Mugger cushion is roofed with sturdy, lovely, upholstery-grade material that can final a few years and features a handy carrying deal with, so you may both retailer it on the bottom or hold it on the wall.
With 12 vibrant and daring colours to select from, you’ll elevate your meditation observe from a supported base.
The one draw back with this cushion is the burden! Weighing in at over 6 lbs, this cusion just isn’t for the traveller! It’s best to purchase this cushion provided that it is going to be staying in a single place (i.e. both your yoga or meditation studio or your private home Zen house).
Specs:
- Sizing: 15″ width x 5″ top
- Weight: 6.7 lbs
- Colour: 12 colour selections
- Straightforward wash in chilly water
- Nice buyer opinions
- Love the intense and daring colour selections
- Sturdy material that can final years
- Heavier than most different meditation cushions
Regularly Requested Questions:
What’s a Zafu meditation cushion?
A zafu meditation cushion is a spherical cushion designed particularly to create consolation for many who observe meditation (and different seated yoga postures). It provides you a mushy but strong place to relaxation your hips, whereas your ankles relaxation on the bottom beneath you.
When you add a Zafu meditation cushion to your meditation, you’ll take pleasure in nice meditations that take you nearer to experiencing the Buddha Nature. Each evaluate says a Zafu cushion can even make your meditation simpler.
Will a meditation cushion actually make a distinction to my meditation observe?
Sure! A meditation cushion will carry further consolation to the legs, backbone, hips and in addition your thoughts. This may allow you to remain in a straightforward meditation place, sitting on the hips or sitting on the knees, for longer. The longer (and extra regularly) you meditate, the extra insights and moments of Zen it is possible for you to to expertise.
Add a meditation cushion to your private home and luxuriate in some nice meditations. Each evaluate of those cushions say that it’s completely value is and any buyer would extremely advocate including one to your on-line buying cart. 100% value it to order on-line and have your cushion delivered tomorrow!
What dimension Zafu ought to I get?
Most Zafu meditation cushions are made round a regular dimension of 14 to fifteen inches in width and round 5 to six inches of top. The peak can range relying on what your cushion is full of.
If in case you have an quick access zipper, you may add or take away the quantity of buckwheat hull inside your cushion to make the peak decrease or greater to seek out the very best sitting place in your personal physique and backbone.
