What to choose? A Meditation Stool or Meditation Cushion

There are a number of options the most common of which is the Zafu cushion (Zafu literally meaning sitting cushion) which are traditionally associated with Zen meditation in the Buddhist tradition. Which you choose is largely down to personal preference as well as flexibility and preferred seating position, for this reason we offer a range of options.

Meditation cushions tend to be more popular than stools as these can be hard and can cause numbness however some find that they remain more stable when meditating using a stool rather than a cushion. Cushions are available for our meditation stools to make them more comfortable and another benefit is portability. We offer folding meditation stools which take up less storage space even if they weigh a similar amount.

What types of Meditation Cushions and Meditation Stools do Yoga-Mad offer and which should I use?

At Yoga-Mad we offer four different styles of Zafu cushion to ensure you get the zafu to match your needs, preferred seating posture, level of flexibility and height.

Pleated Round Zafu. This is the most common type of Zafu and is ideal for lotus or half-lotus style sitting meditation postures and is the most versatile size of cushion supporting a variety of postures. Pleats in the meditation cushion allow the cushion to mould it shape better and increase durability by reducing stress on the seams. Our pleated round zafu cushions are available with cotton batting filling only in size 18cm (13cm when seated) high x 35cm diameter

Pleated Crescent Zafu. 17"x12" with 7" rear & 4.5" front loft (43cm x 30.5 x 17.8cm rear & 11.4cm loft). Crescent-shaped zafu cushions fulfil the same purpose as a traditional round zafu cushions, though the crescent shape provides more support for your upper thighs, which some find more comfortable. Pleats in the meditation cushion allow the cushion to mould it shape better and increase durability by reducing stress on the seams. Being approximately two thirds the size of a round zafu also makes it relatively lighter and more convenient to store and transport. Our crescent zafus are available with buckwheat filling only, however you can choose from organic cotton crescent zafu or standard cotton drill for the covering.

Cylindrical Zafu Cushion. Our cylindrical Zafu is a great all round meditation cushion for novice and experienced alike in a contemporary design. The cushion makes sitting in meditation easier on the knees and ankles and helps to prevent the legs from falling asleep. Ideal for lotus or half-lotus style sitting meditation postures. The advantage of these cushions is they have a removable outer making them easy to wash. Our cylindrical zafu cushions are available with buckwheat filling only, however you can choose from organic cotton twill or standard cotton drill for the covering. These zafu cushions come with a zipped inner and zipped outer cover

The Cylindrical Zafu Cushion is also available in two sizes - the standard size is 13" x 5.5" (33cm x 14cm) offering a lower-profile for those who are flexible and prefer a cross-legged posture. The larger cylindrical Zafu Cushion is 14" x 8" (35.5cm x 20.3cm) offering a higher-profile for those who are less flexible, the cushion is also wider suiting those with bigger hips. The height of either meditation cushion can be fine tuned to an extent by removing buckwheat hulls.

We offer two different meditation stools both offering the same seating dimensions of 46cm x 15cm with a forward sloping design (20cm rear height and 16cm front height) to ensure the correct angle for the pelvis. The fixed leg meditation stool is a little lighter and has a straight legs whilst the folding meditation stool folds flat for easier storage and for convenience when travelling. Both meditation stools are made from Bamboo – one of the earth’s most sustainable plants and fitting with the Zen roots of meditation.

What filling should I choose for my Zafu Cushion?

Buckwheat Hulls are ideal for meditation cushions as they are the mould well to your shape providing settled and comfortable support. This filling also offers a long life as the filling does not compress or break down with use. On all of our zafu cushions you can top up.

Cotton Batting is essentially raw cotton that looks a little like cotton wool and is one of the traditional fillings for zafu cushions. Cotton batting makes for a softer more cushioned zafu cushion than buckwheat but it will compress over time and does not mould to your body so precisely. Our zafu cushions that come pre-filled with cotton batting can all be topped up or have some of the stuffing removed if you which to lower the among of loft.

Zabuton Cushion

Zabuton is the name used in traditional Japanese Zen meditation for a flat cushion that is used to cushion the knees and ankles when meditating. A zabuton cushion is usually used in conjunction with your preferred meditation cushion or stool, the zabuton is placed underneath your zafu or meditation stool to provide support and cushioning for the legs as well as to exclude unwanted drafts.

Yoga-Mad Zabutons are filled with cotton batting to provide a comfortable and stable meditation space. The cotton batting is securely tufted in to a zippered cotton muslin inner cover, to form a permanent inner cushion. This is covered with a tight fitting zippered outer made from durable 100% cotton drill which in turn is tufted in place. Our zabutons will last for years as the outer cover can be removed and washed and the inner can be refilled if necessary.