

A common sight that you’ll see during meditation sessions is a group of people sitting cross-legged on the floor with their yoga mats. While it may look zen to do so, it actually gets painful after a while. I personally experience leg numbness and poor posture during the initial stage, which affects my overall posture. It was only after I got a meditation cushion that I felt so much relief. But how did I know which was the best meditation cushion to get?
I had spent at least 2 weeks going through several sites— checking through the user reviews, prices and their pros and cons before finally deciding to buy. To save you the trouble, I’ve compiled a list of 5 best meditation cushions for your consideration.
Best Overall: Florensi Meditation Cushion
Best for Traditional Style: Retrospec Sedona Meditation Cushion
Best Portability: Hugger Mugger Zafuko Yoga & Meditation Cushion
Best Set for Beginners: Almeara Meditation Cushion Set
Best for Back Support: Mindful & Modern Large Meditation Cushion
Meditation is a practice that helps you to focus on clearing the mind so that you feel less stressed and more relaxed. This is achieved with the use of mental and physical techniques. The idea here is really for you to focus on the present moment and be mindful of your thoughts, your feelings and the tension in your body [1].
You see, meditating regularly can improve your ability to self-regulate and overcome your emotional struggles. It greatly reduces your stress and anxiety, which in turn, enhances your overall well-being.
But the problem is that it can sometimes be difficult to get into the right headspace during a session. This can be attributed to factors like sitting for too long. Sitting for too long in the same position can lead to stiffness and pain in your legs and back, making you feel uncomfortable or restless, and thus, causing a huge distraction [2].
One way to prevent this is by getting a meditation cushion. A meditation cushion helps to support your sitting posture by taking some pressure off your legs and your spine [3]. This leads to a more comfortable and enjoyable meditation experience.
First on the list, we have the Florensi Meditation Cushion. This is a traditional Zafu-style cushion that is perfect to be used for meditation and yoga sessions or even for travel. Made with 100% natural buckwheat hull filling and a layer of foam padding, it’s designed to ensure that it won’t flatten, supporting your hands, legs, and back throughout your session. The cushion is round, covered by a removable soft velvet cover with a beautiful mandala pattern printed on it.
I selected this as the best cushion overall after seeing many user reviews on Amazon on how firm and supportive it is. I also took a couple of YouTube reviews into account that shared the same sentiments as the ones on Amazon before deciding to place my order. I did a test the moment it arrived by using it as a seat while I read a book. I’m happy to say that I didn’t experience any discomfort, and another thing that I liked a lot was the handle on the side, which made it convenient to carry it around.
User Ratings: 4.8/5 Stars
Price: $54.99
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Next up, we have the Retrospec Sedona Meditation Cushion. This is a great option if you are looking for a simple Japanese-style cushion. While the cushion comes in a single colour and design, it is an ergonomic cushion that is created to support your posture and focus.
The cushion is filled with natural buckwheat hulls that can be easily added or removed based on how much support you need. I’ve also seen multiple reviews of how sturdy it is, even with daily use, and how it conforms to your natural shape. This is why I’ve rated it as the best for someone who is looking for a simple yet functional cushion.
User Ratings: 4.7/5 Stars
Price: $27.99
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Coming in at number three is the Hugger Mugger Zafuko Yoga & Meditation Cushion. This is a good pick if you want a lightweight option that doubles as a yoga and meditation cushion. It’s built in a rectangular shape such that you can easily sit cross-legged during your meditation session. Otherwise, you can also use it as a foam block replacement to support your balance while you perform your yoga poses.
The cushion is filled with 100% natural and organic kapok fiber, which feels lighter and softer compared to buckwheat hull filling. According to user reviews, this cushion does its job of being firm and durable, providing adequate support for different positions. However, some also remarked that it was smaller than they had expected, with it only being slightly bigger than a yoga block. Because of how small and compact it was, I decided to rate it as the best cushion in terms of portability.
User Ratings: 4.5/5 Stars
Price: $29.95
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This one is for all of you who are just starting to familiarize yourselves with the practice of meditation and are unsure of the best support. The Almeara Meditation Cushion Set includes a crescent-shaped zafu meditation cushion and a large, square zabuton pillow for full-body support. It is made with fully organic buckwheat hulls for sturdy support so that you can sit on the floor comfortably.
In my opinion, this complete setup is the best for beginners because it helps to reduce the stress of thinking about what is needed for an optimal meditation space.
User Ratings: 4.3/5 Stars
Price: $59.95
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Last but not least, we have the Mindful & Modern Crescent Buckwheat Meditation Cushion. This cushion is ideal for those who are looking to enhance their posture and experience a peaceful meditation. Its crescent shape is designed to ensure that you will receive the best comfort and support as it contours to your body. It should allow for a more natural alignment of your spine and pelvis.
According to user reviews, it’s a sturdy pillow that is built to last. It helps a lot in reducing discomfort so that you are able to stay focused during meditations. However, many have also criticized the zipper quality of the cover. It is described as hard to open and breaks easily. If you are solely evaluating it for its function, then I would say that this is probably one of the better ones that can support your lower back and spine.
User Ratings: 4.7/5 Stars
Price: $69.95
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See also: 5 Best Meditation Apps
When choosing a meditation cushion, you want to ensure that you are factoring in a few key features before making your final decision. This may include whether it’s able to provide you with proper posture support, if the filling material is firm and sturdy, if the cover materials are soft, durable, and washable, as well as the size and shape of the cushion.
Those who are looking to bring it along with them for sitting meditation should also consider whether it comes with a handle or a bag so that they can hold on to it easily.
There are a few common types of meditation cushions that are available for consumers to choose from. If you don’t know what they are, here’s a list of them and what they’re good for:
Zafu cushion: Zafu cushions are round-shaped cushion that suits cross-legged sitting positions the best, often filled with natural fillings. It helps to support the hips and encourage good spinal alignment.
Crescent shape cushion: Crescent shape cushions are also good for those with tight hips or knee discomfort. It is useful in helping to tilt the pelvis forward for a better posture.
Zabuton mat: Zabuton mats are large, flat mats that can be paired with a zafu or a crescent cushion to provide additional cushioning for the knees and ankles. It’s great for use on hard floors.
Meditation bench: A Meditation bench is a small, angled wooden bench that can be used to support the knees when kneeling.
Yoga bolster: A Yoga bolster can be used for restorative yoga as well as meditation practices. It helps to support both the back and legs.
Many different kinds of fillings can be used for a meditation cushion. The best option depends on your body type, posture needs, and personal preference.
Here are the three most common:
Buckwheat hulls are the most popular filling choice as they have the ability to conform to your body’s shape while providing firm, stable support. Even after using it for a long time, the cushion material generally retains its structure, with the option for you to adjust or replace the hulls.
It is the most suitable option for someone who prefers a pillow that has a customizable height and firmness.
Kapok is a soft, natural fiber harvested from the seed pods of the kapok tree. This natural material is considered softer, lighter, and fluffier than buckwheat, which gives a more cushiony feel while maintaining its support. While slightly less common than buckwheat, you can find it used in some traditional zafu cushions.
The only downside about this is that it flattens over time, requiring you to fluff it up every now and then.
Organic cotton is a natural and organic material used for a softer, plush feel. It’s more commonly found in zabutons and bolster cushions rather than zafus. Cotton offers gentle support and is a good choice for those who may be hypoallergenic or sensitive to natural fibers like buckwheat or kapok.
In short, a meditation cushion can be beneficial in ensuring proper spinal alignment and comfort so that you can carry out your meditation practice effectively. The list that I’ve come up with is a combination of my personal experience and other users’ experience, and should be taken merely as a guide and not a definitive answer.
Also, did you know that ShutEye® offers guided meditation audios that you can follow? Besides sleep-tracking, another key feature of the app is that it has a wide collection of over 100+ sleep sounds and guided meditations to help you relax and unwind. Listen to it for free!
Better Health (2022) The dangers of sitting: why sitting is the new smoking [online]. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/the-dangers-of-sitting
Cleveland Clinic (2022) Meditation [online]. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17906-meditation
Mindworks (n.d.) Do You Need a Cushion to Meditate? [online]. Available at: https://mindworks.org/blog/do-you-need-a-cushion-to-meditate/