Qualities of a Good Meditation Cushion
Now that you know the history of the meditation cushion, we can discuss the elements that make up a good quality cushion.
The first (and most important) quality of the cushion is the level of stuffing. You want the cushion to have a little bit of flexibility to it, but not so much flexibility that you can easily flatten it out.
A few common types of stuffing or fillings for meditation cushions include buckwheat hulls, kapok fiber, and wool.
Buckwheat hulls feel just like sand when you are sitting on them. This means that they will shift beneath your weight to allow you to find a comfortable position while still providing the firmness you need to stay in place.
Kapok fiber is firmer than buckwheat hulls and is often preferred by individuals that meditate for extended periods of time or need more support.
If you choose a kapok fiber meditation cushion just remember that it does tend to settle over time so you may need to refill it eventually for the best results.
Wool is lighter than the former two options that were presented. As a filling, wool tends to be comfortable for the person meditating and allows more blood flow than the other options. Some even say that wool is an “insulator of energy.” Just keep in mind that wool is the softest (least firm) of the options listed here.
The next quality you want to look for in the cushion is the material that it is made out of. You will want something that is comfortable to sit on and is not rough or too textured.
When picking out a meditation cushion, it can be tempting to pick one that matches your decor in the room where you meditate. However, frequent meditators advise doing your research prior to choosing a color of cushion.
In general, red is said to elevate energy, yellow to lift your mood, black for intense focus, and green to create balance.
Can I Customize a Meditation Cushion to my Needs?
Definitely! You can of course choose the color of cushion you want and the material of the outer cover.
The real customization comes with what you choose to fill it with. The filling or stuffing will change how the experience is for you sitting on it, so be sure to think about what makes you feel the most comfortable.
Additionally, the filling will determine the height of the pillow which will impact how close or far away you are from the ground.
You can consider your personal preference here as well as your physical attributes such as your height to determine how tall or short of a meditation cushion would be best for your meditation practices.
What is Good Meditation Posture?
Simply purchasing a meditation cushion is not going to guarantee the perfect posture for meditation.
For successful meditation, you should feel stable on your cushion. This means that you should not be wobbling from side to side. Additionally, you should sit straight and be comfortable so that you do not need to readjust your body to get into a comfortable position.
Remember, if you are new to meditation this will take practice so do not get frustrated with your cushion if it does not work perfectly the first time!