How to Use a Meditation Pillow

Introduction

Like you need a proper bed for a good night’s sleep, a high-quality meditation cushion is necessary. If you want to make your practice consistent that is. However, seasoned sitters created cushions or mats to make meditating for a long time not only manageable but for making meditation more comfortable. . As you know, sitting still for more than 10 minutes is pretty hard, try sitting on the floor without any support. It’s probably not going to make you wake up daily for meditation sessions. When you buy a meditation cushion, you want to be sure of the firmness of the cushion. Most meditation cushions are filled with buckwheat, which makes it firm enough to keep you from tilting in your seat. Maybe your knees and feet are sensitive, search for a meditation cushion that comes with a mat, which gives extra support.

Meditation practices, nowadays, are very popular in recent times, and there are many ways to do it. Meditators can concentrate on their breath, repeat a mantra, or focus on a given object. Moreover, all to gain a clear, conscious mental state. Meditation programs provide many benefits, consisting of reduced anxiety, reduced symptoms of depression, and a decrease in chronic pain. It’s pretty obvious why so many people have been tempted to try them. Meditation programs ask for people to sit down, often with their legs crossed on the floor. This position can be hard to hold for long periods, which is why meditation cushions can add a new layer of ease to your meditation practice.

What is a Meditation Pillow?

A meditation pillow is quite a firm and comfortable cushion made to help you sit easily for meditation, especially for longer periods.

• Zafu: It is a round firm cushion usually filled with either buckwheat hulls or fiber.
• Zabuton: It is a rectangular cushion, generally placed under your zafu.

How to Use?

Anyone who is into meditation is not sure exactly how to make use of your cushion. Using it correctly is key to utilizing the benefits that your pillow can provide. 

Kneeling is a pretty common meditation position, but it can contribute to pain, numbness, and tingling in your legs and joints not providing proper support. You can place your cushion between your knees as you kneel will help relax the pressure from your joints. This will help you get a proper position as well as increase your comfort levels.

Half- lotus or Quarter- lotus

Many of these poses are easier on your joints than a full lotus position, it is better on your knees. Making use of a cushion to sit on while you gently place your ankles on the opposite calf is made more reachable with a cushion under you to help widen your hips.

Crossed-legged

Cross-legged happens to be the most common and straightforward position for meditation. The simple cross-legged position is less straining on joints while stretching out knees and hips. A cushion makes sure to keep from rounding your back so that your spine stays straight. In addition, it will keep your feet from falling asleep.

Arched back

This pose is not your typical position and, definitely, not a seated one. This pose is a structure to help open up your chest and ribcage for deeper breathing during meditation. It is also a great way to help relieve any weakness, pain, or muscle tension in the back.

Just place your meditation cushion behind your back and from a cross-legged position, lower your back until the cushion is giving support to the middle of your back, and your head is resting on the ground.

Child-pose or Balasana

A child’s pose is the most preferred one for many. This pose begins on your knees, and you bend your body completely forward. Place the cushion as a pillow for your head. You will start to feel the tension in your body shift away with this pose as it flexes your thighs, hips, and back.

In conclusion, many positives come with using a meditation cushion when you love to meditate. The ability to sit for long times or even just be reminded of your daily meditation routine is only a section of the positives.