You can meditate without any special seating. Just sit towards the edge of your chair, with your feet on the ground, and your back, shoulders, and head in a straight line. Your hands can rest gently on your thighs. However, if you would like a more traditional meditation experience or if you are planning on deepening your meditation practice, read on to learn about seating options.

Meditation Seats:

The most common meditation seating consists of a cushion (Zafu) and a rectangular pad placed underneath the cushion (Zabuton)

Things to look for in a Zafu:

Zafus are usually stuffed with Buckwheat Hull or Kapok.
Buckwheat Hull conforms more to the user, while Kapok is stiffer.
Buckwheat Hull does not require any "breaking in" time.
Many Zafus have zippers, so that you can remove material to ensure a proper fit.

Should I buy a Buckwheat Hull
or Kapok Cushion?

In general , a Buckwheat Hull cushion is recommended.

Things to look for in a Zabuton:

Pay attention to the size of the Zabuton. You should not get a Zabuton smaller than approximately 30" by 30"


Zafus and Zabuton's can be bought from the Meditation Community aStore

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What if I am not flexible enough to sit-cross legged?

For those who cannot sit cross-legged but want a more traditional experience than sitting in a chair, we suggest meditating in a kneeling position. Meditation benches are made specifically for kneeling meditation. However, you do not need a meditation bench to sit in a kneeling position. You can turn your zafu on its side and use that for kneeling meditation.

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Can I use a backjack to meditate?

Backjack's are not recommended since they are designed to have you lean back in them, making it hard to maintain good posture. Good posture is essential for remaining focused and aware during meditation. See posture for more information.

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