I welcome you to explore this four-step guide to learn how to use a meditation cushion so you’re comfy, cozy, and your legs remain tingly free.
What Is A Meditation Cushion?
Meditation cushions, or pillows, are simple yoga props that allow you to have a more comfortable yoga experience. They come in all shapes and sizes, some are round and others are rectangular like a yoga bolster.
What Is The Purpose Of Using A Meditation Cushion?
The purpose of any yoga prop is to bring more comfort to your practice. Many people may think props are for beginners or to make poses “easier,” but I will stand on this rock forever: Props are meant for everyone and can enhance your practice in ways you never thought possible.
The primary purpose of a meditation cushion is to align your pelvis so you have a long, extended spine. This allows you to breathe with more ease and makes it easier to sit with good posture without risking lower back pain.
Related Post: 6 Best Yoga Props For Beginners: Ultimate Guide
Related Post: DIY Yoga Props – 17 Super Simple Ideas For Homemade Yoga Props
Yoga Bolster vs Meditation Cushion
Yoga bolsters and cushions are often interchangeable. You can use meditation cushions for more than just meditation as well. You could use a bolster for meditation, or a meditation cushion as a bolster. It all depends on what makes you comfortable in poses.
The best way to know which cushion to use is by testing a few. You know your body best and what feels good for one person may not for another. Your unique anatomy is your best deciding factor in your decision.
Do I Really Need A Meditation Cushion?
If you’ve tried other ways to meditate and just cannot get comfortable, then a cushion might benefit you. You could test out a DIY Yoga prop first to see if it’s something that feels good in your body before purchasing, or you can go ahead and grab yourself one.
So, is a meditation cushion 100% necessary? No, but it could improve your practice by making you more comfortable. If you feel you would be more comfortable in a chair or somewhere else, then that’s perfect.
Why Do My Legs Fall Asleep During Meditation?
The reason your legs fall asleep during meditation (or even certain yoga poses) is because you’ve placed pressure on your nerves for too long. You’ll know this is the case if you move whatever part became numb and you feel sensation after a few seconds or minutes.
If your numbness continues after your practice or after movements, I recommend speaking with your medical team to rule out possible health conditions.
How To Use A Meditation Cushion – 4 Easy Steps
Below is a simple guide to follow. I welcome you to use this guide as a starting point, and you can adjust these steps to better fit you and your practice.
- I invite you to find a comfortable place to place your cushion. Make sure it’s on a flat, stable surface with plenty of room.
- Find a comfortable seat on the cushion, cross-legged, sitting at the edge of your pillow. You’ll know you’ve reached the right point when your body begins to shift forward.
- I invite you to elongate your spine and soften your shoulders, jaw, and face.
- You’re welcome to explore resting your hands in your lap, practice a mudra, or explore any other placement that suits your practice.
That’s it! This is the traditional way of sitting to meditate. Trauma-informed yoga gives you more choice and options for sitting for meditation and other yoga poses. If you find this position uncomfortable, I welcome you to experiment with other variations.
Other Ways To Meditate & Use A Meditation Cushion
I’ve discovered variations of sitting for meditation that I haven’t found in any yoga training, book, or article that have worked wonders for me. The point is that as long as you have healthy form and it’s comfortable for you, then you’re on the right track. Here are a few other ways to sit for meditation that may work for you:
- While sitting on your bolster, I welcome you to extend your legs out in front and place yoga blocks under each foot or calve. You may choose to sit against a wall to make this more comfortable. This is my go-to and I love laying a blanket over my legs for a cozier experience.
- Sit in a chair or with a supportive surface behind you
- Lie in savasana or another resting pose
- Experiment with adding a blanket on top of your cushion for more lift
- Place a blanket under your legs for more comfort
- Try different variations of crossing your legs. You might extend your legs out slightly more than normal, or uncross them completely. You could experiment with lotus pose, or any other variation that speaks to you.
- Cross your legs the opposite way than you normally do
There are lots of ways to adjust your practice to better suit you and your body. The yoga sutras don’t say to sit in an exact shape with a specific prop. Yoga sutra 2.46 explains how your posture should be for yoga and meditation: sthira sukham asanam (have a steady and comfortable seat).
If you don’t prefer seated, quiet meditations (many trauma survivors find this triggering), then you may wish to explore how to reach a meditative state without sitting still in this blog post.
Overview
You deserve a meditative practice that allows you to feel good in your body. I welcome you to experiment with these tips or use them to inspire your own. There is never a wrong way to feel right in your body, and I thank you for reading this post.
Take care.
