Do I really need a meditation cushion to meditate properly?

July 19, 2008 10:57 PM

I'm really interested in yoga and meditation. I'm quite new to it all but do I really need to buy a meditation cushion? Can I not just use normal pillows or my bed? What's so special about these meditation cushions?
posted by Tha-Flash to sports, hobbies, & recreation (10 comments total)

No you can meditate sitting on a subway car if you want to. I used to just sit on my floor and stare at my wall. Do whatever is most comfortable for you.
posted by greta simone at 11:00 PM on July 19, 2008

Not at all. Meditation cushions are of course more comfortable than a hard floor, but like greta simone suggested, you can meditate literally anywhere.
posted by mahoganyslide at 11:18 PM on July 19, 2008

The main benefits of having a meditation cushion are that a) it establishes a dedicated space for practice, which helps to program your mind to go into a meditative headspace when you sit on it and b) its presence and cost make it more difficult to worm your way out of maintaining a daily practice. If there's a visual reminder to do the work, you're much more likely to do it.
posted by bunnytricks at 11:22 PM on July 19, 2008

Consider that people meditated for thousands of years before there even were _any_ cushions. Rug, chair, anything is fine. For crying out loud.
posted by rainy at 12:29 AM on July 20, 2008

I sit semi-straddling a head pillow with my legs hanging over the side of the bed or lightly touching the floor.
posted by zeek321 at 2:11 AM on July 20, 2008

I usually meditate sitting in a comfortable, supportive chair. As everyone above has noted, anyone can meditate anywhere at any time; that said, it seems to me (for me) that sitting straight, somewhat erect, my spine straight allows me to remain more present to my intention. If I'm lying in bed, it's much easier (for me, ymmv) to stray, to daydream.

Recently I've begun to practice yoga, which is slowly opening up my body, allowing me to sit on a mat or on the floor, with my legs crossed, my back erect, something I've never been able to do. But I'm not (yet) able to do this flat on the floor and sit totally erect, in comfort, at ease, so I sit up a few inches on a block at the yoga studio (sortof solid foam) or a book at home so I can sit with my legs crossed, my back erect, no pain.

My understanding is that one of the reasons yoga came into being is so that people could sit in contemplation for long periods of time without suffering distractions from pain in their body. Did I get that right, Hive Mind? Or were these folks just precursors to the contortionists we see twisting their bodies into knots on various youtube vids?
posted by dancestoblue at 2:36 AM on July 20, 2008

A meditation pillow helps you keep proper posture. Full lotus, half lotus, seiza... unless you're flexible and used to sitting that way, a pillow under your butt makes it a bit easier to keep your spine erect.

Once you build the flexibility you don't need the pillow as much. Everybody else is correct, you can meditate anywhere, anytime, anything is better than nothing. The traditional postures tend to make your legs disappear and make you balance your spine straight up and focus on your center of gravity so you're like a ball just being still instead of relaxing in bed or sitting in a chair where something is supporting you.
posted by zengargoyle at 4:31 AM on July 20, 2008

Sat on a futon for years and did quite well. If it is too cushy might be a problem.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:33 AM on July 20, 2008

i might also add in that if you're heading for yoga as well that fancy/designer yoga clothes are equally unnecessary. it's not a discipline that generally requires you to wear a uniform (think martial arts). there is never more than 1 or 2 in 15 or more of my yoga class that is not clad in $100+ "yoga pants". i think it's just that buying stuff associated with yoga/meditation/etc is easier and more immediately rewarding[?] than the slow pursuit of a truly effective discipline! that said, i have found no adequate substitute for a yoga mat. i have a friend who swears by her two dollar rug, but i haven't had that kind of luck.
anyway, good luck on the meditating :)
posted by tamarack at 9:28 AM on July 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

i might also add in that if you're heading for yoga as well that fancy/designer yoga clothes are equally unnecessary.
posted by tamarack at 11:28 AM on July 20

Just Favorited this post -- my first yoga instructor just laughed and laughed about all these expensive clothes, told me to use a swim suit if I wanted (I'm a guy) and a t-shirt if I wanted, just that whatever I use has to allow total range of movement. I use a black swim suit, some old cotton athletic type shorts, some lightweight REI shorts, etc and etc. I had a woman in my studio try to sell me a pair of forty dollar pants yesterday -- On sale! -- they had nice seaming, no doubt they'd fit well, and golly, I'm just sure I'd look spiffy and stuff; somehow, I was able to not purchase them, and, thankfully, it didn't seem as though my practice suffered today.

It ain't what you're wearing, it's the fact of showing up on the mat and breathing and moving and suffering the sweat to get the goods. Or so it seems to me.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:21 AM on July 21, 2008