There are several things you can use. If you are just starting out, before you go out and buy something, here are a few tips. Get a very firm pillow, fold it (if required) and put it under your bottom or just use two firm pillows stacked on to of each other. Often pillows are too soft and collapse under your weight in a couple of minutes so you generally find they aren’t the best option. The better alternative is to get one or two large beach towels, fold them length-wise in half, and then roll it into a tight roll.
If you are thinking of purchasing something proper to sit on I highly recommend a “zafu”. They come in either circles or crescent shapes and offer fantastic support for meditating (and if ever travelling they make a good pillow). They can be manipulated to get more or less height out of them depending on your needs (e.g. by putting them on their side or end) and contour to your shape and to give a perfect comfy seat. If you prefer kneeling they can also be used for this instead of a stool by playing them on their end or side. They are traditionally filled with buckwheat husks which means they never loose their shape – remarkable but true. I’ve had a crescent zafu for over a decade now and its still in perfect shape. The crescent shape is good if you sit cross legged or lotus because the crescent in the front allows space for your ankles and feet when sitting.
Doing a search on google will show you a couple of places you can order them like this one.
Round Zafu | Cresent Zafu |
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Zabuton (Floor Mat) | Stool (For Kneeling) |
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Using Chairs and Sofas
You can also use a chair to sit if you can’t sit on the ground, due to having a physical injury. Try to pick a sturdy chair that ensure your knees are equal to or lower than your hips. See our guide about Meditation Postures for how to properly sit on a chair for meditation.
If it not recommended to use your sofa or lounge as these are generally too soft and will often raise your knees higher than your hips. If you sofa or lounge is firm and allows your to follow the correct principles as outlined in our Meditation Postures section then you should be fine to use it. Listen to your body, as it will tell you if it if experiencing any discomfort in your posture.
