The Best Yoga Pillows to Enhance Your Practice

There are multiple types of yoga pillows available in various shapes, sizes, and firmnesses. Getting the right pillow will greatly improve your comfort and posture during meditation. Choosing the proper yoga pillow or meditation cushion depends on a few things including your meditation position, comfort, proper alignment, and the texture of the cushion. In this guide, we’ll help you discover exactly which type of yoga pillow is ideal for you.

How to Choose the Best Yoga Pillow

Consider the following characteristics when determining which pillow will suit your practice style best.

Types of Yoga Pillows

Zafu Meditation Cushion

The zafu meditation pillow is a traditional round cushion. When meditating, you should sit on the edge of the zafu so your legs slope down and can rest comfortably. These cushions are designed to slightly lift the hips and upper body. This posture allows for a natural spinal curve alignment.

With natural spinal alignment, the back, neck, shoulders, and head follow a comfortable upright posture. It is important that you are easily able to maintain an upright, proper, and comfortable posture during meditation.

On its own, the zafu is best suited for someone of average height with good flexibility. If you are tall or have limited flexibility you may benefit from a higher seating position, which can be done by adding filling to your existing pillow or purchasing a taller one.

Cosmic Cushion

The cosmic cushion is shaped like a fortune cookie with a built-in slope. The extended sides support the thighs while the heel cutout lets the ankles stay snuggly positioned close to the body. The cosmic yoga cushion is ideal for taller or less flexible individuals, but anyone can use it comfortably for proper alignment and support.

Rectangular Yoga Pillow

With its straight edges, the rectangular meditation cushion does not interfere with heel positioning. It provides lift for proper alignment but is generally not as high as a standard zafu. The rectangular yoga pillow is often preferred by flexible individuals as well as experienced participants as they are perfectly useful for a variety of poses and practices.

Zabuton Meditation Cushion

The zabuton meditation pillow is placed under a zafu or other yoga pillow. Because proper body alignment in seated postures can cause additional pressure on the knees and ankles, a zabuton perfectly cushions these areas to relieve discomfort. They are especially helpful when practicing on hard surfaces.

Yoga Pillow Stuffing

Yoga pillows generally come either stuffed with kapok or buckwheat hulls. Some may be filled with synthetic or recycled fillings as well. Typically, buckwheat hulls are considered the ideal filling for yoga pillows.

Kapok

Kapok is a soft cotton-like material that becomes dense and firm when blown into a cushion. Unlike cotton, foam, and polyester batting, it does not compress completely with pressure. It is soft and lightweight yet doesn't collapse and become unsupportive.

Buckwheat Hulls

Buckwheat hulls are the dark, small, saucer-shaped exterior of buckwheat grains. They provide stability and weigh more than kapok. Buckwheat hull pillows conform well to the shape of the body and are known to be the best type of filling for meditation practice. The one downside is that if the buckwheat has not been extremely well fumigated and processed, little bugs may still appear among the hulls. Thankfully, this is an easy fix, as you can wash the pillow cover and freeze the hulls, which will easily kill and get rid of any remaining bugs.

Yoga Pillow Features

When buying a yoga pillow, you may want to check the product for the following:

- Does it come with a removable outer cover that is machine washable?
- Does it come with any extra accessories such as guides, bags, or extra covers?
- Does the cushion have a handle for easy carrying?
- Is the size convenient for your height and flexibility?
- Is the fabric durable?
- Do you prefer a round, rectangular, or crescent-shaped cushion?

Comfort and Color

Some people prefer stiffer support while others want a softer meditation accessory. Consider the filling when choosing the support you prefer. Many, especially buckwheat-filled pillows, can be customized by adding or removing filling. Even when using a harder support pillow you can choose one with a soft, velvety outer cover. There is a great range of fabric cover types from hardy, durable materials to soft, suede-like covers.

Some people are not as picky about the color of their yoga pillow. However, certain manufacturers offer a range of colors that are light and calming, while others focus on colors that align with chakras you want to develop. Others may simply focus on colorful covers for aesthetic purposes.

Yoga Pillow FAQ

Q: Can you buy buckwheat hulls separately to refill a yoga pillow?

A: Yes. Although yoga pillows and bolsters come already stuffed, there are suppliers who sell buckwheat hulls separately.

Q: What can you do to get rid of bugs in buckwheat hulls?

A: It is not uncommon for bugs to be found in buckwheat pillow stuffing, although the hulls generally go through an extensive cleaning process. Remove the pillowcase, turn it inside out and wash it. You can also freeze the hulls to kill any bugs. It is best not to wash the hulls themselves since they can be hard to dry.

Q: What size yoga pillow should I get?

A: The pillow size needs to provide comfort from all angles and make your positioning easier, not harder. Although it is a matter of personal preference, taller individuals usually prefer cushions with more height, allowing for room to cross their legs comfortably. Shorter, or more flexible individuals will do just fine will smaller size pillows that are fairly low.