Zafus

A comfy cushion with a funny name

Zafus are traditional yoga meditation cushions. They are useful for maintaining correct yoga postures, for extra padding under your knees and feet, and for keeping you comfortable during meditation.

The name “zafu” was originally used by Zen Buddhists in Japan. It means “cushion for zazen” or “sitting cushion” in Japanese. Zafus are usually round in shape (about 14-inches in diameter) and a loft that can settle to about 5-inches high when you take the sitting position. Zafus work better when set on top of zabuton cushions. Zafus come with a carrying handle for you to transport and store your cushion easily. Some of them provide customized fillings of natural cotton, kapok, buckwheat and even duck feathers in order to offer different comfort to suit individual tastes.

The zafu meditation cushion is normally filled with kapok fiber or buckwheat hulls. Kapok is a natural fiber from the kapok tree grown in the Far East (or East Indies). The light weight silky down from the seed pods is sometimes called Java cotton. A zafus’ stuffing is not only light, but its also water resistant and decay-free.

Buckwheat hulls are a traditional filling for pillows in Japan. They are actually the husks that protect the buckwheat kernel from the natural elements. They have properties that make the cushion of “warm in the winter, cool in the summer,” as well as the ability to provide a compliant passive support for hip joints, minimizing the stress on all areas of the body that might need support.

Zafus are great for lotus, half-lotus, Burmese style sitting meditation, or other yoga postures that have your knees down on the zabuton mat or in upright sitting poses. Some zafus have removable zippered covers, which allow you to machine wash them on a daily basis. A regular sized zafu costs approximately $50 online.