You set aside a few minutes. You settle in and close your eyes… then move one leg. You try to straighten your back. You shift a little, then a little more.
Sometimes, we spend more time working out how to sit than enjoying the moment we wanted to give ourselves.
This is where a meditation cushion can be useful. Not to create calm for us. Simply to provide support that better suits the way we sit.
A little height can change your setup
One purpose of a meditation cushion is to raise the hips. Depending on your posture and mobility, this height may make it easier to sit upright and let your legs settle more comfortably.
That does not mean choosing the tallest cushion. The aim is a position in which the pelvis is supported and the legs find support, without forcing the knees down.
The Lilbee Zafu Meditation Cushion offers a raised, round seat. The Low Zafu Meditation Cushion sits closer to the floor. The Crescent Meditation Cushion has an open front that leaves room for the legs in front of the pelvis. These are three different approaches to support.
Comfort is about more than softness
When making a cushion for meditation, we think about more than how soft it feels to the touch. We also consider how it holds its shape and provides support.
At Lilbee, our cushions are filled with Loop25, a material we make from new, clean textile off-cuts. This dense, quiet filling gives the cushion its structure while keeping a soft feel.
That is where our work as a manufacturer comes in: making a support you enjoy returning to, whose making we understand and that serves its purpose. The practice itself belongs to you.
It is not a question of experience level
You can be new to meditation and feel very comfortable on the floor. You can also have years of practice and prefer more height under your hips. Mobility, body proportions and sitting preferences all matter.
At Lilbee, we prefer to begin with your setup rather than assign you a level.
The right choice is not necessarily the one you think you should “progress” towards. It is the one that meets your current needs. Keeping a Zafu for years does not mean you have stopped progressing. Choosing a lower cushion is not a reward to earn.
A seat cushion and a floor cushion have different roles
Raising the hips and making contact with the floor more comfortable are two different needs.
The Zafu and Crescent provide a seat. The Lilbee Meditation Floor Cushion - Zabuton can sit beneath them to provide a cushioned surface for the knees, ankles and feet.
This does not mean you need to buy everything before getting started. The idea is to understand what is missing from your setup and respond simply.
An object that can stay in the background
We talk a lot about cushions here, but the aim is not for them to take over your practice.
We would rather that, once settled, you no longer have to think much about yours. It can become part of the small space you have made for yourself, without a particular promise or expectation to fulfil.
A useful object, chosen with care, that you return to when it is time to pause.
A few common questions
Is a meditation cushion essential?
No. Some people are comfortable without one or prefer a chair. A cushion is useful when the way you sit benefits from added support.
Is a lower cushion always better for an experienced meditator?
No. Choose the height according to your position, mobility and comfort, rather than the number of years you have practised.
Can you remove filling to adjust a Lilbee cushion?
The inner filling bag is sealed. You choose the height through the model, rather than by opening the bag to remove filling.
To see the shapes and suggested setups, visit our video guides. They are a useful starting point for finding what suits you, without overcomplicating things.
Signed by a Lilbee