Satori Buckwheat Meditation Pillow– Zen, Yoga, Mindfulness – 14"x7"x4" Crescent Zafu Cushion w/Comfortable Cotton Cover, Adjustable Fill, Washable, with Zipper, Handle and Inside Cover

In trying to become more serious about my new hobby of mindfulness meditation, I thought a specially cushion or seat might be in order for comfort reasons. I like this one because the inner buckwheat filling is contained in its own pouch within the pillow. Some other pillows I looked at required you to dump out the buckwheat when you want to launder the outer case, potentially making a mess. It's also very simple. It seems rather small and is simply a crescent shaped pillow with a little strap for a handle. The filling isn't too firm and has just the right amount of give when sitting on it. For the most comfortable posture, one needs to sit somewhat forward on the cushion in a cross legged manner. This allows your pelvis to be more open as it sits slightly higher than your knees. The rest of your body falls into place, especially your spine and upper body. I find I'm able to meditate longer than before, and focus less on my physical comfort and more on my breathing, meditating, etc. A good buy!

This cushion was used on a 5 day meditation retreat. Overall, I would give it 5 stars for the quality and durability. The inner lining that contains the buckwheat hulls is great, and makes it easy to remove the outer cover to clean. The zipper is very fine and well placed, and large enough to access most of the hulls at once. The cushion is SMALL however, and I should have paid more attention to the size when purchasing it. I'm a medium sized guy, 33 waist and 5'8" in height, and found that sitting on it for long periods was very uncomfortable for me. I had to add folded blankets to add height for comfort. So I ended up returning it and getting a larger one, which I'm very happy with. I'm not going to downgrade the Satori zafu rating however, as it is fantastic for what it is. Just be sure you are aware of the size!!

I've used this pillow a few times and so far I'm loving it! It's the perfect size for carrying in the tote bag I take to yoga class and serves as both a pillow and bolster. Love that the outer cover is washable! Just watch out if you open the zipper that encloses the filling -- the buckwheat shells are tiny and fly out easily.

After coming back from a week-long zen retreat, I experienced first-hand how unsuitable a traditional "round shaped" zafu was for my body. Since my legs sit best folded in traditional Burmese style (not lotus or half lotus) I need a cushion that: 1.) Was compact and sturdy enough for me to sit on the front side with hips tilted forward 2.) Soft enough that my sit bones were cushioned 3.) Left space along the front side so I could pull my ankles in close to the pelvis bones for a solidly supported Burmese style. Traditional Zafu's or square cushions couldn't accommodate me on the retreat. The circular shape of a traditional Zafu wouldn't let me get my ankles in close enough and as a result, my pelvis would keep tilting backwards and strain my lower back, or my legs were bent outwards at an uncomfortable angle and would fall asleep about 15 minutes into a sitting period. If the Zafu was too soft or spacious, all the beans would go to the back of the Zafu during a long sitting period and I'd have no elevated support, thus straining and taking a toll on my inner thigh muscles as they tried to support my collapsing body. Oh man, was I feeling the pain and struggle by day 3 of the retreat. As soon as I got home and ordered the Satori Crescent Zafu cushion, all of my physical problems were immediately addressed. With this design of a Zafu, I can better sit Burmese with the exact support and accommodation that I desperately needed.

I am 5'4, 135 lbs, and somewhat flexible, but I have terrible posture. This cushion is PERFECT for me! I love how small it is and it really does correct my back when sitting on it. I'm so glad I also watched a YouTube video on the correct way of sitting, too, which is with your knees pointing down and away from body, hitting on the floor. What a difference! I attached some photos of the difference between the Santori and the Peace Yoga. It's a His and Hers set that I bought for my husband and me. Since he's less flexible, he needs the extra height on the Peace Yoga one. He's 6'0", 180 lbs, and not very flexible. It's too high for me, I prefer the Santori!

After using average size pillows for 20 years, I wanted a smaller pillow that raises my spine up slightly to create a comfortable posture for meditation. My goal, in buying this pillow, was to have a pillow that I don't remember I am sitting on. This turned out to be just that pillow. It is comfortable, adjusts to the body, light and no there once I am in position. I also very happy that it has an inner shell and a cover; most pillows I used only had one skin and every 3-4, just when I was getting comfortable with the lived in feel of the pillow, the shell would wear out and I would find little buckwheat shell pieces sticking on my feet everywhere until I guessed and look for the the small, worn breach in the shell. I hoping this would not be the case with this one.

I've been meditating for years now and have reached a place of flexibility where I only need the slightest amount of support in elevating my hips to make long meditation stints comfortable. This cushion from Satori is perfect. I've tried several other cushions from various top manufacturers and they are either too big, to high, or too heavy. I travel often and attend annual, multi-day retreats and need a cushion that won't weigh me down and this fits the bill. Removing some of the buckwheat hulls to make it comfortable was simple and the cushion fits just right. It is small and low so if you have a wide pelvic girdle or tight/inflexible knees and hips then this may not be the right cushion for you but if you are average build or smaller with a decent amount of flexibility then I think you will really like this cushion. I've already tested it out in a two day retreat and it was just heavenly.

The cushions arrived in a timely manner. I purchased four to use in meditation groups I lead. The buckwheat filling takes a little longer to settle the sits bones into (due to shifting of the buckwheat), but the result is good, firm support for the spine. I personally like the crescent shape, it allows my legs to move more comfortably into a crossed leg position. I too wonder about the longevity of the cushion. I wish there was a way to refill the inner cushion if they lose support over time. I do appreciate that the outer cover is removable and washable. Customer service with Satori has been thorough and delightful.