Review: Mountain Seat Zafu by The Monastery Store

Posted: August 5, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Cushions, Mediation Product Reviews, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’m not ashamed to admit it:  My seat is fickle.

At the beginning of the year I sang the virtues of Samadhi Cushions’ Buckwheat Pillbox Zafu. It had everything I thought I could possibly want in a cushion.  It keeps its shape and gives me the consistent height I need to stay comfortable while sitting for extended periods of time.  Truly it’s an admirable product, and I continue to recommend it highly. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a little room for improvement, or, more likely, I just have a sensitive tuchus.  After a while of sitting, the bruckwheat hulls can begin to feel hard like a stadium bleacher during your favorite team’s losing streak.

A simple pillbox design. The zippered accessis behind the handle.

“So, dear blogger, what is it that your tush needs?” you must be wanting to ask me while sitting at the edge of your own seat. Simple, friends, more cushioning.   The Monastery Store (associated with Zen Mountain Monastery) provides just that with the Mountain Seat Zafu.  The overall design is similar to the Samadhi Cushion previously reviewed in that it utilizes a non-pleated, pillbox design which give you height by keeping all the buckwheat hulls in one place.  More traditional pleated models allow for expansion when you sit, and as a result height is lost.  What the Mountain Seat adds is visco-elastic foam that distributes your weight more evenly and helps to eliminate pressure points. A disk of foam is placed on one side of the zafu, so you have to be sure to have that side up each time you use the cushion. I was originally worried that the foam might break down, but it’s lasted well through over six moths of rigorous sitting (an oxymoron?), and travels to and from various mediation centers.  Yes, I’m one of those people who brings their own cushion to meditation centers, but if you had this cushion, you might too. My one remaining concern is it feels like the foam disk could slip from its assigned spot and end up on the side of the zafu with repeated uses.  I’m not sure if there is anything used to keep the cushion where it should be.

Ultimately what you get is the softness of kapok and the firmness and support of buckwheat hulls, and for me, that’s close to perfect.  But perfection can cost a pretty penny. The medium sized cushion (7.5 inches high) costs $95 while the Samadhi Cushion without the foam disk will set you back only $49.  Is the foam worth an additional $46?  For me it is.  The comfort and stability of this zafu means that I shift around during meditation much less, and if I tried to jerry-rig something myself using a cushion and a pillow, I’d be fussing with it the whole session.  Anything that can give me less of an excuse to be fussy will help me sit more consistently, and that’s worth a lot to me.

I also purchased the Mountain Seat zabuton which has a layer of foam between two sheets of cotton batting. This zabuton is down right luxurious, but ultimately unnecessary for most people.  I know there are many of you with sensitive ankles, and for you this item may be a lifesaver.  I’ve noticed that cotton batter can become hard over years of pressure from sitting, and the foam core will certainly keep ankles and feet off the floor and cushioned over many years.

Both the zafu and zabuton are very well crafted and well proportioned.  The zafu has a strong, built in carrying handle and zippered access to allow you to add or remove hulls.  The Monastery Store also has other innovative cushion designs online,

The outline of the foam cushion is visible on the front side. This zafu is probably not a good candidate for straddling or knee sitting.

among many other products to support your practice.

Fussy tushes, unite!!!

Pros:

  • Foam cushion that can take some of the sting from long sitting session on buckwheat hulls alone
  • Strong and sturdy construction
  • Pillbox shape for stable sitting height over time
Cons:
  • Foam seems like it can slip from its location at the top of the cushion with repeated uses
  • Zipper is neatly tucked behind the handle, but this could cause difficulty when trying to replace the buckwheat hulls
  • Price – The additional cost of the foam may be not be worth it for some, especially when compared to similar offering from other manufacturers

Note:  I did not receive any promotional consideration for this review. If you are a vendor who would like a review, please feel free to contact me through the comments section.

Review: Samadhi Cushions Buckwheat Pillbox Zafu

Posted: January 26, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Cushions, Mediation Product Reviews, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments

This is the first in my series of reviews of meditation related products.  Is this overly materialistic for a meditation themed blog?  Probably, but there’s nothing wrong with a comfortable cushion or a reliable timer (as long as you’re putting in those long hours of practice).

I am not flexible.  I’m talking specifically about my body, though I’m sure I have some issues with my personality too.  Because I tend to favor sitting on the floor in postures like Burmese, half lotus, and tailors’, the only way I can keep my knees down with my stiff hips is with a cushion.  Up until now, I’ve been using my trusty Samadhi Cushions standard kapok filled zafu, and though I regularly knead the cushion back into shape, it’s not quite as high as it used to be.  I was considering purchasing a kapok recharge from Samadhi Cushions, but while looking around their website I noticed their Buckwheat Pillbox Zafu currently $49, plus shipping.

See, no pleats. But there is a very nice handle.

What makes this one so special is the shape. Buckwheat hulls are great for zafus because they conform to your shape while also giving firm support.  The problem occurs when the hulls are placed in a regular zafu structure because regular zafus have pleating that allows the buckwheat hulls to expand into the pleats while slipping out from under your seat.  Samadhi Cushions pillbox shape has no pleats, so there’s nowhere for the hulls to go.  The zafu keeps its shape, I keep my sitting height, and my hips get a break.

The cushion  is well designed and meticulously constructed.  The included soft cotton cover with handle is available is a decent array of standard colors, and if you’re purchasing for a center, custom colors and color combinations can be ordered for an additional fee. The cover is removable, zippered, and washable, and the buckwheat hulls are contained within a stitched fabric housing so this no concern about spilling the hulls all over when it’s time to wash the cover.

Notice the cover's sturdy zipper that give you access to the hull's casing.

I’ve been using it for the last couple of days, and I’ve found it exceptionally comfortable.  It consistently provides just the right amount of loft that I can sit for extended periods without feeling the need to adjust the cushion to get additional height.

I don’t hesitate to recommend this product to you, and give it 5 out of 5…actually I don’t have a rating system yet, but if you think of anything clever, please let me know.

P.S.  Overall, I think Samadhi Cushion products are outstanding with one exception.  Their standard zabuton is small at 27″ by 33″.  They state on their website that it will fit most users, but I’m 5’8″ and I find it difficult to fit comfortably on this cushion in Burmese or half-lotus positions.  I have to hang my zafu half off of the back of the zabuton to give myself enough room to lower my knees on the zabuton and not the bare floor.  I would suggest getting the unfortunately named Jumbo Zabuton, 30″ by 33″, which is still an inch or two smaller on each side than other companies’ offerings.  This is not to that Samadhi Cushions’ zabutons are not comfortable.  They provide a very soft, almost plush sitting surface that will keep your knees and ankles protected from the hard floor.

Pros:

  • Sturdy construction
  • Pillbox structure that allow for stable height across time
  • Good zipper placement allows for easy access to the inside of the cushion for easy hull replacement
Cons:
  • None

Note:  I did not receive any promotional consideration for this review. If you are a vendor who would like a review, please feel free to contact me through the comments section.