Forest Path Meditation Cushion Set
Forest Path Meditation Cushion Set
SKU: SLFORESTSET
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Dawn in the Pines
Quality meditation cushions are an important, once-in-a-lifetime investment for every serious meditator. Our made-to-order meditation cushions are perfect for increasing comfort during daily meditation, meditation scripts, or meditation classes.
"In front of the door lies
The Land of Stillness and Light"
The dark and moody greens of the forest are illuminated as the morning light shines softly through the canopy of leaves. This collection of meditation cushions is inspired by the mind's true nature — stillness and light.
Purchase a matching solid-colored buckwheat zafu (pronounced za' - foo) and a zabuton (pronounced za' - boo - tawn) as a set and save! The ZZSET makes a great gift!
We also sell our matching zabutons and zafus as individual pieces. Shop our matching support cushions here.
Specifications
Each set comes with a buckwheat hull zafu and a zabuton meditation mat in one of our following sizes:
- Buckwheat Hull Zafu measures 15" in diameter with a 5.5" loft.
- Regular Zabuton measures: 31" L x 26" W x 4" H.
- Jumbo Zabuton measures: 36" L x 28" W x 4" H. We recommend Jumbo for our long-legged meditators over 6 ft tall.
About Our Forest Path Zabuton Mat
The foundation cushion for your zafu or meditation bench. Our zabuton provides essential cushioning for your ankles and knees when sitting cross-legged on a zafu or on a meditation bench. Years of Zen Center living have gone into perfecting the design of this mat.
- 8 lbs. of all natural American grown, chemical-free cotton batting is stuffed into a muslin cover and tufted in four places to form a permanent inner cushion.
- A snug-fitting zippered cover made from durable 9 oz., 100% cotton twill fabric is slipped over the inner cushion and tufted in the center for a finished look.
About Our Forest Path Buckwheat Hull Zafu Pillow
The Buckwheat Hull Zafu provides ideal body posture and support in addition to the comfort of the zabuton. While still providing all the support of a traditional kapok-filled zafu, this buckwheat meditation cushion conforms more readily to each individual's shape and is somewhat softer. It is like sitting on sand at the beach- the hulls move where you want them.
- We stuff our Buckwheat Hull Zafu with approximately 4.5 lbs. of organic buckwheat hulls enclosed in a zippered muslin shell making it easy to add/remove buckwheat.
- Made of durable 9 oz., 100% cotton twill fabric with a convenient carrying handle.
Cushions handmade in the USA.
Scroll to learn more about our company, what sets DharmaCrafts meditation cushions apart from the rest and to view our meditation cushion care instructions and FAQ.
About DharmaCrafts Cushions
The DharmaCrafts Difference
Your meditation cushion is so much more than an ergonomic tool. Over time, it becomes your beloved companion! That's why making quality cushions is so important to DharmaCrafts. It is our honor to make the cushion that will accompany you on your spiritual journey.
Please watch the informative and fun video below to learn more about why choosing a handcrafted DharmaCrafts meditation cushion is an investment that will last a lifetime. You will also learn the benefits of using a zafu (round cushion) and zabuton (flat mat) set as opposed to just sitting on the floor or on a regular pillow.
Handcrafted in Our Own Shop
Since the beginning, DharmaCrafts cushions have been handcrafted in our own shop. DharmaCrafts' founder, Dyan Eagles, originally stuffed each zafu herself outside on the porch at the Cambridge Zen Center, even during the cold New England winter. Now your DharmaCrafts cushion is made in our Fall River, MA warehouse by a small, dedicated staff of trained craftspeople who pay close attention to fine detail. Under new but equally dedicated ownership, we have stayed true to Dyan’s values of providing ideals of quality products, great customer service, and the desire to help others here at DharmaCrafts.
Experience the Quality
Since 1979 we have handcrafted the finest meditation cushions available. In homes, meditation centers, hospitals, corporations, and schools across the country, thousands of people begin and end their day on a DharmaCrafts cushion.
Made to Last a Lifetime
You can expect your DharmaCrafts cushion to last a lifetime. Premium materials, double-stitched seams, and careful assembly result in a superior meditation cushion—the perfect place to rest your body and mind.
Our Commitment to You
You can depend on our workmanship for a consistently excellent and distinctive product. Additionally, our customer service team is always ready to help with any questions or concerns you may have. See our meditation cushion FAQ for more information.
Learn the full DharmaCrafts story here!
When Will My Cushion Ship?
All of our meditation cushions are handmade to order and generally require about 5 business days of production time prior to shipping. If you need your cushion more quickly, please contact our customer service team and we would be happy to assist with this!
Cushion Care Instructions
1. Can I clean my meditation cushion or mat?
Yes! All round buckwheat filled zafu cushions, flat zabuton mats, Roll Up and Go Yoga Mats, and support cushions come with a zippered cover that can be removed for washing. Follow the chart and step by step instructions below to ensure that your cushions will look as good after multiple washes as they did when they were new!
**Please note: Buckwheat hull and 100% natural cotton batting filling should not get wet. As with all fine fabrics, avoid direct sunlight. All fabrics will fade over time.
|
Product |
Is it machine washable? |
Can it go in the dryer? |
Special instructions |
|
Buckwheat Hull Zafu |
Inner shell: YES Outer cover: YES |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: NO |
Buckwheat hulls should NOT get wet. Remove outer cover, unzip shell & pour out buckwheat before washing. |
|
Zabuton Mat |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: YES |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: NO |
Cut the decorative stitch/tack on the surface of the cushion before removing the cover. |
|
Yoga Mat |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: YES |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: NO |
None |
|
Two-Toned cushions |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: YES however dry clean is recommended instead |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: NO |
Dry clean recommended to prevent potential color bleeding |
|
Bench Cushions |
NO |
NO |
Spot clean only |
|
Support Cushions |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: YES |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: NO |
None |
|
Whatever Cushions |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: YES |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: NO |
None |
|
Bolsters |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: YES |
Inner shell: NO Outer cover: NO |
None |
Washing Instructions:
- Check how to wash your cushion using the chart above.
- If it is machine washable, remove the zippered cover from your cushion.
- Turn the cover inside out and machine wash separately in cold water, gentle cycle, using liquid detergent.
- Be sure to not overload the washing machine. Allow enough space for the water to circulate evenly among the covers.
- Hang to dry. Do not put it in the dryer. Cotton will shrink in the dryer.
- If necessary iron on low, cotton setting.
Printable Meditation Cushion Care Instructions (opens as PDF)
2. Which meditation cushion (or bench) is right for me?
People who meditate come in all shapes and sizes. DharmaCrafts offers a wide selection of meditation cushions, support cushions, and benches for that reason!
We offer multiple resources to help you find the perfect cushion for your meditation needs:
See our PDF guide here,
our more thorough and educational written blog here,
or our extra-convenient flow chart here (PDF.)
3. Can DharmaCrafts make custom meditation cushions?
Yes! We can make any cushion, mat, or yoga mat to your size and color specifications. We can even use a cover fabric that you supply. Custom orders normally take 1-2 weeks to complete. Please call us at 877-219-7661 for pricing and estimated delivery time. Custom orders are non-returnable.
4. My pet had an accident on my cushion. Can I purchase a replacement insert?
Yes! We sell replacement inserts for our zabutons, buckwheat zafus, support cushions, and yoga mats. We also offer organic buckwheat hulls sold by the pound. Please see our care instructions above to see if your cushions/ insert can be washed.
Replacement inserts for support cushions are not listed on the site but are available by request. To place an order, please call Customer Service at 877-219-7661 or place your order online.
More questions? Contact our customer service team- we know our cushions inside and out and we're happy to answer your questions! Call 877-219-7661, or email us at hello@dharmacrafts.com. We’re available Monday- Thursday 9am- 5pm, Friday 9am- 3pm EST.
Meditation Positions
The goal of meditation is to connect the mind, body, and spirit. By taking these moments out of our day, we eventually unlock an inner sense of self-awareness of our emotional wellbeing and greater mindfulness- the ability to be present in the current moment. In order to do this, though, our bodies must be in a state of physical comfort and ease. Zafu and zabuton meditation cushion sets are specifically designed for the purpose of making seated meditation more comfortable. Although any seat or cushion will do to start with, we highly recommend getting your own meditation cushion set (or at least a zabuton floor pillow) if you plan on making meditation a consistent part of your life. These cushions are specifically designed to increase comfort during seated meditation and yoga poses. Keep reading to learn about the traditional sitting meditation positions. All of these poses have wonderful spiritual and physical benefits. If you’re looking to learn more about how to get into the meditative mindset, click here.
The full lotus meditation position is a cross-legged pose in which the meditator sits straight-spined with each foot placed on top of the opposite thigh. This pose is intended to imitate the blossoming of the lotus and encourages enlightenment in the meditator. The full lotus pose has become heavily associated with the Buddha, as he is commonly depicted in this position and seated on lotus flowers in art and statues to symbolize his enlightened state.
This position is considered to be an advanced meditation pose and can be rather difficult for beginners and those with limited flexibility in their legs, hips, or ankles. It may take some time to train the body to achieve this position. Use a Zabuton cushion as your seat for cushioning and add support cushions as needed for maximum comfort.
Half lotus meditation pose is considered an intermediate meditation position and is a great way to practice building up flexibility in order to do the full lotus pose. It is done exactly how it sounds- by doing half of the full lotus pose. The meditator should sit on their Zabuton with their spine straight and cross-legged, but rather than placing both feet over the opposite leg as in full lotus, only one foot is placed over the opposite leg, while the other remains on the floor. Practice this pose regularly and alternate which leg is raised in order to increase flexibility in both legs. The Buddha and other bodhisattvas are also commonly depicted in this pose.
This beginner meditation pose is the easiest of the three we’ve mentioned so far because it doesn’t require any extra flexibility past the ability to sit cross-legged while seated. The only way Burmese meditation pose differs slightly from just simply sitting criss-cross is that the legs should be pulled close enough to the body so that the tops of the feet touch the floor/ cushion, rather than the sides of the feet. As with the previous poses, the spine should be straight while sitting in this position. Siddhasana and Padmasana are mentioned in ancient Indian texts and art, and are believed to be the first meditation positions invented.
Unlike the other meditation positions on this list, seiza pose comes from Japan. Seiza (pronounced say’-zah) has been the formal way of sitting since ancient times in Japan and is now, in the modern day, practiced in traditional ceremonies and settings there. It is attained by kneeling on the knees and resting the buttocks on the feet while keeping the back straight and upright. This position is believed to be great for improving flexibility and posture over time. It is common, especially for Westerners who are not accustomed to sitting on the floor for extended periods of time, to use a zafu and zabuton meditation cushion set or a meditation bench as a seat while practicing seiza in order to prevent ankle and knee pain. Our Hi-Zafu cushions in studio or organic are also great for those who want the comfort and flexibility of a zafu cushion while practicing seiza meditation pose, but are a bit less flexible and/or need extra support.
Whether you are brand new to the world of meditating or an expert, there is a seated meditation posture that works for everyone- regardless of experience and physical abilities. If none of the above positions work for you or are comfortable, feel free to simply sit in a normal chair with your back straight to meditate. Meditation is not about straining your body or hurting yourself- that’s the exact opposite of the goal of meditation! Try all of these positions out to see which works best for you, and be sure to use all of the many resources we have available here on DharmaCrafts to perfect your meditation practice.