Yoga pillows in comparison: what you should pay attention to when buying

Yoga is primarily for (inner) relaxation: the purpose of the exercises is to reduce stress and recharge your batteries. And that in the most relaxed posture possible – which is much more difficult for beginners for long-established professionals. Since many positions are performed while sitting completely motionless, a lot is demanded of the body, more precisely of your spine: the longer you have to sit in an upright position, the more you will feel the strain in your back. To relieve your intervertebral discs and to support a straight posture, you can use a yoga pillow (zafu). Due to the elevated sitting position, not only are your legs better supplied with blood, but your muscles are also relaxed. However, it is important that you find the right seat height in order to avoid feet asleep or painful tension. In the following you will find out what else is important when making a purchase.

Purchase criteria: How to find the right yoga pillow

1. The seat height

That should be adapted to body size and flexibility as well as the area of ​​application. As a rule of thumb, you can remember: the flatter the yoga pillow, the more flexible you have to be. Conversely, a seat height of at least ten centimeters is recommended for people up to 1.70 meters – provided you practice yoga in the tailor’s or lotus position, the same applies to exercises on your heels. A seat height of at least 15 centimeters is recommended for people with long legs, especially if you suffer from hip problems or unstable knees. Yoga cushions with a seat height of over 20 centimeters are recommended for people 1.80 or more who do their exercises cross-legged and have problems with their hips. In any case, beginners will be better served with a higher pillow than with a lower one. An important indicator of the comfortable sitting position is that your knees are always lower than your hips when you are seated so that your pelvis remains upright.

2. The filling

Most manufacturers fill the yoga pillows with hard and breathable spelled or millet husks, buckwheat husks or even wheat chaff. As a result, the models are particularly dimensionally stable, which roughly means: If you do your exercises on them, the grains are displaced by your body, but are still stable enough to support your movements. Alternative to spelled, millet and there are also hypoallergenic yoga pillows , i.e. plant fibers that are softer and more elastic, but are suitable for allergy sufferers. Other pillow fillings, such as lavender, are not recommended in any case, as they give off a strong odor and could distract you while meditating.

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3. The fit

The classic yoga pillow is round, but there are also crescent-shaped, rectangular or square models. The most common form is that : It is characterized by a large, round seat and is intended to support the natural alignment of the spine so that the yoga exercises can be performed painlessly. A however, is suitable for you if you do the exercises in the lotus position (or half lotus). A rectangular one can give you the buoyancy you need for the correct sitting position, the classic one is filled with soft kapok and is still considered a firm support for the back, pelvis and hips.

4. The color

It has been scientifically proven that colors have a great influence on our perception and can evoke certain feelings or moods. For this reason, color theory also plays a role in yoga – red should be able to promote the flow of energy, violet promises more balance and calm, yellow is mood-enhancing and blue has a calming effect. The color orange, on the other hand, is said to promote inner healing and green to make breathing easier. Whether this effect can only be caused by a yoga pillow remains questionable. Therefore, you should choose a color that you feel most comfortable with. This also applies to the size and shape.

You should consider this when buying

Customize your yoga pillow individually

If you are still a beginner in yoga and cannot decide which seat height is right for your exercises, you can use a trick: Use a yoga cushion that you can adjust in height – by placing the filling material over one remove or fill up. This gives you the opportunity to determine the optimal seating position for your individual needs.

An alternative to the yoga cushion: the meditation bench

If you are struggling with knee problems or are not a fan of yoga pillows, but are still looking for a support for your back, there is a sensible alternative: the . The slightly sloping seat and additional padding support your spine and help you straighten up. The model is suitable for people who want to meditate for a particularly long time – its ergonomic shape helps with deep abdominal breathing. Here, too, there are different sizes based on your height: the smaller model is best for people under 1.80 meters; if you are over 1.80, the larger model is recommended. The wood from which the meditation bench was made provides the necessary stability. The upholstery is usually made of cotton, but the fabric is usually not removable or washable. This should be clear to you before buying, otherwise a yoga pillow would be the better choice. Especially for house dust allergy sufferers who rely on being able to regularly clean the materials used in the washing machine.

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