8 Meditation Chairs For Back Support
A meditation chair might just be the accessory you need to take your meditation practice to the next level.
It’s a decision that I like to look at as an investment for your future and the future of your back and knee joints.
Do you find that sitting down for an extended period of time causes you discomfort in any way? Perhaps your legs fall asleep after 20 minutes of meditation or your back starts aching from being in the same seated position for too long? These are all very common in the meditation space, not everyone can maintain posture for long periods of time and often you might face severe discomfort.
Because I am not the most flexible person in the world my legs would go numb after about 15 minutes of meditation. This used to cause my mind to wander and focus on the discomfort. I always had to move my legs around to get some circulation going again, not ideal when we want to get zen. Cue the Buddha meditation chair ( I decided to go all out on this little purchase ).
After receiving my Buddha chair I can sit longer and focus on the task at hand, meditation. Buying a meditation chair has helped me to enjoy my practice with less pain and strain on my back and knee joints as well as keeping my legs from turning blue. I absolutely love the comfort it provides me and the consistent posture I can now maintain.
So the question is, what’s the right chair for you? If you desire a more relaxed, pain-free meditation experience then I would recommend a meditation chair. If you are slightly more hardcore however and believe you need to sit through pain and discomfort during your meditations, that’s fine too.
I have compiled a list of 8 meditation chairs you can have a look at. The great thing about choosing a chair is it’s something that will last you a long time. These chairs are all durable and built with your comfort in mind.
- bonVIVO Easy II Padded Floor Chair
- Back Jack Floor Chair
- ZEN’S BAMBOO Floor Seat
- Alexia Meditation Seat
- Gaiam Rattan Meditation Chair
- Friends of Meditation
- BirdRock
- SPOKO Meditation Bench
Best Meditation Chair For You
When it comes to what you need in a meditation chair you have to ask yourself a few questions.
- Do you need back support?
- Do you need knee support?
- Do you need bum support?
- Do you want to be close to the ground?
- Do you want to be elevated?
Meditation chairs come in all different sizes and models. Some people might prefer a meditation bench because its hard and rigid. Others might lean toward a soft cushion style chair or something that offers a little bit more back support. Maybe you like to be as close to the ground as possible or perhaps you like the feeling of being elevated.
There are some people that can sit cross legged with a straight back and perfect posture for long periods of time with no pain or discomfort. I am not one of those people. I decided to get myself a chair that could offer me posture support when meditating for long periods of time, and I am very happy that I did.
I could just sit on a normal chair and there’s nothing wrong with that at all, but there is something about being close to the ground that I happen to like. Ask yourself those questions and you will be able to choose the best chair that will suit your individual needs.
Benefits Of Using A Meditation Chair
The single greatest thing about meditation is that it can be practised anytime, anywhere, by anyone and at no cost. There are plenty of accessories you could buy to enhance your meditation practice, most of them are not really needed to keep it up but a meditation chair however can be seen as an investment into your practice and here’s why.
A meditation chair creates a dedicated space
A place that you know in your heart brings you peace when you just think about it. Even if you don’t have a dedicated room for your practice you will have your chair and your chair will become your meditation space. Having a meditation chair in the corner of your room will help you to make that space feel a little bit more official. Even when you move your chair to another place or you happen to be travelling, the chair is the symbol of peace and tranquility.
Your meditation chair will act as a visual reminder
I have a kettle-bell in my office right next to my computer screen. The kettle-bell acts as a visual reminder to me that I have to work out. When i see the kettle-bell I get excited about exercise and the prospect of fitness. The same thing applies to my meditation chair, when I see it in the corner of my room it reminds me that I need to meditate. It even makes me feel peaceful just looking at it and has the power to put me in a calmer state.
Improves comfort and removes distraction
I have spent many hours sitting in an uncomfortable position while meditating. I know from experience that this can be distracting and counterproductive to your practice. When you are comfortable there will be one less thing to distract you. I do understand that pain and discomfort is part of acceptance and meditation, but if the pain is excruciating then I would suggest an alternative and look into getting a meditation seat with back support.
8 Of The Best Meditation Chairs On The Market
There are many beautiful and fancy meditation chairs in the world. We’ve rounded up 8 different chairs for you to have a look at. They are in no particular order and their prices vary.
Most of these seats are made specifically for meditation and some have multiple use cases, but all of them offer outstanding back support for those who need it most. Continue reading to get an idea of some of the best chairs on the market today.
BonVIVO Easy II Padded Floor
The Bon VIVO is a fantastic entry level meditation floor chair that has an adjustable back rest and can be locked into your favourite position. It offers you maximum comfort with its conforming PE and PU foam design.
Not only is it a practical floor chair with back support it’s easily transportable and can be stored with ease.
Pros
- It is universal and can be used for a multitude of things
- Offers 5 variable positions for back support
- Easy to transport
Cons
- Lower quality materials
- Its not a long term solution
- In some ways, its fragile
Back Jack Floor Chair
The Back Jack floor chair is lightweight and it has great padding for sitting on hard floors for long periods of time. You can recline the chair slightly for a more comfortable sit.
Although this floor chair was not created with meditation in mind it does serve the purpose of meditation very well.
The Back Jack is an affordable and reliable meditation floor chair with back support that won’t leave you in pain for shorter sessions. However, it will not be suited for longer meditation sittings and you might experience some strain on the lower back. if you are planning on doing shorter meditations this back jack floor chair might be the right choice.
Pros
- Has neck support
- Comfortable cushion seat
- Multipurpose chair
- Small and easy to transport
- Easily assembled
Cons
- Does not correct your meditation posture
- Not suitable for long sittings
- Does not correct your med
Zen’s Bamboo Floor seat
The Zen bamboo floor seat will look great in any environment and is suited for someone that prefers to be slightly elevated from the ground.
It has a very sturdy design and its fitted with a firm cushion that will provide the needed comfort for your meditations.
The entire chair is made with bamboo, making it the most Eco-Friendly chair on this list
Pros
- Beautiful aesthetic design
- Comfortable sponge cushion
- Sturdy and strong design
- Eco friendly
Cons
- Back support not cushioned
- Some people report the chair to be uncomfortable (body dependant)
Alexia Meditation Seat
The alexia meditation seat was designed from the ground up to give you the best support while meditating and sitting for long periods of time. The ergonomic style of this chair will provide you a comfortable sit from beginning to end. This is one of the top chairs on the list because it forces your body into the correct posture for meditation. A wonderful and thoughtful design makes this chair a comfortable and relaxing experience.
The chair is designed so your hips are angled in such a way it forces you to automatically sit with a straight back. Best of all, your legs and knees don’t feel the pressure of your body at all making this the best meditation chair for bad knees. This chair is handcrafted with attention to detail and comes in a variety of colors and fabrics.
Pros
- Various design choices
- Ergonomic design
- Prolonged comfort for long sits
- Handcrafted
- Supports your body in all the right places
Cons
- Not very travel-wise
- Not foldable for easy storage
- One of the more expensive options
Gaiam Rattan Meditation Chair
The Gaiam Rattan looks beautiful and is very comfortable to sit on. The chair features a tall back for ergonomic support and has a meditation focused design. It is a chair that elevates you from the ground just enough so you wont feel like you are to high up.
The natural cotton cushion cover can be removed for easy washing. It is a solid chair and will fit into any meditation environment. To me its not just a chair but a statement and solidification to your practice.
Pros
- Great back support
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Washable cushion cover
- Rugged and solid
Cons
- Not ideal for the outdoors
- Not easily portable
Friends of Meditation
This chair is my personal favourite and is designed by Swami Dhyan Unmesh (Osho Meditation Facilitator) if you are looking for a chair with designed by a meditation guru, this is the obvious choice.
It is the perfect meditation chair for bad knees and back support. This chair is portable, foldable and only weighs 5 pounds. It is a large sized chair but dont let that put you off, the comfort levels achieved in this design are top notch.
Pros
- Created with meditation in mind
- Helps to correct your meditation posture
- Very comfortable
- Foldable
Cons
- It is a large chair
- Not easy to transport, but still possible
BirdRock
The Bird Rock is as comfortable as it looks. Designed with high quality memory foam and plush fabric you wont be uncomfortable at all. Imagine sitting on a pillow and you will know what the Bird Rock offers.
Adjustable to up to 14 positions making it very versatile as a meditation chair with back support. It is also a multipurpose chair like many of the other chairs on this list.
Pros
- Memory foam
- Multipurpose chair
- Adjustable to 14 positions
Cons
- Not very portable
- Does not support knees very well
Spoko Meditation Bench
The Spoko meditation stool is simple but effective in providing you with optimum comfort for your lower back and knees. It is designed to be ergonomic and has been made with meditation in mind. This portable meditation chair could be a great addition to your practice.
These benches are hand crafted out of birch wood, therefore each bench is unique
Pros
- Perfect ergonomics
- It is very versatile
- Hand-crafted
- Transportable and lightweight
Cons
- Might be the most comfortable for long sitting
- What you see is what you get
In Conclusion
A meditation chair is not essential to your practice but I did find that after I got myself a chair I could sit longer and stay more focused.
I hope this article has shed some light on the different chairs available to you and the benefits of using a chair for your meditation practice.
