If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best meditation bench for Seiza Pose is, then I’d recommend the Mindful and Modern Folding Meditation Bench as the best one.
Most of us know by now that seiza pose has its origins in Japan.
This pose was originally used to show respect when attending certain functions, particularly those in the presence of an individual of power.
In the modern world, while this pose is often still used to show respect, it has also become a part of meditation practices throughout the world.
The reasoning behind this is that sitting seiza is an easy way to improve your posture, engage your core, and interact with Spirit all at the same time.
Today, we have the added benefit of having access to some of the best mediation benches around, so we don’t have to sit around on numb legs as they once did.
Here are the top meditation benches we’ll be reviewing:
- Acacia Wood Meditation Bench by Meditation Designs
- Still Sitting Nomad Meditation Bench
- Mindful and Modern Folding Meditation Bench
- BLUECONY IKUKO Original Meditation Bench
- Adjustable Seiza Meditation Bench
How to Select the Best Meditation Bench
When it comes to meditation, not just any old bench will do.
You need a bench that’s the right height to be beneficial to you, but also something that helps you feel more connected when meditating.
If you’re unsure of what you should be looking for in a mediation bench, read on to learn the key factors that you should keep in mind while shopping around.
Learn the Benefits of Seiza Pose
Sitting seiza has proven to have many benefits, both to our spiritual well-being and to our health.
Known benefits of seiza pose include:
- Assists in correcting bowed legs.
- Trains and strengths core abdominal and back muscles.
- Helps with fixing bad posture.
- Slows down your heart rate.
- Naturally calms your Spirit.
- Can relieve lower back pain by taking pressure off of decompressed areas.
- Helps loosen stiff shoulders.
- Increases your level of concentration.
- Promotes wakefulness.
- Improves circulation throughout most of the body.
If you aren’t already incorporating seiza pose into your meditation practices, now may be a good time to start.
Other meditation poses can quickly become uncomfortable, particularly for those with joint issues.
While the seiza pose may seem like it would be hard on your joints, due to having some pressure on your knees, the position is actually wildly misleading.
Many who practice yoga and meditation claim that sitting seiza actually helps take the pressure off their knees!
However, many still choose to incorporate a bench into their meditation practices to further relieve joint pressure.
Why You Should Use a Bench
You would likely benefit from using a meditation bench if you are one of those suffering from arthritis, worn down cartilage, or knee or back injuries that never healed quite right.
Even if you don’t already suffer from these issues, it’s important to note the one downside of seiza pose that affects most people.
When sitting in this position for longer than 5 minutes, oxygen concentration in the lower legs drops considerably.
This is understandable, as sitting seiza requires you to have your legs bent at a sharp angle, which constricts blood flow to the lower extremities.
However, this results in that tingly, numb sensation that we all know and dread.
This unfortunate “side effect” can be addressed, and can often be avoided when incorporating a bench into your meditation practices.
Incorporating a Bench in Meditation Practices
Those who are new to meditating often use benches in the wrong manner. Benches are not typically intended to be knelt on.
You should also avoid sitting in an upright position on your bench (unless otherwise noted), as most benches are designed to support only part of your weight.
While there are benches that can be used in a variety of positions, most benches tend to be most helpful when sitting seiza.
When you are in this position, your lower legs and your core will support a great deal of your weight.
Essentially, you want to aim to be in the kneeling position, with your hips coming into close alignment with your feet.
Incorporating a meditation bench can make everything about this position easier.
If your struggles are anything like mine, then you know full and well what a pain it can be to get out of this position, especially if both of your legs have fallen asleep!
With a bench that is at the proper height for your body type, numb and tingling legs can now be a thing of your past.
When using your bench, be sure that you have it in the proper position. The side of the bench that is angled towards the floor should be closest to your body.
If you have your bench facing the wrong direction, there’s too high a chance that it could break from supporting more weight than what it was intended for.
Search for Key Qualities
On your quest for the best meditation bench, there are a few key qualities you may want to keep in mind. Of course, your checklist may not look like the next persons.
With that in mind, I’m sure that some qualities in this checklist will rank higher on the totem pole for you than others will.
Essential Questions to Ask
Regardless of what type of bench you are looking for, here are the key things you should be asking yourself:
- Is the base curved? Some people love a cursed base as it allows more movement, while others find it to be annoying and problematic.
- Is the bench padded? A bit of padding can certainly make meditating more comfortable. However, too much padding can raise you up to high and cause unnecessary back and hip pain.
- Is it portable? Portable benches are far more convenient than stationary benches. However, they are also more likely to break down sooner.
- Is it versatile? You may be searching for a bench that can assist you in multiple poses, not just seiza. Research carefully if you need a versatile bench, as many meditation benches won’t support someone’s full body weight.
- How tall is it? Pay close attention to this when selecting a bench. You want the bench to be at the appropriate height for your own height and weight. Remember that if you have thick calves or are over 6’ tall, you will likely need a bench with a higher clearance.
Now that you know what to keep in mind, you’re armed and ready to start shopping for that perfect meditation bench!
Best Meditation Bench Review
I’m the last person who would tell you what you should and should not do with your money.
However, when it comes to finding the best meditation bench, I can give you all of the fast facts and steer you in the right direction.
In the following reviews, you’ll find just about everything you need to know to make the choice on which bench would be the perfect addition to your meditation practices.
Acacia Wood Meditation Bench by Meditation Designs
Are you on the search for that perfect bench that you can use in your at-home meditation practices?
If you’ve already got a trusty portable bench and are looking for a durable piece of furniture in your home, then you may want to consider the Acacia Wood Meditation Bench by Meditation Designs.
While this bench can certainly be taken to weekly meditation practices, it isn’t at all ideal for air travel. This is due to the fact that this is a non-folding bench.
If you choose to purchase Meditation Designs’ bench, you will want to keep one key factor in mind.
Many customers love the rounded and angled legs on this bench because it allows them to easily shift position during meditation.
However, this same feature causes the bench to slip out from other individuals, unless they add some type of gripping material to the bottom of the legs.
Pros
- Handmade using sturdy acacia wood.
- Rounded and angled legs.
- Cushioned seat provides extra comfort.
- Supports proper hip and back alignment.
- Comes in three different color options.
- Reasonable price.
- Has two heights of 6” and 7”.
Cons
- Legs are smooth and slick, causing it to easily slip away.
- Not ideal for customers over 5’10” or with thick calves, due to the low height.
- Many complain that the low height and slick legs make standing back up quite difficult.
- Fabric quickly tears free of the staples securing it.
- It does not fold, so transportation can be difficult.
Still Sitting Nomad Meditation Bench
The Still Sitting Nomad Meditation Bench is by far the sleekest design in the line-up, and that’s no coincidence. We can thank the Norwegian architect, Asmund Skard, for combining style and support in the same design.
Sure, you’ll have to cough up a little more cash for this particular model, but it seems to be well worth the cost.
When browsing for the best meditation bench, don’t be too quick to rule out this option due to its delicate appearance.
Looks can be deceiving, after all. When it comes to this elegant design, you would be poorly mistaken to assume that it wouldn’t suffice for taller or more robust customers.
In fact, there are two different sizes available to address just this issue.
Multiple customers weighing over 220 pounds or who exceed 6’ in height swear by the large version of the Still Sitting Nomad Meditation Bench.
Pros
- Comes in two different height options, ranging 5”-9.5” and 6”-11”.
- Available in two different colors.
- Surprisingly adjustable.
- Easy to transport due to its lightweight design and ability to fold flat.
- Features a stylish design.
- Provides a surprising amount of support for up to 240+ pounds.
- Ideal for retreats and long meditation sessions.
- Can be used by a wide range of body types.
- Provides spinal support and comfort.
Cons
- Very expensive.
- Challenging to find the proper seat adjustment, due to the Velcro seat fixture.
- Design is too delicate and the thin feet can too easily break when too much weight is put on the bench.
Mindful and Modern Folding Meditation Bench
When on the prowl for the best meditation bench around, I was tempted to end my search after stumbling upon this little gem, the Mindful and Modern Folding Meditation Bench.
Do you need a bench that’s perfect for traveling to seminars? That’s no problem with this model that features hinged legs that easily fold flat.
It even comes with a convenient carrying case that you can just toss in the wash when it gets dirty.
Perhaps, like me, you’re very focused on the price point. Well, I’ve got even more good news for you: this model should easily fit into your budget.
It’s a clear bonus that Mindful and Modern intentionally uses bamboo wood to create their masterpieces, as the last thing they want to do is add to the problem of deforestation.
I know, it sounds great so far. But we all know that several benches out there are only suitable for shorter individuals who are under a certain weight.
Well, you can rest assured knowing that customers weighing up to 200 pounds and who are up to 6’ tall use this bench in their daily meditation practices.
Perhaps the only thing that could make this bench better is if it were offered in the next size up.
Pros
- Made from bamboo wood.
- Designed to fold down flat for easy transport.
- Comes with a convenient, machine-washable, carrying case.
- Very cost-effective.
- Angled seat helps bring spine into proper alignment.
- Company offers a 60-day money back guarantee.
- Features an eye-catching lotus engraving.
- Helps take pressure off of the lower back and knees.
- Designed with quality and durability in mind.
Cons
- Only comes in one size, with the maximum height reaching 7.5”
BLUECONY IKUKO Original Meditation Bench
We have finally come to the most evenly weighted bench in the running, the BLUECONY IKUKO Original Meditation Bench.
However, seeing just as many downsides as positives isn’t exactly good news to those who are on the prowl for the best product out there.
This bench is so evenly weighted, that even the worthiness of its key feature is debated by customers.
BLUECONY IKUKO is the only company in this list to employ ergonomic and posture specialists to help engineer their product.
While the idea is for the extreme arch of the seat to naturally and perfectly align your spine over your pelvis, it doesn’t quite accomplish that.
Sure, some customers say that it works great for their body type.
However, for every praise, there are just as many complaints that the severity of the angle causes discomfort and for the user to slip forward during their practices.
I don’t know about you, but for me, constantly slipping off of my seat would be a pretty constant distraction when trying to go deeper in meditation.
The sheer number of downsides to this product, paired with how regularly customers have had issues, certainly made me question whether it’s even worth the price tag.
Pros
- Comes in three different height options of: 6”, 7” and 8”.
- Choice of two different wood finishes.
- The curved and angled seat works to naturally bring your hips and spine into proper alignment.
- Features removable legs and a travel bag for easy transportation.
Cons
- Not offered in a height that is suitable for those under 5’1 or over 6’1.
- Durability is lacking, especially in the construction of the removable legs.
- Not a very cost-friendly option.
- Not practical for individuals weighing more than 190 pounds.
Adjustable Seiza Meditation Bench
The Adjustable Seiza Meditation Bench model has certainly got to win the prize for the most interesting design in the line-up.
At first glance, I thought it was some sort of pogo stick. At second glance, I still seriously wondered if the seat would bounce as I used it.
Alas, the seat does not bounce. However, its curved base does allow for the user to easily shift positions.
It’s also important to note here that this is one of the rare benches that was designed to be used in a variety of meditation poses.
It was also shocking to learn that despite this little gadget weighing less than a pound; it is regularly used by customers weighing up to 280 pounds!
Who would have thought that such a lightweight bench could support such a large weight?!
The primary complaint that customers have is that there is a lack of seat padding and that they wished the manufacturer added two extra notches for further seat adjustment.
However, with such a new and simple design, there’s hope that the company will soon incorporate these simple fixes.
If you’re new to meditation or looking for a simple option to easily take on your travels, then I recommend taking the extra minute to investigate this quirky gadget just a bit further.
Pros
- Curved base allows your spine to find the correct alignment in multiple positions.
- Adjusts to three different heights between 6” and 8”.
- Designed to be disassembled and transported easily.
- Allows you to place your feet close together in seiza pose.
Cons
- Has a weight limit of 200 pounds.
- Does not come with a carrying case, despite being advertised as portable.
- The seat is not very wide and can be uncomfortable for those with wider hips.
Overall Best Meditation Bench
Remember that the best meditation bench for me may not be the best for you.
With that being said, this was a pretty tough call for me to make.
The determining factor had to come down to price, as I fully recognized that the Still Sitting Nomad and Mindful and Modern benches were both tough competitors.
While I wish that Mindful and Modern had an additional height option, I love the price point and the folding mechanism.
It certainly seems to be one of the most durable folding benches that I have come across.
Ultimately, I realize that I can pair this with a zafu or other cushion to address the height issue if I find that it doesn’t leave enough room for my calves.
It’s a huge bonus for me that I can do that and still not come close to the price point of the Still Sitting Nomad meditation bench.
When designing this bench, this company had everything in mind.
Not only is it stylish, but it also features an angled seat that will naturally align the spine, as well as a bonus carrying case!
Since they’re offering this bench at such an affordable price, there really isn’t much else I could ask for.
