Meditation Bench- Acacia wood B

The cushion is comfortable and thick, but the bench wasn't as stable as I'd hoped, and I think this is one of those situations where the concept is good but the execution requires much greater control over manufacturing processes. I was never able to sit on the bench and feel stable or secure. But the two stars aren't on account of the product quality. It could be that another user finds the bench just right for their needs. I gave it two stars on account of the enormous difficulty I had in returning the product. It took me six interactions (four pick-up schedules canceled) before I was finally able to get rid of it. What should have been a simple return led to considerable hassle for no reason. I finally secured an advance refund and lo and behold,. the bench was picked up the next day. I've rarely had any problem with Amazon pick-up, so I don't think the issue is from Amazon's side.

About a month ago, I switched from a meditation cushion to a meditation bench with angled pedestal legs (a different bench, not this one). I had purchased this other bench about 15 years ago, but just started using it a month ago. (I stayed loyal to my meditation cushion until my knees prompted me otherwise). Right away, I noticed that my ability to elongate my spine, sit still and breathe fully improved. This inspired me to investigate the world of meditation benches. I learned that good variety of consciously created meditation benches are available now. The single new feature that stood out was rounded legs. I wondered about the pros and cons and came across this Q&A: Question: "Angled or rounded legs, which is better for your meditation bench?" Answer: "The angled legs will give your meditation bench a firm foundation as it keeps your bench at a fixed angle. The rounded legs give you the flexibility to have your meditation bench at whichever angle you choose." Essentially, this means that rounded legs offer improved capacity for extended sit times. (For example, for long duration sitting--such as a Vipassana retreat or 8+ hours of sitting per day--the rounded-leg bench was recommended). I meditate about 30-60 minutes twice a day. With the fixed angle bench I notice that after an hour my lower legs start to fall asleep. I suspect this bench by Meditation Designs may allow me to extend that. This bench compelled me for several reasons--including features, rounded and angled legs, quality, attention to detail, reviews, and price tag. It was an easy experiment to say "yes" to. I'm so glad I did! The bench arrived this afternoon and it's beyond what I imagined. It's well crafted--the perfect marriage of beauty and function. Both sides (the higher and lower) are an excellent fit for my 5'10" frame. It's sturdy, stable, and a pleasure sit on. I'm about to sit for my evening meditation after posting this. If, over time, I find that I can consistently extend meditation times, I'll endeavor to remember to update this review. THANK YOU, Meditation Designs. I love this exquisite bench. Sincere gratitude! Very best wishes always and blessings to all who read this.

Good bench i can finally keep my back straight!

I like this meditation bench. I recommend reading through all the reviews and reading the instructions. It seems that many people don't know what to expect when they buy it. I have found this to be the best way for me to meditate. I can stay upright easier for longer than just on a chair and my legs don't take to cross legged poses and beyond. I've meditated up to an hour on it and the most sore part of me is my upper back and that's only because my back isn't yet strong enough to stay upright for that long yet and gets tired towards the end of my sessions. The cushion is ok. It feels much better than not having a cushion in my opinion. I've messed with the angle on both sides and still the seat doesn't hit my bottom quite right and hits the back edge. So, it could have a better shape for me and perhaps a bit more padding, but, really, once I'm settled, I don't notice any of that. Perhaps if it was 100% comfy I'd get sleepy more easily. Since I am angled forward on it, when I'm getting sleepy, I will start to fall forward, which I very much prefer to falling backwards which can happen when I'm in a chair. This is a good thing, because part of the reason for sitting up to meditate is to keep you awake. I was concerned about my knees, but I have no discomfort in them at all when I use this at the right angle for me. I folded two bath towels and laid them on the floor under this since I have no carpeting and this is sufficient. I also keep a towel or something behind it to lay over my feet and tuck under me when it's cold in the room. Sometimes I'll wear my robe and tie the belt loosely just below where I put my lands folded in my lap to keep them from sliding down my legs or I'll fold them and tuck them in the notch between my belly and my upper thighs if I'm wearing jeans. Sometimes they won't slide, but usually I need to keep them from sliding by putting a piece of cloth there or something, which I don't mind. This is so much more comfortable than using a chair and it keeps me awake, so I'm pleased. If you are doing a body scan meditation, I've found this angle on the knees is comfortable for that. I find some of the postures that feel more binding or out of alignment through me off in those and was concerned that might be an issue with this, but it isn't. This one is definitely worth taking a risk on. Take a few days to try to find the right angle for you and the right amount of padding underneath. I think it took me about a week to find my angle and for my knees to be happy with it and now they never both me. It does take me a few moments to find the right angle each time and it takes my body a few moments to settle in, but once I'm settled it doesn't distract me. I'm 5' 7" and have used it comfortably between 130 and 150 lbs on the shorter side of the bench.

Best Meditation Bench I've used hands down. I am 6 feet tall so this is ideal for me. By turning it you can adjust your height preference. The seat itself is very comfortable so if you do one hour sits this is ideal. Because of the rocking ability of the legs is helps your body settle into place and lock in better. I like the quality of the wood used and craftsmanship.

Waterglider. Well-constructed unit seems to bear weight well. Has a cushion to sit on, does rock back and forth. Nice pray bench. Just hard to store away with no handle.