Meditation bench

A meditation bench is a small, low bench, usually angled slightly forward, designed to be straddled while kneeling so the seat takes the body's weight instead of the ankles and shins pressing into the floor. It offers a different route to the same upright seated posture a zafu provides, and some people find it more comfortable for the knees and ankles over a long sit.

The angled seat tilts the pelvis forward slightly, which helps keep the spine naturally upright without conscious effort, similar to the effect a zafu has by raising the hips. Folding benches are common for anyone who needs to store or travel with one, while fixed benches tend to feel sturdier for daily use at home.

The usual point of confusion is assuming a bench suits everyone better than a cushion, when the right choice really comes down to individual hip and ankle flexibility. Some people find a bench relieves knee pressure that a cushion does not, while others find the kneeling position itself less comfortable than sitting cross-legged on a zafu.