Gaiam Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion, Ergonomic Buckwheat Hull Floor Pillow (Purple) Review (2026)

What a zafu does

A zafu is a round meditation cushion shaped to lift and tilt the hips forward, which helps the lower back find its natural curve and keeps the spine stacked upright without the constant muscular effort that sitting flat on the floor demands. Gaiam builds this one specifically around that ergonomic shape, positioning it as a first cushion for people moving from a chair or couch into regular seated meditation or floor based yoga practice. Because the design goal is posture support rather than pure softness, it works best paired with an intention to sit upright for a stretch of time, rather than as a general purpose floor pillow for lounging or reading.

Buckwheat fill and adjustability

The cushion is filled with buckwheat hulls, a material that holds its shape under sustained weight far better than foam or polyester fiber fill, which tends to compress flat over months of daily sitting. Gaiam's listing for this cushion states it measures about 13 inches across, and the fill sits inside an internal zippered bag, so hulls can be added or removed to fine tune firmness and seat height to the individual sitting on it. That adjustability is one of the real practical advantages buckwheat filled zafus have over fixed foam cushions, since a firmer, higher fill suits someone with tighter hips while a slightly lower fill suits someone more flexible.

Cover and care

The outer cover is a removable microfiber material with a built in carry handle, and Gaiam recommends removing the zippered cover, turning it inside out, and machine washing it separately in cold water on a gentle cycle before hanging it to dry. That washable cover matters for a prop that sits in direct contact with skin during long meditation sessions, and it also means the purple colorway shown here can be kept looking fresh over years of regular use rather than only a season or two. The buckwheat hull interior itself should stay dry and out of direct sun, since hulls can degrade with repeated moisture exposure.

Brand availability and value

Gaiam is a widely distributed wellness brand, and that scale matters for a prop like this because replacement covers, refill hulls and matching zabuton floor mats are easier to track down than they would be for a small independent meditation cushion maker. The listing does not give an exact seat height once filled, which is worth noting for taller users trying to judge whether it will lift the hips enough relative to a taller bench style option, but the tradeoff for buckwheat and microfiber over more premium organic cotton and USA made competitors is a lower price point that keeps this accessible as a first meditation cushion.

Where it ranks against rivals

In this site's meditation cushion guide, this model ranks seventh out of eight, behind cushions from Bean Products, Mindful and Modern, a large zabuton and zafu set, SAMAYA and Waterglider International, most of which lean on thicker cotton covers or USA manufacturing as a selling point. Its place near the bottom of that particular field reflects real competition rather than a flaw in the cushion itself, since Gaiam still delivers the core buckwheat and ergonomic shape formula that defines this category, just without the premium materials or domestic manufacturing story that the higher ranked options use to stand out. For a first zafu bought through a mainstream retailer, it remains a reasonable, easy to find choice.

Frequently asked questions