It has been known for centuries by meditators that sitting in a certain way brings the best results. For some reason or reasons, this ‘meditation posture’ brings on the ‘relaxation response’--decreased muscle tension, lowered heart rate and blood pressure, a deeper breathing pattern, calming of the belly, and a peaceful, pleasant mood. In America we are taught to sit this way during meditation, but only during meditation. In Asian countries where Buddhism is mainstream, so is autonomous sitting (sitting without a chair). Traditionally, the zafu and zabuton were not reserved for spiritual uses, but were used as everyday furniture.

With all the research into somatics and mind/body healing, a growing group of Westerners are discovering that most of the built environment in our homes, work places, and public spaces is harmful to the body. These spaces are designed around a flawed paradigm: that the chair is necessary and the human body cannot support itself without one. Instead, we suffer physical degeneration, back pain, blocked breathing and vitality. This offers a continuous stream of patients to chiropractors, massage therapists, surgeons and pharmaceutical companies.

Combining the healing arts with anthropology, we can for the first time question basic assumptions about why we do what we do.

Indigenous people (the majority of the world's population) continue to live comfortably without using the chair. Even in countries without adequate nutrition, back problems are not as rampant as they are in America. Look at babies and young children. They sit beautifully without chairs. So where--or when--or how-or why-do we lose our ability to sit without a chair?

home | zafu | zabuton | meditation bench | smile cushion | inflatable zafu | tilt seat | bells/clocks | pillows | yoga stuff

home | zafu | zabuton | meditation bench | smile cushion | inflatable zafu | tilt seat | bells/clocks | pillows | yoga stuff