How to Make a Meditation Bench

Meditation benches can be costly, and the pleasure of building your own bench for meditation can be a fun and fulfilling process.  These are instructions for a rocking meditation bench, which allows the kneeler to adjust the amount of lean the bench has at any given time.  This has been the style that I have had the most success with in terms of comfort.  The model also includes instructions for building in padding, so no pillows are needed!

Materials:
Wood 1X5.5, 31'' total length
Padding cut to about 12''X12'' (I use a retired Ridge Rest sleeping pad but anything will do)
Scrap fabric cut to about 14''X14'' (Tough fabric such as heavy canvas or upholstery fabric is recommended)
3/4'' wood screws (24 count)
1.5'' brackets (6 count)
Upholstery tacks (up to 20 count)

Tools:
Hacksaw
Vice
Coping saw
Wood file
Level
Ruler
Pencil
Sanding block (or sandpaper)
Screwdriver
Paper to cut leg pattern
Wood stain of your choice

Step 1: Cut Bench Pieces

With the hacksaw, simply cut two leg pieces* (5.5 inches) and one bench piece (19 inches).

*I am 5'10'' and the 5.5 leg height works perfectly.  If you are taller, you can go up to 6'', but keep in mind that the bench and the padding will add some height.  The rocking aspect of this bench makes it quite versatile for people of all sizes.

Comments

[startree]

fantastic idea, love the rocking option while meditating! thanks :)

[privatier]

For those who prefer a well defined shape for the curved leg, here is the solution. You can construct the lines directly on the inside of the legs. The bottom consists of a bit more than half an ellipse. Draw the vertical and horizontal auxiliary lines as shown in the picture. Clamp the board to the table. Drive the two nails into the board. Place the knot in the string such that when pulled straight the two sides are exactly 4.5 inches. Then lay the loop around the nails. Pull on the outside end, place a pen at the knot (I used a felt pen, that's why the knot area is black). Keep pulling on the string and move it with a circular motion with one hand and keep the pen in contact with the board, to achieve the perfect ellipse. Check that the string stays close to where the nails meet the board surface. Add the two tangents to the ellipse. This method works for small and large ellipses, narrow and wide ones, determined by the position of the nails and the length of the string.

[Horizons7]

Okay here is a pic of the bench I made. I already had the wood on hand so the project cost me about $30 since I bought a more expensive fabric (1/2 yard) plus I got an 8oz can of polycrylic to coat the wood without changing the color just giving it a nice gloss. I gave it 3 full coats, using a heat gun in between to speed up the drying process to a few minutes. The wood looks super shinny now. The upholstery pins were a pain with about half of them bending/breaking so I had to go back to the store to get more. I also bought a firm foam as the cushion. I'm shorter (5'6") s I think a leg height of 5" would have been better but 5.5" works fine especially since I rounded the legs. The hardest part was putting on the upholstery with the foam. It tool 2 tries with the second time using the staple gun to secure the foam down.

This is my first project I've done of Instructables. Thank you uferious I will be getting a lot of enjoyment and use out the bench.

[bencher]

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your plans for a meditation bench. Soon after I studied your plans I developed my own plans and built my own bench for practically free from mostly materials I already had around. That was a few months ago. Now I include meditation with my yoga sessions . Together they take about 20 minutes twice a day . I do it for my own mental and physical health. It has been a good thing. I feel better and feel like it has been very worthwhile.

[11Serenity11]

Thanks for sharing this. I understand the curve at the bottom of the legs is for adjusting one's position during meditation and was wondering if there is also a performance reason for the curve at the top of the legs, or is it only an aesthetic preference? Thanks.

[uferlos]

Thanks for the comment! I am not sure if I understand the question fully, but I'll try to answer and please feel free to respond again if I didn't get you the info that you need...

The legs are narrower at the top than at the bottom for the most part so they fit better to the seat. And yes, I would say this is for aesthetic purposes more than function. The tops of the legs aren't curved so much as narrowed. When I think about it, I don't think performance would be affected by leaving the legs as wide at the top as the lower portion of the leg. I'd love to see what you come up with if you decide to give it a try!

[11Serenity11]

That answers my question perfectly, thanks.

[ChrysN]

Nice bench! I made a meditation bench a while ago, but it is straight at the bottom, I can see that the rounded bottom would be helpful. Perhaps I should put padding on it too, good idea!

[uferlos]

Thanks for the comment. I find the slight rock offers just enough room for me to shift from one sitting to the next.

[loricollins]

Nice bench. I made one a long time ago with legs attached by hinges so that it would fold and store flat. I love the idea of padding!

[uferlos]

Thanks for the comment. I've seen the hinged version as well and think it a grand idea. Unfortunately the benches with hinges that I've come in contact with were poorly enough constructed that they collapsed under meditators! I wanted to avoid that possibility all together. The one I constructed here is also small enough to tuck into carry-on luggage!

[Stone6]

Class seat, too the such I want, as though you sit, but during too time in a lap. Very much trains.