What chair do you use when you meditate?

While you might use floor cushions when you want to tune out the world and access your inner voice, this isn’t always comfortable so it’s a good idea to purchase a meditation chair instead.

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9.2
9.0
8.8
9.0
8.9
N/A
N/A
$19.95 ($19.95 / Count)
$14.95 ($14.95 / Count)
$24.99 ($24.99 / Count)
Velvet, silk-satin
Organic cotton
Organic cotton
Organic cotton
Cotton, flannel
Lavender
Lavender
Lavender
Lavender
Unscented
0.57 lbs
0.56 lbs
0.52 lbs
0.56 lbs
0.49 lbs
9.2
N/A
Velvet, silk-satin
Lavender
0.57 lbs
9.0
N/A
Organic cotton
Lavender
0.56 lbs
8.8
$19.95 ($19.95 / Count)
Organic cotton
Lavender
0.52 lbs
9.0
$14.95 ($14.95 / Count)
Organic cotton
Lavender
0.56 lbs
8.9
$24.99 ($24.99 / Count)
Cotton, flannel
Unscented
0.49 lbs
03/11/2024 09:29 pm GMT

Eye pillows for yoga are made for much more than just downward positions.

Between aromatherapy, nervous system relief, relaxation, and comfort, you’re investing such a little amount to reap so many benefits.

We’re going to go over the five best yoga eye pillows, why they’re so fantastic, and discuss the benefits you can expect to see from the added weight, relaxing scents, and pressure.

If you’re currently looking to make your yoga more relaxing and better for your mental health, yoga eye pillows are the way to go.https://naturesoundretreat.com/bestbuyingguides/relaxing-music/

Best Yoga Eye Pillows – Reviews & Buying guide for 2021

Best Overall: Emiana Lavender Scented Yoga Eye Pillow


EMIANA LAVENDER SCENTED YOGA EYE PILLOW


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Blissful Being takes two spots on this list, and you’ll quickly see why.

With a fantastic weight hovering between 8.0 and 9.0 ounces, as well as a 100% organic cotton composition, it has the right weight, texture, and feeling of warmth that you want while you’re in downward positions during yoga.

Organic cotton is soft, but usually hard to maintain. Blissful Being uses a strong fabric that stands the test of time, but it didn’t exactly beat Emiana because this pillow cannot be machine washed.

The one thing it does have as an advantage is being filled with flaxseed, and having a zipper compartment so you can replace it as necessary.

We go into further detail about the benefits of flaxseed filling in our buying guide below, but suffice to say, Blissful Being did a great job choosing a quality flaxseed for the filling.

The lavender aroma is something you’ll find in a lot of yoga eye pillows, but here it’s a lot stronger, so depending on your scent sensitivity it might be a little jarring right out of the box.

It’s a great all-around pillow that just comes in under the Emiana eye pillow by a tidbit, and ends up being around the same cost, so it comes down to preference for filling and for the exterior sleeve.

Product specifications

  • Material: Velvet, silk-satin
  • Scent: Lavender
  • Weight: 0.57 lbs

Runner Up: Blissful Being Namaste Yoga Eye Pillow


BLISSFUL BEING NAMASTE YOGA EYE PILLOW


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Blissful Being takes two spots on this list, and you’ll quickly see why.

With a fantastic weight hovering between 8.0 and 9.0 ounces, as well as a 100% organic cotton composition, it has the right weight, texture, and feeling of warmth that you want while you’re in downward positions during yoga.

Organic cotton is soft, but usually hard to maintain. Blissful Being uses a strong fabric that stands the test of time, but it didn’t exactly beat Emiana because this pillow cannot be machine washed.

The one thing it does have as an advantage is being filled with flaxseed, and having a zipper compartment so you can replace it as necessary.

We go into further detail about the benefits of flaxseed filling in our buying guide below, but suffice to say, Blissful Being did a great job choosing a quality flaxseed for the filling.

The lavender aroma is something you’ll find in a lot of yoga eye pillows, but here it’s a lot stronger, so depending on your scent sensitivity it might be a little jarring right out of the box.

It’s a great all-around pillow that just comes in under the Emiana eye pillow by a tidbit, and ends up being around the same cost, so it comes down to preference for filling and for the exterior sleeve.

Product specifications

  • Material: Organic cotton
  • Scent: Lavender
  • Weight: 0.56 lbs

Alternative: Lotus Weighted Lavender Eye Pillow


LOTUS WEIGHTED LAVENDER EYE PILLOW


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Lotus fell right in the middle for us, and one of the reasons for that is the organic cotton. It’s great, but just a punch under Blissful Being’s Namaste Yoga Eye Pillow.

That being said, it’s still comfortable and better than 99% of yoga eye pillows out there, but we’re talking about the top five here—every little detail matters.

The organic cotton is spot-on: soft, comfortable, and breathable. Without having so much processing, there isn’t this overly tight, suffocated feeling to the fabric, which makes it great for yoga eye pillows.

Lotus gives you a nice storage bag as well, which doesn’t brush against the fabric in an abrasive way (this can fray the fabric in cheaper bags).

It’s a heavier pillow at 8.47 oz—you’ll find that most yoga eye pillows range from about 6 oz to 9 oz, but being on the higher end of that matters.

Since yoga eye pillows stimulate the vagus nerve, it’s important to have the right amount of pressure on there when you’re supposed to. For some of us, lighter pillows just don’t feel anywhere near as good.

We talk about Blissful Being having multifaceted uses, but Lotus also has some tricks up their sleeves—you can actually microwave this pillow and heat it up accordingly to soothe sore spots on your body, making it useful for the before, during, and after portions of doing yoga.

It goes the other way as well—toss this in the refrigerator and let it chill for an hour to help cool down your neck after an intense yoga session, or to place over your forehead/sore spots of your body.

The lavender scent will fade a little bit faster depending on temperature conditions, but it still lasts for a surprisingly long time even if you use these little tricks.

Last but not least, Lotus has a wide surface area to help block out light from the edges of the mask.

That means you can use it as an eye mask when you lay down to go to sleep and actually block out any bits of light around the room, helping you relax as you drift off to sleep (lavender helps you sleep, too).

Product specifications

  • Material: Organic cotton
  • Scent: Lavender
  • Weight: 0.52 lbs

Alternative: Blissful Being Lavender Eye Pillow


BLISSFUL BEING LAVENDER EYE PILLOW


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If cotton doesn’t feel good on your face—organic or otherwise—silk is usually the next best option for you to try.

Silk is soft, glides across your skin, and generally feels comforting and smooth. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you enjoy the softer things in life, this is only going to add to your relaxation during your yoga sessions.

Silk requires more care, but Blissful Being has done everything to ensure that it shows up to you in as perfect condition as possible.

Apart from the quality construction, they took attention to detail in one area that a lot of yoga eye pillows just simply didn’t.

It’s small, but still something to keep in mind: the tag. Most of these pillows have that small cloth tag on the edges, but many of them are machine cut and rough.

Even the tag on this pillow is soft, so you don’t have to worry about it brushing against your face and causing any irritation or uncomfortable feeling.

Apart from being comfortable for yoga, it’s actually designed to be an eye mask for sleep as well.

Silk is soft and breathable, so you’ll avoid the pitfalls of other eye masks that leave you feeling too warm while you try to drift off. It’s about as multifunctional as you can get for a pillow.

Available in numerous colors to match the feel you want, Blissful Being is also wildly inexpensive, especially for a silk pillow.

There may not be as much surface coverage as others, but it gets the job done and makes you feel relaxed and comfortable the entire time. As an added benefit, everything is made in the United States, so you’re supporting domestic job growth when you choose Blissful Being.

Product specifications

  • Material: Silk
  • Scent: Lavender
  • Weight: 0.56 lbs

Alternative: Peacegoods Unscented Eye Pillow


PEACEGOODS UNSCENTED EYE PILLOW


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If lavender just isn’t your thing, that’s okay. While it’s definitely used in yoga and relaxation a lot, it’s not a requirement.

There are some of us who are super sensitive to different smells or aromas in general, which is where Peacegoods comes in handy.

Coming in at just underneath eight ounces, Peacegoods offers a fantastic level of weight without the scent.

They’ve gone extra lengths to ensure that there’s no factory smell either (like when you open a new mattress or new pillows—we all know the smell). You should air it out for 24 hours as you should with any pillows, but you’ll notice that right out of the package, it’s completely scent-free.

Apart from agitating your nose with scents, some yoga pillow materials just don’t make your eyelids and face feel good.

Just like how everyone has preferences when it comes to scents, the same can be said for textures and feelings. That’s why Peacegoods went with a blend of cotton and flannel.

You may be thinking, “How is flannel a good idea for a pillow?”, but when you factor in how it feels against your skin and how it adds to that weight, it makes sense.

It gets warm fairly quickly compared to silk, so if you enjoy that warm feeling across your face, cotton and flannel is a superior blend for your specific needs. Silk can glide on your skin, but flannel will stay in place.

Overall, it’s a solid pillow with plenty to love, and not enough praise for being one of the few scent-free options out there for folks like you and I.

Comfortable, useful, and the perfect weight to offer relief on your vagus nerve—Peacegoods lives up to their name.

Product specifications

  • Material: Cotton, flannel
  • Scent: Unscented
  • Weight: 0.49 lbs

Yoga Eye Pillow Buying Guide and FAQ

Yoga eye pillows with removable covers, scented pillows, flaxseed—there’s more to them than you think, so let’s break down everything we need to know about eye pillows and how they affect the vagus nerve.

You may think that these are just comfortable pillows to help you relax, but it’s the how’s and the why’s about these pillows that will blow your mind.

What’s the Best Filling for Eye Pillows?

Eye Pillow Filling

Where can I purchase eye pillows for yoga? That question may have brought you here, but now that you know what to buy, it’s time to find out why.

It’s not just a trend—yoga pillows for your eyes actually have a medical benefit to them, so long as they’re done right.

The best filling for eye pillows is flaxseed. Why? On their own, flaxseed are little and light, but together they keep an even balance.

You can pile them inside of a filling pouch and it will balance out without being too heavy on one side, you know, provided that you lay it properly. Flaxseed are gentle and light, so you can customize the right weight for your vagus nerve.

While you can also use long grain enriched rice instead, or in combination with flaxseed if you make a DIY yoga eye pillow, you’re not going to be able to get the perfect weight the way that manufacturers can.

This is something that’s inexpensive enough that you can justify a purchase instead of a DIY solution.

How Heavy Should an Eye Pillow Be?

Using yoga eye pillows is all about the weight on your eyes, and what it can do for you.

Eye pillows, as you can see from the reviews above, are all relatively around the same size. You’ll find around 5.75 oz up to 9 oz for most eye yoga pillows, and that’s for a good reason.

The benefits of eye pillows during yoga come from the pressure it puts on your vagus nerve, which affects your nervous system.

If you’re here because you’re not sure if eye pillows are worth it for you, please keep in mind that this information is objective and not subjective—you can choose to do with it what you wish.

1. You Have 12 Cranial Nerves

Among those cranial nerves, one of them is the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve directly communicates with your body. Some cranial nerves will only interact with one section of your body, but the vagus nerve communicates with multiple.

It directly affects your digestion, your heart rate, breathing, cardiovascular activity, and reflexes. That’s all pretty big stuff, right? Yoga pillows apply a gentle amount of even pressure to the vagus nerve, which can offer aid to all the systems it affects.

2. Better Digestive Health

Simply put, it affects how your body digests, specifically because of muscle contractions. Your vagus nerve affects muscles all throughout the body, which includes sphincters (you have 50 to 60 types in your body). All of these help with your overall health, and your vagus nerve affects many of them.

3. It Affects Motor Skills

Your motor skills are pretty important; nobody can argue with that. But they need maintenance. Every part of your body needs some level of maintenance. When it comes to your motor skills, practicing them helps, but the vagus nerve directly affects them (more than you may think), so taking care of it is key.

Can You Wash a Flaxseed Pillow?

Flaxseed Pillow wash

Yoga eye pillow filling can be very difficult to clean. Flaxseed, specifically, is one of the hardest to keep clean. If you get flaxseed wet, you’re going to ruin it, or at least you run a high risk of ruining it.

You can dry flaxseed inserts, but it’s a primarily organic filling that really shouldn’t be touched. It’s placed inside of those inserts very carefully for a reason.

Flaxseed can get wet without completely destroying it, but it’s also not advised.

This will wash out any scents and possibly swell the seeds, so you’ll end up with a heavier pillow if there’s some swelling and the water doesn’t leave properly.

Then the pillow can start to smell. This is what you need to do to clean a flaxseed pillow:

  • Remove the Cover: Wash the cover and place the flaxseed insert somewhere safe where it’s not going to get wet. You want to ensure it’s safe from all harm no matter what.
  • Keep a Fan On: To ensure the flaxseed stays dry and doesn’t absorb moisture through the insert (the cover helps prevent moisture absorption), set up a fan to blow cool air on it and keep it dry.
  • Wait Until Completely Dry: Once the cover is completely dry, you can put the insert back in. Run your finger through the seam on the inside of the cover to make sure there’s no hidden moisture in the corners before placing the insert.

But how can you keep your flaxseed pillow clean in the first place?

Reducing the total number of times you have to wash the external sleeve will prolong its life, so this is what you need to keep in mind:

  • Cool and Dry: Always store your flaxseed pillow insert somewhere cool and dry, even when it’s not being cleaned. You want to ensure it stays dry at all times.
  • Keep it in the Same Place: If you place your flaxseed pillow in one area, and nothing bad happens to it, that’s a good spot to keep it. It also ensures you won’t lose it. Do your best to keep it out of direct sunlight during storage as well.
  • Avoid Fragrances: Room sprays that deodorize the air can actually land on your pillows and mess with the fragrance provided by that flaxseed. Be careful with what products you use, and consider storing it in a safe spot (like the inside of a dresser drawer) to avoid dust buildup as well.

Can You Wash an Eye Pillow?

Eye Pillow Washing

Technically, you can wash your lavender eye pillow yoga, but it depends on how you go about it.

As we talked about in the last section, you don’t want to get your flaxseed wet at all if you can avoid it, and the same goes with other fillings.

Most good yoga eye pillows are going to have flaxseed or something similar for the filling, otherwise the weighted portion of it doesn’t really help your vagus nerve.

You need to have an external sleeve for the cover and remove that, and wash it separately, all while ensuring nothing happens to the interior pouch.

If the interior pouch gets wet or sodden, then that’s when you run into issues.

Remove the exterior sleeve and wash it, but be careful to follow instructions:

  • Silk: Soak the silk in cool water with a very, very little amount of detergent. Gentle ove it around in the basin of water, and then rinse in cold water. Gently press a towel to the silk to absorb excess water and hang to dry.
  • Organic Cotton: Do not set any temperature above 86°F if you’re going to wash organic cotton. Use gentle cycles in machine washing, although it will last longer if you wash it by hand.
  • Flannel: Flannel is fairly rough, so you can machine wash it, just avoid hot washes. Warm or cold washes will work best. Use unscented fabric softener to keep it soft for future use as fleece can get very rough when you don’t take care of it properly.

Increasing Your Relaxation and Peace of Mind

Between the gentle weight to apply pressure, fantastic aromas in most of these pillows, and comfort that it offers to your skin with materials like silk and organic cotton, eye pillows are the last piece of the puzzle to your yoga routine.

It’s time to stimulate your vagus nerve, send deep, relaxing signals through your nervous system, and reap the mental health rewards that yoga offers along with the physical. If you’re ready to upgrade your yoga routine, this is how you do it.

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