Our Journey
Our Journey
Make your body your friend in meditation
Our Mission
We make meditation cushions that are extra comfortable for all bodies so that sitting with a straight spine on the floor is easy and enjoyable - even for long periods of time! Our cushions support all levels of flexibility through their larger-than-average sizes.
Most people don’t know that the key to a comfortable meditation seat is finding the right size cushion & posture! Our cushions hold various bodies in a wide range of sitting styles, so that you can find what works best for you.
Not only are the cushions we make larger & comfier than usual meditation pillows, they are thoughtfully produced with ethically sourced fabrics, made by local artisans, and always with the end user in mind - think: strong, durable and a worthy investment.
We are here to prove that sitting in meditation can be something your physical body looks forward to!
Meet the Founder & Designer
Julie Jarvis
A long time meditator, I saw so many people give up or get discouraged because they felt they couldn't meditate - often because the cushion wasn't tall enough or they hadn't found the right posture for their body.
So I started a company that makes bigger meditation cushions that make it easier for people of different heights, ages, and levels of flexibility to sit straight naturally. It is so exciting when we sit with people and see their faces light up - "ah, ha - I can do this!"
It wasn't enough to make them bigger though, as a designer I wanted to make them better - high quality and by hand, and beautiful to inspire people. So you can have a portable santuary that works in your home, office and retreat spaces.
As soon as we began making cushions, I realized that we needed to educate people about posture and cushions and how to get started. There are so many myths about meditation that get in the way of taking the first steps.
As a workshop leader and meditation cushion expert, I have helped thousands of people find the right posture and support to meditate comfortably and successfully. I was originally trained as an educator at the Esalen Institute in California, the leading institute in North America for human potential and development. I have been practicing meditation and leading group process and exchange for more than 20 years. I have engaged groups using the arts, self-awareness and mindfulness practices around the world -- from ghettos in Bogota, to youth living on the streets in Toronto, to start-up techs and yoga studios.
Hand Sewn
Local Artisans
All our products are handmade in Canada. They are designed by Julie Jarvis in collaboration with our Master Artisan, Dolma Tsering. Before moving to Canada and joining REALthings, Dolma worked for 20 years with her husband, Dorje Wangdu, a Tibetan Applique Thangka Master who worked for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Monastic communities. Dolma is the heart of our production team.
As a social purpose business, making cushions locally in respectful, planet friendly and inspiring ways is really important to us. We use natural and organic fabrics and stuffings, and we have minimal waste. For packaging we use hand stamped cardboard boxes and bio-degradable recycled plastic that we tie with bows made from our fabric scraps.
We are always looking for ways to collaborate and partner with other like-minded artisans to share resources and raise our spirits.
In Search of Fair Fabrics
Textiles & Weavers
Our premiere handwoven silk and cotton fabrics come directly from weaving collectives and NGOs in Cambodia, India and Indonesia. These NGOs are working to build healthy, sustainable communities and meaningful livelihoods.
Supporting local business is a priority for us. We source all our natural stuffings and our gorgeous twills and patterned cottons from suppliers in Canada and the United States. We also have a few treasured fabrics from small shops we find in our travels. All fabrics are selected by Julie.
