Usage Guide

How to use the Zhuyun pillow

The Zhuyun is a loose-fill pillow, so "using it" mostly means shaping it. The fill moves where you push it and then holds that shape under you. Spend thirty seconds setting it up the first few nights; after that it becomes habit.

Shape it first: gather the beads under your neck

The single most important technique: push most of the fill — roughly 80% of the beads — under your neck before you lie down, so the support sits full and firm exactly where your neck rests, with a shallow hollow left for the back of your head. Lying on the pillow with the fill spread out evenly gives you very little support; the pillow works because the beads are concentrated under the neck.

Loose fill moves — that's what makes it adjustable, and it's also why the shape slowly settles as you sleep and across nights. When it feels lower or less supportive, don't judge the pillow yet: re-gather the beads under the neck (it takes a few seconds) and lie down again. Re-shaping each evening is normal upkeep for a loose-fill pillow, not a defect.

Back sleeping

1. Lay the pillow flat and smooth the fill into a gentle curve, with a shallow hollow where the back of your head will rest.
2. Position the fuller edge under your neck so the neck is supported and your head rests in the hollow.
3. If it feels too high, use the low end: one end of the pillow is less full — start there, and push fill away from the neck edge until the height feels right.

Side sleeping

1. Push more fill toward the side you'll sleep on so the pillow is higher and firmer under the space between your ear, neck and shoulder.
2. Rest your head so your neck stays level rather than tilting down toward the mattress.
3. Need more height? Fold the tail end of the pillow over or under (see below) instead of stacking a second pillow on top.

Adjusting the height: fold the tail end

The simplest height adjustment is built in: fold the end of the pillow back on itself. One fold adds a firm extra layer under your head and neck; unfold it to go back down. Because the beads interlock, a fold stays put through the night instead of sliding apart like a folded foam pillow would.

Daytime use: a firm lumbar pillow

The same density that supports your neck works behind your back. Stand the Zhuyun upright against a chair or sofa back and lean into it for firm lower-back support while you read or scroll your phone — the fill molds to the curve of your back and holds it.

The adjustment period: first nights, up to two weeks

A wood-bead pillow feels noticeably firmer than foam or down, and your body needs time to get used to it — the first week is an adjustment period. Many sleepers settle in within several nights; full adjustment can take up to two weeks. The maker's rule of thumb, from years of customer feedback: sleepers under 30 often need 7–10 nights, ages 30–40 about 5–7 nights, and sleepers over 50 frequently adjust in just 1–3 nights.

Mild neck stiffness, soreness, or tiredness in the first days is common while you adapt. Practical tips:

• You can sleep on the Zhuyun all night from the first night — there's no need to limit your time on it.
• If the change feels abrupt, alternate: start the night on the Zhuyun and switch to your old pillow if you wake up, or swap pillows night by night for the first few days.
• Re-shape the pillow each evening (see the 80% rule above) — a correctly gathered fill makes adaptation noticeably easier.
• Know when to stop: if you experience numbness, persistent or worsening pain, or headaches that don't pass, stop using the pillow and talk to a medical professional. The Zhuyun is a comfort pillow, not a medical device.

And if, after a fair try — give it at least a week if you can — firm support just isn't your thing, your first pillow is covered by the 30-Night Trial.

Care instructions

• Never wash the inner pillow. The wood fill must stay dry — do not soak, machine-wash, or steam the core.
• The maker suggests replacing your pillow about every 3 years.
• Keep the pillow in a dry, ventilated place; air it in indirect sunlight from time to time.
• The included pillowcases are removable and machine-washable — wash them instead of the pillow.
• If the casing gets a spot on it, wipe with a barely damp cloth and let it dry fully before use.