How to Choose a Yoga Mat
From LoveToKnow Yoga
If you've been wondering how to choose a yoga mat, you should consider some of the following conditions. The right yoga mat for you depends on what your personal preferences are and what positions you'll be performing on it. The mat needs to ensure the ability to immerse yourself in yoga practice without feeling distracted due to composition, size, or thickness. Read on for some helpful tips to understand exactly how to choose a yoga mat.
How to Choose a Yoga Mat
Yoga mats are available in a range of sizes, colors, materials, and thickness. Determining the best one for your purposes is easy. Take a look at some of the options listened below to see which mat will suit your yoga needs.
Inexpensive Yoga Mats
You can find inexpensive sticky yoga mats at almost any sports gear vendor. These mats are available in various colors and lengths, however they're all made of the same basic plastic composition. They are often the easiest choice for people who have just taken up yoga training, but aren't sure how much time, focus, and money they are willing to invest in the practice.
If you feel like you want to try yoga but aren't sure how much you'll like it, you can find basic mats like these for roughly $10- $15, depending on where you shop. When you first try these mats you may notice a distinctively strong rubber-like smell. To reduce this pungency, give your mat a proper wash and dry before engaging in exercises.
Thickly Cushioned Yoga Mats
Some people struggle during their yoga practice simply because they need extra cushioning to support hips, knees, elbows, and the spine. These areas can be especially sensitive for seniors. However, many people find they are better able to enjoy their yoga practice with a well-padded yoga mat. Pilates mats are often designed with extra thickness; it's not uncommon to find Pilates mats that are 5/8" thick. If you decide this is the right mat for you, be sure that it will still be sticky enough to keep a safe level of friction between your skin and the surface in order to prevent slipping.
Environmental Yoga Mats
If you are an environmentally-conscious yogi or yogini, you will likely enjoy an eco-friendly yoga mat. These mats are made of expendable green resources like non-toxic rubber foam or cork. Cork mats are apt to decompose quicker than rubber mats. Make your choice depending on what feels best beneath your feet.
In addition to helping Mother Nature, you are avoiding polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is often seen in standard inexpensive sticky mats. PVCs have been suspected of potentially endangering overall health, taking into considerations risks of cancer, and miscellaneous organ impairment.
If this type of yoga mat sounds like the right fit for you, visit your local sports gear or yoga gear retailer and tell them you are looking for an Earth-loving eco-friendly mat.
Simple Needs to Consider
When evaluating how to choose a yoga mat, try to make sure it possesses the following qualities:
- It should be a sufficient length and width per your body, enabling you to perform a range of movements and positions without struggling for more surface area.
- It should have appropriate grip, creating just enough friction to keep you grounded in your practice.
- It should not distract you from your yoga focus; take into account color vibrancy, smell, and sweat-absorbency.
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This page has been accessed 130 times. This page was last modified 03:48, 1 November 2009.
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