Newbie to the yogi world and seeking to buy one or just done with your old mat and are looking to replace it with a new one. Yoga mats are as essential as perhaps your stance or breathing during an aasana. Therefore, choosing the right mat for your yoga sessions can be a daunting task!
Gone are the days when you went to a store to pick up a yoga mat and the only choice you had was to pick a blue or the purple one. Yoga mats are available in different colours, patterns, sizes and materials, making your choice a little more difficult. Not to worry, as long as you keep the following points in consideration, your choice would definitely be simplified!
1. Thickness
The thickness of the yoga mat largely determines how comfortable it is going to be. Extremely thin may give you discomfort, and too thick means losing the connection with the ground.
The standard mat thickness should be 1/8 inches, which gives optimum support to the body without having to lose the connection with the ground. If you travel a lot, a 1/6 inches’ thick mat can also be used. Hence, portability also plays a huge role
2. Materialistic pleasures
The material of the yoga mat is important to understand its texture, sponginess, stickiness and eco-friendliness.
Most yoga mats are made out of PVC, a type of plastic that also contains toxins and is difficult to recycle. There are other eco-friendly options like jute, natural and recycled rubber, cotton or even bamboo which are also available these days.
3. The sticky situation
As weird as it may sound, stickiness as factor is what actually prevents you from sliding or falling when you transit from one pose to another or need to hold on to one particular pose for a long time.
PVC Yoga mats have the highest stickiness factor. These are also naturally softer and hence provide better grip and comfort
4. The lengthy procedure
Length is another determining factor while purchasing your perfect yoga mat for your perfect yoga session. A typical yoga mat is about 68 inches long, however if you are one blessed with the height, slightly longer mats are also available in the market, however scarcely
5. It’s also about the money
A regular 1/8 thick mattress is usually the lowest priced option available in the market. The price range then differs depending upon the patterns, styles, brands and eco-friendliness of the material, designs, etc. However, the idea here is to make the right investment in the right place.
6. Say no to too much foam
Padding in the mat is a huge advantage however performing various postures as in the case of a suryanamaskar would get very uncomfortable. Mats with excessive foam are for gym use and not yoga. Therefore, make sure you inspect properly before purchasing!
7. Colour ‘em up
Yoga is fun, so why shouldn’t the mats be too? A pleasing looking mat will give you the extra push to stretch that extra muscle. You don’t want to get depressed seeing a dull mat when you do the downward dog posture now, do you?
So go ahead, pick the colour, pattern or print that makes you happy and get ready to rock your workout session!
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