If you are doing Yoga in the Yoga class or at home and want to buy a yoga mat, you need to know that Yoga mats have several sizes, color, material. If you do not understand the needs and types of the mat, you may end up buying unwanted stuff. Below are 11 things you need to know before you buy a Yoga Mat
Source: Esterilla Yoga
1. Identify your needs
If you are prone to pain when practicing Yoga, you should buy a slightly thicker mat. If you are tall, you should find a mat with a length that fits your height a bit.
2. Your Yoga types
The types of Yoga affect the Yoga mat types you choose. If you are beginning to practice, you can select cheap mats because assuming you later realize Yoga is not a sport for you. When you like Yoga after practicing for a long time, you could buy expensive types then.
Some types of Yoga require complicated postures, so you need to choose the right mat that has a good grip, so they do not move when you practice. In case your classes are mostly sitting poses, the grip won't matter.
Some types of Yoga in the hot room like Hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga will cause you to sweat more, so you will need to choose mat correctly for this type to avoid slipping due to sweat.
3. Thickness
You will need to consider the thickness of the Yoga mat when buying one because the thickness of your Yoga mat affects to its comfort level. If the mat is too thin, your knee may be hit hard when practicing. In contract, whether the Yoga mat is too thick (~ 1/4 inch), it can make it difficult to feel the connection to the floor, making you wobblier. The basic types with a thickness of about 1/16 inches and are usually for long-time practitioners. Because you are just a beginner, you might want to consider 1/8 inches thick for a quieter workout.
4. Elasticity
In addition to the thickness, the elasticity also needs to be considered because if the mat is thick but weak elastic, it can also cause pain during kneeling or anti-hand poses.
For example: If you can easily squeeze the mat against each other by the hand, then it proves that the elasticity is too weak.
5. Stickiness
Stickiness means slip and slips resistance. Slip resistance is when you are on a Yoga mat, and slip resistance is the mat surface to the floor.
To test the stickiness of a Yoga mat, you can spread the mat and push to see as if it slides easily or not. The mat pattern has a wave pattern on the underside, and the sinking design on the top often gives the best adhesion.
6. Ruggedness
High-end yoga mats made from TPE are less likely to be protruding, but if you buy cheap yoga mats made from PVC, you should check if they are protruding or not. If they are, you should change to another type because if left unattended, it will bring unpleasant feelings.
7. Texture
The texture of each type of mat affects your comfort when practicing Yoga. Sticky mats often have a rough surface and are quickly irritating to the skin, but they have an advantage in practicing challenging poses.
If you prefer smooth surface mats, PVC is the best choice. Many companies now also produce some smooth but environmentally friendly Yoga mats; you can pick another if you do not want to use a PVC mat.
8. Accessories included
If you do Yoga at home, you don't need to worry about this. Whether you regularly go out to practice, you should see if it has Yoga bags. If not, consider buying a separate bag to make it easier to carry.
9. ECO-FRIENDLINESS
As yogis, we love the principle of ahimsa or non-violence. If you think yoga eco-friendliness is essential, you should avoid buying yoga mats made of PVC because it is difficult to recycle, and it is difficult to decompose. Latex, jute, and cotton yoga mats, while available in a range of thicknesses, tend to be thicker and slippery than PVC mats. You can get an eco-friendly yoga mat, a depth that meets your needs for comfort and portability, and a slip-resistant construction.
10. Material
The material of the yoga mat shows its texture, stickiness, environmental friendliness, porosity, and durability. There are three primary materials of yoga mat in the market: PVC, rubber, and TPE.
· PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): PVC is a biodegradable artificial material. It is the lowest level of Yoga mat material. However, PVC does not always mean a cheap mat. Sometimes, it is also used for the famous high-end Manduka PRO line, which is much thicker than your average mat.
· Rubber: Rubber is a pure material. It is a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material. However, rubber mats can be a bit hard. Jade Yoga has been making the most popular rubber mats for years.
· Natural rubber makes a rug heavier and may have a noticeable odor at first. Both concerns are mitigated in the new rubber/polyurethane hybrid mats produced by Liforme and Lululemon, which are also very absorbent and provide an outstanding training surface.
· TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers): When TPE mats first appeared on the market, they solved a lot of problems with other materials. It is odorless, extraordinarily light, and incredibly soft to practice and has high adhesion. The downside is that it is not durable.
11. Price
After considering all the factors, you need to review your financial situation to choose the right products. The more features, the higher thickness of the adhesive, the higher the price
12. Where to buy
Work cited:
Editors, The. "The Best Yoga Mats on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers." The Strategist, The Strategist, 8 May 2020, nymag.com/strategist/article/best-yoga-mats.html.
"Community." YogaFit, yogafitstudios.com/blog/how-to-pick-a-yoga-mat/.
Gaiam. "How to Choose the Right Yoga Mat." Gaiam, www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/how-to-choose-the-right-yoga-mat.
Pizer, Ann. "What to Know Before You Buy a Yoga Mat." Verywell Fit, Verywell Fit, 3 Apr. 2020, www.verywellfit.com/yoga-mat-owners-manual-3566980.
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