Do you find yourself falling out of yoga poses on your mat? Is your mat looking a bit "used" lately? Or are you slipping and sliding your way through your asana practice? We at LifePower Yoga understand your frustration. Comfort on your mat is an important part of your practice, and your mat must fit your many needs in and out of the yoga studio.
How does one go about choosing the right yoga mat? Follow these five easy steps and you'll be guaranteed to fall in love with yoga — and your mat — all over again.
1) Think About Thickness: When you look at yoga mats sprawled across the studio floor, you may notice that some yogis are rocking thick, 1/4-inch yoga mats in cerulean blue while others are using light, wafer-thin yoga mats in black that are thin as 1/16-inch thick. You may wonder, what's the difference?
The thickness of your yoga mat has a lot to do with your comfort. Thin mats are great for those who wish to feel a greater connection with the floor and want a mat that is easily portable. Too thin, though, and your knees may get banged up during a lunge. For those who like more cushioning, consider a thicker mat. The tradeoff, however, is that you may find it harder to feel a connection with the floor — making balancing postures like Warrior III harder to hold. Thicker mats also require more storage space in your car, home or gym locker.
For a Hot Vinyasa class you may want to consider buying a standard 1/8- or 1/4-inch mat, as well as a yoga towel for the top of your mat.
2) Choose Your Material: The material your yoga mat is composed of is important when it comes to the touch and stickiness factors. It is also important to consider for wear and tear over time, as well as its friendliness to the environment. The standard yoga mat purchased at Target or Wal-Mart, for example, is likely made of PVC, known as vinyl. These mats are especially sticky, which is helpful if you are a mat abuser. They also tend to have the most "give" of any yoga mat material. If you are more mindful of the environment, consider buying a mat made using eco-friendly materials, such as recycled rubber, jute and organic or natural cotton. Some eco-friendly brands include Manduka or Jade, which come in a variety of colors and sizes.
3) The Stickiness Factor: When building internal and external heat on your mat, do you find yourself sweating buckets? If that's you, you'll want to think about how "sticky" your mat needs to be. PVC yoga mats have the highest sticky factor and can help you stay put in your poses. PVC mats are only sticky, though, when clean so you'll want to ensure you are practicing saucha, or cleanliness, with your mat.
4) How Does It Feel (Texture): Traction is an essential factor to consider when making your next yoga mat purchase. Like stickiness, it affects how much you'll slip and slide across your mat. Traction also affects the way a yoga mat feels. Basically, do you find the touch of your mat comfortable to your body and your practice? Mats can have textures that range from silky and smooth to down-right bumpy and rigid. Texture may be dictated by material, such as PVC mats which tend to have a softer feel vs. ones with organic roughness. If you don't like slipping, go PVC or try rubber, jute or cotton mats if you are more eco-conscious. The added texture (such as a pattern) of an eco-friendly mat will help you stay put, no matter how sweaty or vigorous your practice is.
5) What Are You Willing to Spend: Yoga mats can range anywhere from $10 for your standard yoga mat to nearly $100 for one made of "raw" mat material. Prices largely depends on the style and brand. Yoga mats at the lower end of the spend spectrum are usually made of PVC. Mats on the higher end are likely made of rubber, an eco-friendly material or a combination of rubber and PVC. If you are concerned about thickness, the more expensive mats have more choice in the thickness and durability factor than a standard yoga mat.
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