Choosing the Best Yoga Mats
Match Your Mat to Your Style of Yoga
If you practice hatha yoga, you’ll probably want to use a good sticky mat. These mats are very popular and can be found in sporting goods stores, yoga studios, and in the sporting goods department of many department stores. The stickiness of the mat will help you maintain the proper alignment during your poses, and will prevent you from slipping and sliding. A PVC mat generally provides the optimal level of stickiness, but it’s important to remember that your mat will only be sticky if it is kept clean.
If ashtanga yoga is more your style, you should look for a mat that provides extra padding. Because this style of yoga is more physically demanding, you’ll also want to be sure to choose a durable mat that will be up to the challenge. Some people who practice ashtanga feel the best yoga mats are actually yoga rugs, since a rug is the superior choice for absorbing perspiration.
Yoga Mat Features to Look For
In most cases, you’ll want to choose a thick mat, since the thickness will provide extra comfort, such as Gaiam’s Premium Sticky Yoga Mat. However, there are those who prefer a thinner mat, since a thin mat will provide more stability during poses that require a lot of balance. If you travel a lot or need to take your mat to yoga classes, a thin mat will also roll up easier and be simpler to transport.
The Travel Yoga Mat from Gaiam is a great choice if you need to travel with your mat frequently. The mat’s material is also an important consideration. PVC mats are very common, but there are also environmentally friendly mats made from organic cotton, jute and recycled rubber, such as the Reversible Eco Yoga Mat from Gaiam. PVC can provide the most padding and stickiness, but cotton and jute mats have the added advantage of being able to absorb perspiration, which can help avoid slipping. Mats with a surface texture can also help to prevent slipping, but if sitting on a textured surface bothers you, choose a sticky PVC mat without a textured surface.
Budget Considerations
Yoga is a very inexpensive exercise to engage in, because your mat is your only real requirement. So, most people are willing to pay a bit more in order to get the best yoga mats which are perfectly suited to their needs. However, if you are on a tight budget, the thinner PVC mats in a solid color are probably the best choice, such as Gaiam’s Yoga Essentials mat.
Expect to pay more for patterns, extra thickness, textures or anti-microbial treatments. Environmentally friendly mats also tend to be a bit more expensive, but many feel they are worth the extra cost.
References
https://www.yoga4beginners.org/yoga-equipment/best-yoga-mat.htm
https://livebreatheyoga.com/choosing-the-right-yoga-mat/
https://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/How-to-Choose-the-Right-Yoga-Mat-for-You.html
https://www.gaiam.com/category/group/search/gaiam-yoga-mats.do
