Choose The Right Yoga Mat
Making the right choice for the perfect yoga mat will ensure a lifetime of good health and mental peace.
Come June 21st, 2023 and the world will be celebrating International Yoga Day. We all know the immense health benefits both mental and physical of doing yoga daily, but do you know the right yoga mat for your body type will make a world of difference? The wrong type of mat or spread will only lead to acute body pain especially affecting the lower back severely. Here’s a look at the right type of yoga mat that you can use after reading all the important instructions for choosing the mat.
Fifteen years ago there was only one type of mat that was being manufactured which was made of PVC material, which was well-known for its stickiness and non-slippery factor. As time passed with technology and skill other materials like jute and cotton were introduced. Your yoga mat should have the ability to keep you stable in your poses. The world now becoming environmentally friendly and a lot of eco-friendly mats have been introduced in the market that suits your budget, practice, priorities, values, and lifestyle.
No matter what the marketing and sales personnel of a store tell you, choose a mat keeping these key factors in mind.
Thickness
The thickness of a yoga mat will determine how comfortable you are doing your poses because there is a strong possibility of hurting your knee. Since yoga is essentially performed on a hard surface, yoga mats come in as ¼ inch thickness making you feel disconnected from the floor. There are also ‘wafer thin’ yoga mats that are 1/6 inch thick that fold easily and are also portable and convenient to carry while traveling. Make sure the mat you choose makes you feel connected to a hard surface.
Material
Most yoga mats are made of vinyl or PVC material that is sticky and does not slip easily. Aligning your body poses effortlessly while the mat remains in its place ensures that a yogi practices without being disturbed. Jute and cotton do not bring the stickiness that is desired in a yoga mat. A mat made of PVC material is the best option.
Eco-Friendliness
Yoga practitioners hold tenets of ahimsa which means non-violence and peace dear to their values and beliefs. Earth-friendly yoga mats have natural or recycled rubber. These yoga mats also have jute or cotton blended into them making them non-slippery and avoiding unnecessary accidents.
Style
Once you have narrowed down your choices of thickness, material, and eco-friendliness, you are now ready to choose your own style that suits the ambience of your studio. So go ahead and make the smartest choice available.
This article is not a sales or promotional blog for any brand but is written with the sincere intention of creating awareness about choosing the appropriate mat for yoga practitioners and also for people with the intention of starting yoga. This blog will go a long way in helping people solve their problem of choosing the right type of mat according to their body type and comfort.
