What Are The Types of Yoga Mats?
What are yoga mats and what are the benefits of using them?
Typical yoga mat types are classified as rubber types, hot, alignment types, sticky, professional, organic/eco, natural, printed with poses, and exercise equipment mats, to name a few.
The level of yoga activity and types of yoga exercises you do can determine the type of mats that are best for your situation. It’s not that a yoga mat is necessary in all cases, as some of your yoga exercises can be performed without a mat, or on the carpet of your living room, if doing them at home.
Of course, it comes in handy to have a mat on a hard surface, and since they are lightweight, you can take them with you wherever you go. If you are a beginner, there are some of the mats that have the foot positions printed on them, to help you get used to the different exercises.
The "sticky" mats give you traction and keep you from slipping (and the mat from slipping), and are thinly made to help you hold your pose.
Organic or eco mats are made of natural materials, such as cotton or grass-cloth, and are commonly used for Ashtanga Yoga or Bikram Yoga.
Thicker yoga mats are great if you do active and more challenging poses (for extra support).
Which yoga mat is for me?
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The important things to remember when shopping for a yoga mat are that stability, durability and portability are the most important factors.
You want a yoga mat that fits your personal tastes and the kinds of yoga exercises you do, and help you move with comfort, while offering you the convenience to want to use it when practicing yoga.
Cost is not the only determining factor. You can expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $200 for most yoga and Pilates mats. Of course, some people prefer to use a combination, such as an original sticky mat, with a cotton pad mat to make it softer and more comfortable.
The more expensive mats usually offer more in thickness and support, in materials used. Some people may prefer a lighter weight, and more portable mat for the gym or office, and another thicker, yet less portable mat for home.
A yoga mat that is stable is essential, since yoga is a practice of exercises that involve balance. In order to prevent injuries, you want to make sure that you get a yoga mat that will provide a comfortable surface, but allow you to maintain stability!
Some of the cheaper yoga mats may not hold up in the durability requirement, so please make sure that you don’t go too cheap when looking for a yoga mat. Often, they can’t hold up to rigorous routines, and are more for the occasional or relaxation types of yoga practitioners.
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Portability can often be a big factor because if the yoga mat is bulky and heavy, there are fewer tendencies to pull it out or take it with you.
The thinner mats, like the original sticky mats are often used when this is a consideration.
In summary, the most important part about yoga mats are that they are a personal item, so selecting the one that fits you best is the most important.
You want to be sure that you use the durability, stability and portability criteria when selecting your yoga mat.
Hope this helps you in your choice in finding the right yoga exercise mat for you!
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