6 Things To Look For In A Yoga Mat

Buying a Yoga Mat… seems like a simple task right?

There are a few key things to look for when you are buying a yoga mat. Majority of the time… yes its true you do get what you pay for. Here are some of the things that you will want to ask yourself before deciding what mat is best for you.

1. How many times a week am I going to be practising yoga?

2. Am I doing hot yoga? – will my mat need to be very breathable and ventilated?

3. Do I find my wrists hurting when holding yoga poses?

4. Will I be travelling with my mat? Does the weight matter?

5. Do I want to know what it is made out of? – yes you should!

6. What type of environment are you practising yoga in? outside? inside only? on hardwood, carpet? maybe you are looking for a mat to do all of these environments.

The reality of it is, you can do yoga on any mat, you don’t actually even need a mat, however there are many things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect mat to suit your needs.

Here are a few key points of what to look for in different mats:

– Mats will be available to you in different widths, lengths and thicknesses to suit your body types and environmental practises.

– Be environmentally conscious while you become mindfully honed.

– The Prana Eco Mat is made from thermoplastic elastomer (100 TPE), a recyclable plastic that doesn’t produce harmful toxins during manufacture. Closed-cell foam doesn’t absorb sweat. Textured surfaces offer cushioning and natural anti-slip properties. Dimensions are 183 x 61 x 0.5cm.

– This yoga mat is very soft and cushiony and great for any type of yoga practise.

– One of our personal favourites, the Jade Yoga Mats,  come in many different sizes and thicknesses.

– Jade Yoga mats that actually grip. In addition, the natural rubber has better cushion and resilience, making it more comfortable. Finally, tapped from rubber trees, natural rubber is a renewable resource and our mats are made in the United States in compliance with U.S. environmental laws and contain no PVCs – making our mats the first “green” yoga mats. 

– And in addition to having an amazing eco friendly mat you are helping the environment because with every yoga mat purchased a tree is planted!

– Halfmoon Yoga Mats are great if you are looking for something very light weight and breathable! The air holes in this mat design are what contribute to both of these factors! The light weight is extremely helpful for travel, keep in mind you may be able to find yoga mats that are very thing and roll up small intended for travel however can still weigh a lot, where as these mats weight next to nothing yet still provide great cushioning.

– Halfmoon’s ECO mat has a sticky surface and cushy, 4mm-thickness to keep your plank grounded, and your Savasana comfy. Unfazed by sweat, direct sunlight, or frequent use, this recycled mat gives the earth a serious Namaste with its non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable properties.

– Made from recyclable, decomposable thermoplastic. PVC, chloride, and latex-free. Closed cell for easy cleaning and wiping down after class. Keep out of the sun. Exposure to UV rays can cause this product to have an early breakdown. Store away from heat and light from the sun.

Mat Textures: 

There are many different types of yoga mat textures, whats for what? well they all are really intended to be comfy, soft yet grippy at the same time. What you will really want to focus on is what the mat is made of along side of the texture. Some textures will provide more grip then others. 

A soft and cushiony texture. Some mats offer a different texture on either side which is great for multi purpose yoga practise. (the blue side here would provide a little bit more grip as the green side is softer)

This is a great soft yet grippy mat with the same texture on both sides, providing you with grip against the surface of the ground and grip with the surface of your skin.

Again this is another double sided mat with dual purpose cushion and grip functions.

A great grippy textured simple black mat.

What Texture of Mat Do I Want?

– If you are going to be using your mat for different exercises along with yoga, for example doing burpees or holding difficult yoga positions have a nice grippy mat will be very beneficial. You don’t want your hands or feet to be sliding around.

– For a yoga flow or relaxation class it is nice to have a mat with a less intense texture for comfort. This is where a double sided mat comes in handy for all types of yoga/exercise practise.

– Having a breathable yoga mat is always a great idea, but an even better idea for when traveling to somewhere with a warmer climate or an outside summertime yoga practise, the Halfmoon yoga mat is so great for this because of its holy texture.

– If you are doing hot yoga or infa-red hot yoga you will most certainly want to have a yoga towel to go on top of your mat because you will be dripping sweat. (yoga mat towels are in our yoga accessories blog)

Conclusion:

– There is a yoga mat out there for you! and many of them are multi purpose.

– Take note of what the mat is made of and where its made.

– If your wrists or joints get sore during yoga a thicker mat will be the best choice for you.

– If you are practising on many different surfaces for example hard wood, carpet, outside a thicker mat for cushion may also be a great idea for you on these hard surfaces. Some yoga studios have softer floor surfaces already so this may not be an issue for you.

– Shop around, don’t settle, invest in a great yoga mat that will last you along time and treat you and the environment well!

See our next blog: Yoga Accessories for information on yoga towels, blocks, straps, mat bags and other yoga goodies!