Yoga mats are essential tools for practicing yoga. They serve several purposes, including providing cushioning, traction, and stability during poses. In this article, we’ll explore the various utilities of using yoga mats for every practice in detail.
Cushioning :
One of the main benefits of using a yoga mat is cushioning. A yoga mat provides a soft surface for practitioners to perform their poses on, especially during floor exercises. This is especially important for individuals with joint problems or those practicing on hard surfaces such as concrete or wood floors. The cushioning from the yoga mat helps to reduce the impact on joints and prevent injuries.
Traction :
Another important benefit of using a yoga mat is traction. A good yoga mat will provide enough grip to prevent slipping during poses. This is particularly important during standing and balancing poses, where maintaining balance is crucial. A slip can easily lead to injury, and a yoga mat with adequate traction can help prevent this.
Stability :
Yoga mats also provide stability during yoga practice. The mat provides a flat and stable surface, allowing practitioners to perform poses with more control and precision. The stability of the mat also helps to reduce the risk of injury, particularly during poses that require balance and stability.
Hygiene :
Yoga mats can also help maintain hygiene during yoga practice. They provide a barrier between the body and the floor, helping to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Additionally, many yoga mats are made with anti-bacterial materials that can help reduce the risk of infection.
Comfort :
Yoga mats can also increase comfort during practice. They provide a soft and cushioned surface, making it easier to perform poses and reducing stress on the joints. Additionally, many yoga mats are designed with a textured surface that helps to prevent slipping and sliding, making it easier to maintain balance and stability during poses.
Personal Space :
Using a yoga mat also provides a personal space for the practitioner. This is especially important in group yoga classes, where individuals may be practicing in close proximity to one another. A yoga mat provides a designated area for the practitioner, helping to maintain a sense of privacy and personal space.
Mental Focus :
The use of a yoga mat can also help to improve mental focus during practice. The mat provides a designated space for the practice, helping to create a sense of separation between the rest of the world and the yoga practice. This can help to reduce distractions and improve mental focus, allowing the practitioner to fully immerse themselves in the practice.
Portability :
Yoga mats are also highly portable, making them ideal for individuals who practice yoga at home, in the park, or at the gym. They are lightweight and can be easily rolled up and carried in a bag, making it easy to take them wherever the practitioner goes.
Environmental Friendly :
Many yoga mats are made with eco-friendly materials, such as natural rubber, making them an environmentally friendly option for individuals who are concerned about their impact on the environment. This is particularly important for individuals who practice yoga frequently, as traditional yoga mats can contribute to waste and pollution.
In conclusion, yoga mats are essential tools for every yoga practice. They provide cushioning, traction, stability, hygiene, comfort, personal space, mental focus, portability, and eco-friendliness. When choosing a yoga mat, it’s important to consider the individual’s needs, including the type of yoga being practiced, personal preferences, and physical abilities. A good yoga mat can make all the difference in a yoga practice, providing a comfortable, safe, and effective environment for the practitioner to grow and improve in their practice.
Our Top Picks :
Best Overall : Liforme Original Yoga Mat at Amazon
Liforme’s Unique Yoga Mat is a venture and our optimal decision out of each of the 16 we tried. At 4.6 pounds, it’s a mid-weight choice, and it’s sufficiently large to oblige a scope of body sizes.
The Liforme mat stands apart because of its special arrangement markers, which are extra useful on the off chance that you’re a novice. Also, regardless of whether, dislike our analyzer, you might find them supportive for presents like Champion I and Hero II. With its markers for your hands and feet, you’ll have no issue seeing as your middle — particularly in the event that you’re at home and there’s no teacher available. Moreover, because of its three-layered development, it offers prevalent hold and a speedy drying top surface. To this end it got a five out of five for cushioning and thickness. While our analyzer noticed that it stains effectively, the imprints immediately vanished, making it ideal for hot yoga.
Our analyzer noticed this mat might be better for at-home practices, as it’s more drawn out and more extensive than normal and may not be appropriate for restricted studio space. In the event that manageability is a worry of yours, the mat is without pvc and biodegradable in no less than quite a long while, helping it a planet-accommodating decision you can have a positive outlook on.
Price at time of publication : 150 USD
Best Budget : IUGA Pro Non-Slip Yoga Mat
If you’re a beginner to yoga and looking for an affordable option, the IUGA Pro Non-Slip Yoga Mat is a good choice. Although our tester gave it a low rating of two out of five for its unboxing experience due to a chemical odor and difficulty in laying flat during practice, it scored high for portability with a five out of five. The mat’s lightweight design (only 2.5 pounds) and included carrying strap make it easy to take with you on the go.
While the mat may not have the best padding and had trouble unrolling during testing, it received high marks for its excellent grip, even with wet hands and feet, and is suitable for hot yoga practices. Despite some dirt and stains easily adhering to its sticky surface, the IUGA Pro Mat is eco-friendly and made of biodegradable tree rubber, free of PVC and latex.
Overall, the IUGA Pro Non-Slip Yoga Mat is a great starter option for beginners and those on a budget.
Price at time of publication : 60 USD
Best for Meditation : Manduka PRO Yoga Mat
The Manduka Pro Yoga Mat is a highly sought-after product among yoga instructors and is considered a long-term investment. Its stick-free grip is a standout feature, providing a comfortable surface for a wide range of poses. According to our tester, the mat has a high-end feel.
Designed for joint protection, the Manduka Pro Yoga Mat is 6 millimeters thick, one of the thickest in our tests. However, our tester noted that it may be too firm for yogis with joint pain and may require a break-in period. On the other hand, the mat’s dense cushioning makes it suitable for meditation sessions, serving as a comfortable barrier between you and the floor.
Weighing 8.8 pounds, the Manduka Pro was the heaviest yoga mat tested in our lab and did not come with a carrying strap, earning a three out of five for portability. Despite this, the mat is built to last a lifetime and is of high quality, making it a worthwhile investment for those who frequently practice yoga.
Handmade and free of latex, the Manduka Pro Yoga Mat is also OEKO-TEX certified, ensuring it is free from harmful substances. If you’re looking to upgrade your old yoga mat, of any brand, Manduka offers a donation program in partnership with The Renewal Workshop, aimed at repurposing and keeping second-hand yoga mats out of landfills.
Price at time of publication : 128 USD
Best for Hot Yoga : Jade Yoga Harmony Yoga Mat
If you’re a fan of hot yoga, you understand the importance of having a yoga mat that is both supportive and has a strong grip, even when you’re sweating profusely. Our tester put Jade Yoga’s Harmony Professional Yoga Mat to the test and was impressed with its results. The mat received a five-star rating for its thickness and padding, measuring at 4.7 millimeters, making it the thickest mat tested. This added cushioning provided ample support and grip, allowing for a solid connection to the floor.
Although the thickness of the mat does make it slightly heavier than some of the other options at 4.8 pounds, it is still considered to be relatively portable and received a four-star rating for this aspect. Our tester did notice a persistent rubber odor while in the Child’s Pose position, but further testing at home will be done to determine if this dissipates over time.
This Jade Yoga mat is made from open-cell natural rubber, which helps to absorb moisture and is free of PVC and synthetic plastics. When you purchase one of these mats, you can feel good knowing that the brand will plant a tree for every mat sold in partnership with Trees for the Future, and also donate $5 to designated charities for specific colors.
Price at time of publication : 85 USD
Best for Travel : Manduka EKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat
Manduka offers a wide range of yoga mats, each belonging to a different series, tailored to your yoga level, location, and personal preferences. We tested the eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat, which is part of the eco-friendly and biodegradable eKO series. If you like to practice yoga at the studio or in outdoor settings like parks, the eKO Superlite is an excellent option due to its portability and lightweight design. It received a five-star rating for ease of transportation and storage, as it only weighs 2.2 pounds and is compact enough to fit in small spaces.
While it’s great for on-the-go use, the eKO Superlite falls short when it comes to padding and thickness, at 1.5 millimeters. This resulted in a three-star rating for grip and feel, as our tester reported slipping during practice, especially when hands and feet were sweaty. If you’re a fan of hot yoga or if you sweat a lot, this mat may not be the best choice.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly and easily portable mat for travel, the EKO Superlite is a good option. Furthermore, the mat is made from sustainably harvested rubber and free of toxic chemicals.
Price at time of publication : 52 USD