Yoga is a combination of physical, mental and spiritual practice. In ancient times, people did yoga on grass or any flat, non-slippery ground they could find. They introduced better quality mats to suit the ground conditions when they introduced yoga to the world. So what are the factors which determine the best quality yoga mats? Below are some factors related to a good yoga mat.
Why Use a Yoga Mat?
In western countries, yoga is mainly the practice of Asanas (the physical postures), which requires patience, balance, and self-discipline.
To maintain balance and to do the proper postures, one requires a good grip on the floor.
A good quality yoga mat helps to keep balance, grip, and prevent the hands and feet from slipping during yoga practice. Yoga mats also help to reduce the risk of injury.
What Is the Best Yoga Mat? What Determines Quality?
A good quality yoga mat not only helps you maintain balance, it also helps you to reduce the risk of injury caused by slipping on the mat. There are few factors which determine a high-quality yoga mat.
- Dimensions: Yoga mats are typically 68′′ long and 24′′ wide, but if you are serious about yoga, invest in a larger size, such as a 72′′ long and 24′′ wide mat, which will allow you to perform a wider range of postures.
- Thickness: Thickness is also one of the major factors determining the quality of a yoga mat. Their thickness ranges from 2 mm lightweight to 4-5 mm classic thickness and 7 mm high performance for daily practitioners, which provide extra cushioning during yoga practice.
- Material: Different companies use different materials for manufacturing yoga mats. The most common material is PVC, and eco-friendly mats made of jute and rubber, organic cotton, or natural cotton. If you are looking for quality, then look for high-quality PVC that has passed AZO and DOP free or look for one made with TPE material.
- Grip: Is there anything worse than sliding around on your yoga mat while trying to take deep breaths in a downward dog? Nope. So when you’re shopping for a mat, test the grip. Are your palms sliding around? Are you clinging to your mat for dear life? If so, it’s probably not the mat for you.
- If you’re new to yoga, make sure your mat is padded enough: When you’re just starting out, building up your strength takes some time — so make sure your mat is there to help you out along the way. For brand-new yogis, it’s important to have a more padded mat so that they can slowly build joint and muscle strength and help prevent injury.
- Toxin Material: Some yoga mats are full of PVCs, which is a toxic plastic with carcinogens in it. So when shopping, opt for a PVC-free mat. You want to wear natural products. Natural rubber feels so much better.
- Don’t be afraid to spend a few extra dollars: Don’t get us wrong: we’re all about saving money. But a high-quality yoga mat is worth the investment. Avoid cheap mats. You might think you’re saving a buck at first, but you’ll wear them out quickly. It’s bad for the environment, and cheap mats are usually too thin and flimsy. Good mats last longer, and they become part of you.
- Choose a fun mat: Like many of life’s functional tools, you’ll enjoy your mat more if it’s pleasing to look at. If a brightly colored or patterned mat will make you more likely to go to yoga, make it happen. “I go for a fun color.” It will surely motivate us to continue yoga.
More Criteria
Because of the overall saturation of yoga mats pouring onto the market today, it’s hard to find one that best suits your particular purposes. You will find one which is thin but slippery, thick but heavy to carry around. With all kinds available today, ranging from a horde of varying prices and quality dependent on the manufacturer, it’s almost impossible to buy one that you will immediately find to your liking.
Most of the time, if you’re a beginner who has just taken his/her practice to a new level with a brand new mat, you’ll realize that it’s hard to decide with so many options available. After a time, though, once you’ve made a purchase, there is a distinct possibility that not everything about it will be to your liking; either it’s too slippery once it accumulates enough sweat, or the stability it offers slacks in more difficult poses you do.
Maybe the material is too thin for you, and you feel pain in your joints while using it, or maybe its smell is unbearable to where you stop using it altogether.
To save yourself the trouble of having to waste money by buying into mats that don’t exactly fulfil all that you want in your idea of a perfect yoga mat, then it’s worth reading reviews of some best compiled here for this specific purpose. These yoga mats are chosen because of their overall functionality in direct correlation to their cost efficiency; in short, you get exactly what you’re paying for, free of any disappointments or regrets.
A small disclaimer for yourself, though, before you read on. Since each yoga practitioner practices different yoga, and the intensity of their activities vary, and since we as people have different desires that don’t always match most buyers, it would be in your best interests to buy the best one for you, not the best available according to what reviewers and buyers say.
Reviews mostly act as guides to help you figure out how each product holds up to a person’s preference, and you could end up being satisfied with a yoga mat that others have virtually called crap. In retrospect, reviews are very useful as they give you an idea of how well the supposed features work, and how they hold up in real life use; are not 100% surefire facts that make the product so just because the reviewer said so.
In Conclusion
Yoga mats increasingly fulfil the purpose of reducing risk of injury, and some insurance companies require yoga practise executed with a non-slip mat to be eligible for coverage. Consider everything carefully to be a smart buyer in your own right and enjoy your practise with the confidence that you’ve made the correct choice for yourself. As a result, a one-time purchase of a high-quality yoga mat would be the best option.
Please let me know of any comments you like below so we both can improve on our way to a blissful life.
Mat A, thanks for the good comments.
In one of my post, I have made some comments on how yoga benefits us on the long run. I was one time a soccer player, have given up on it, and today I still play badminton, but at a slower pace, but yoga I still continue. Just playing soccer alone or badminton may exercise only certain muscles and rest which are not used tend to weaken and fail. I had back and knee pain (doctor asked me to give up this sport) but with yoga all this disappeared. Touch wood I am still fit today.
Give it a try, it will be difficult at first, but over time you will find the body to be flexible, and you will be more tired but feel good than if you do gym. Let me know if you need more details, I will be more than happy to help out. Thanks
Great post and information on yoga mats, you’ve done some solid research and obviously have some great knowledge of use of yoga mats. I have several friends who are big into yoga and do it 4-5 times per week. I’ve also been more of a lifting weights kind of guy with some cardio thrown in from time to time but have heard wonderful things about yoga.
Do you feel that yoga can provide a good addition to someone who currently works out regularly such as myself?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Mat A.
Hi Steve, thanks for the reply.
Yes I agree there are so many manufactures and in that so many brands and sure is difficult to choose one. Just like buying a shirt there are too many, but at least you can try it out before buying. But I do not think they will take it back if there is no defect. They will only replace with another one if there is a manufacturer’s defect.
One method I use to buy a mat is based on another person’s opinion but then it again boils back to you. One man’s preference is a no no to another.
What mat are you using now? If yes could you give me some comments? Thanks
I have been looking at a lot of yoga mats lately since I have taken up the practice. There are so many to choose from. It all comes down to personal preference and how much money you want to spend. You make some great points here about size, density, grip, materials, etc. It’s just so hard to choose. Do you know if it is possible to try out a yoga mat and return it if you don’t like it? I tend to sweat a lot too, so I would probably need a yoga towel. Thanks for sharing, I hope to find the perfect mat soon.