Yoga For Your Health

Today’s market features dozens of companies manufacturing the Yoga Industry. A Yoga Mat is probably one of the most popular products. This seemingly basic piece of synthetic or natural rubber can end up pulling over $100. Do you think you are ready to invest so much money into a Yoga Mat? This article will discuss the most important aspects of choosing your mat, whether you desire an inexpensive but disposable alternative, something more durable, or simply to use one at your studio.

Your Practice Level:

Most Yoga studios have their own inventory of mats for their students. Studios usually purchase thick, durable mats that perform quite well for many people. To keep the inventory expenses down, studio mats are generally well-maintained, replaced and cleaned on a regular basis (something we can’t say about our personal mats, in most cases). I suggest the beginner students to try using the mats provided by their studio, to minimize the hassle of picking your own mat and the risk of being stuck with a mat and no desire to practice.

If you practice yoga once a week or more and plan to do so, consider purchasing your own mat. You will feel much more comfortable in it. Coming to class with your mat has many benefits. First of all, you will get used to practicing on the exact same mat with exact same characteristics (impossible if you keep borrowing one from your studio). Eventually you will form a bond, and your mat will begin accumulating your energy, keeping your comfortable and stable, once you get used to its characteristics, including smell and color. A higher quality mat than one in your studio will noticeably enhance your performance, especially after your practice becomes regular.

Advanced practitioners usually choose a mat based on personal preferences for durability and appearance. Having enough experience, they will pick a mat based on their professional judgment.

Choosing the size:

Most yoga mats are about 24 inches wide. The lengths vary. Most mats are between 60″ and 75″ in length. Choosing a shorter mat is appropriate for kids and smaller people. A longer mat, however, may be easier to use, as some poses require moving around. An average length is between 70″ and 72″. If you are getting started, a longer, wider mat would make your practice more comfortable.

Material Composition:

The ensure stability and comfort during practice, it is important to make sure your mat is made of proper material. Look at the following issues when choosing:

* Traction - A good mat will provide enough traction to support your poses, but it will not be so sticky you can’t peel it off the floor. Extremely sticky mats are usually cheap, and they provide too much grip when it is not needed. As with everything in Yoga, there must be a balance between grip and slip. Another important factor to consider is how well the mat holds when wet. Some cheaper mats completely loose traction when a little sweat is applied. This may not be apparent when you purchase the mat, but becomes a significant problem during class. Natural rubber is usually the best material, though it is costly.

* Composition - What Your Mat is Made Of. This is important and your mat’s performance depends directly on the material composition. Most yoga mats are made of either PVC, natural rubber, natural material (jute) or a combination of all three. PVC is the cheapest option, it comes in a few varieties, recently earth-friendly and recyclable. Most PVC mats smell awful during the few weeks of their “break-in” period. The environmentally-friendly version are better, but their durability is questionable. Natural latex or rubber is the material best Yoga mats are made of today. It is heavy, sticky and porous enough to provide the ultimate combination of stability, durability and comfort. Organic jute mats, when combined with rubber are lighter, but harder and tend to shed their fibers a lot.

* Durability - How long is your mat going to last? The more your pay - the longer it will serve you. This rule is applicable to yoga mats, with some exceptions - all-natural jute and cotton mats break down pretty quick. All-rubber mats will last a lifetime, wearing off only slightly if taken care of properly.

Your Mat’s price

Your mat’s price is usually directly proportional to its quality, the more your pay, the better your mat will be in all aspects, except may for weight. There are options to buy less expensive mats, but prepare to dispose of them quicker. Some may even prefer to replace their mats by tossing them after a short period of time. This works well, especially if you can’t clean your yoga mat properly.

Reviews and ratings of top-selling yoga mats are available at Ken’s website - http://yogamatreviews.net. Check out the Reviews of Top 10 Yoga Mats of 2010, the best in cheap, middle and premium categories.

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