How to Chose a Yoga Mat

September is National Yoga Month. I’ll be teaching live classes over on FCBDU and I’ll share a variety of resources on my Facebook page including how to care and clean your mat, sewing tutorials on mat bags and straps, ideas for reusing your old yoga mats as well as daily tips, sequences and educational information all about yoga!

II wanted to discuss yoga mats in advance for anyone who was interested in trying out a new mat or wondering if what they have is the right fit for theirs needs. Be sure to watch the video at the bottom of this post for a tour of my yoga mats, what I love about each one and why each one is so different.

First, let’s cover a few important facts:

1.     When I refer to yoga, I’m specifically talking about the asana, or posture, part of yoga. Yoga is a whole system and lifestyle where the postures are just a small part.

2.     You don’t need a yoga mat in order to do yoga. People have been practicing asana (postures) for hundreds of years just fine without any kind of mat. But, they can help you feel more stable, are more comfortable and more sanitary than just laying on the floor. Especially when we are face down. There’s nothing worse than being in child’s pose with your face down on a dirty floor or even someone else’s mat. Eew

3.     The “right” yoga mat for you is the one you will use. It doesn’t matter how fancy a mat is or how much you paid for it, if you don’t love it, you won’t be drawn to using it.

Why are there so many choices? How many mats do I need?

Different tools for different jobs. There are a variety of yoga styles and each one has unique features. Of course, businesses have designed, tested and capitalized on these differences. I suppose it’s no different than having different shoes for different purpose.

Mats vary by not only brand, but also by material, thickness, length, design and surface texture. Even these are constantly evolving as more sustainable materials become easier to produce, trends change and many brands are making a variety of mats at different price points.

Brands

I’m a big advocate of supporting brands I believe in and not just the trends. The most expensive mats aren’t necessarily the best ones. In a world where yoga accessories can easily become a fashion trend, be open to trying new brands. Many studios will let you rent mats and this is a great way to try before you buy. Of course, this was pre-COVID so that’s one reason I want to share my experiences with you today. There’s not a lot of trying things out these days!

Some of the most popular brands are: Manduka, Jade, Gaiam, Lululemon and Alo. But there are so many brands with new ones coming and going all the time.

Materials

Material is the biggest factor for me when choosing a mat.

Most yoga mats are made from rubber or vinyl. Many are synthetic, but a few brands focus on natural rubber and there is a current trend towards a woven cotton/natural rubber blend. Some are made from PCV foam. Personally, I try to stay away from those because I feel like breathing in those chemicals for the 60-90 minutes I’m on my mat can’t be a good thing. But the PVC material tends to be more “Sticky” and therefore can feel more secure in a really sweaty practice so it does have it’s benefits.

You may think, “the thicker the better”, but this isn’t always true. I have a very nice, thick Jade mat that is actually too squishy for my normal vinyasa practice. It challenges my balance, which is fantastic, but I end up with sore ankles and shin splints the next day if I balance too much. However, this mat might be great for someone that doesn’t do a lot of standing poses or has back pain and needs more cushion.

Many mats have a different material on the top. For instance, the main mat might be rubber so it has some squish and comfort, but might have a more natural top layer or a textured top layer for better traction.

Some mats are even designed to absorb sweat so you don’t end up on a slip and slide towards the end of your class. I’m still on the fence about this. Its not like you can just wring it out after class. Again…eeew.

Companies are also getting really creative with designs too. Along with beautiful images, some have lines that help guide your foot or hand placement (side note, I wouldn’t rely on a mat telling me where my foot should be as each person’s anatomy is different and your foot placement may need to be a little different).

My current wish list mat is a big round mat with moon phases. Do I need it…no. But I’m so curious about a practice where I don’t have to stay in one line and have more freedom to move in many directions in my flow.

Sizes

Standard length is 68 inches long (approx. 173 centimeters) this length is sufficient for most people

Sometimes you can find mats that are 72 inches (approx. 182 centimeters)

Yoga mats tend to be 24 inches wide (approx. 61 centimeters)

In Conclusion

There you have it. The basics of chosing a yoga mat that is best for you. Remember, you don’t need a mat to do yoga. You simply need a willingness to be present and breathe. Everything else is optional.