One of the most important things for yoga practice is a good yoga mat. It is the first step towards a successful and enjoyable yoga journey.
We look at five things that any good yoga mat should have
Material
A good quality yoga mat need to be made out of natural materials and environmentally friendly. A good quality yoga mat material is natural rubber, which is an eco-friendly, renewable and bio degradable material. These natural rubber yoga mats can also be ingrained with other natural materials such as cotton fibers to make it more durable.
Grip
Yoga mat with good grip allows yogis to hold pose with better grip. How to decide that the mat has a good grip? Experience minimum sliding while practicing despite having sweaty palms. Both texture and the material of the mat plays a significant role in deciding the grip of the mat.
Thickness
The thickness of a yoga mat determines how comfortable it will be. The yoga mat need to be thick enough to be comfortable while practicing yoga but not too thick that it is difficult to hold pose. The standard thickness of a yoga mat is around 4mm to 5mm.
Weight
A lighter mat helps yogis to carry it easily and ideal if you travels a lot. But lighter mats tend to move while practicing difficult yoga asnasas. Heavy yoga mats are difficult to carry around but stays firm on the floor while practicing.
Durability
Many yoga mats made out of synthetic materials such as PVC tend to abrade easily even though cheaper. Comparatively mats made out of natural rubber has a longer life span and suitable for rough use.