"Yoga is not about touching your toes. It is what you learn on the way down"
Yoga mats are made of rubber material and specially designed to stop the slipping of hands and feet, it was mostly practiced in modern yoga exercises. The early idea of rubber yoga mat was given by Angela Farmer in 1982.
Before the invention of yoga mat the practice of yoga was done either on the grounds or tiger skin rug, mostly hatha yoga or meditative yoga were done on such places.
Today the yoga mats are mostly made up from the materials like rubber, plastic and sometimes the material like cork. The yoga mats should be the basic one, entry-level mat. Various materials of yoga mats –
- PVC- polyvinyl chloride, most of the yoga mats are made up of this material. This material gives long durability and comfort.
- Foam- eco friendly material. It provides the same performance as the other materials does
- Rubber- another eco friendly material which is the better option and alternative of PVC. It contains latex. But don’t prefer if you’ve allergy
- Cotton – the yoga mats made from cotton are considered as traditional yoga mats that are thin and eco friendly. It helps in absorbing sweat and increases the grio when a person is sweaty
Why Yoga Mats ?
- It helps in resisting the hands and feet to slip, while doing asanas
- Most of them are eco friendly and biodegradable
- While stretching the body in various asanas it helps in maintaining proper body balance and posture, as it prevents us from slipping.
- It helps us to keep a strong hold on to the surface.
- It does not result in any loss of heat and energy. Hence provides thermal-insulation
- There are some mats which also absorbs sweat.
So one should always do yoga on yoga mats for proper gripping and prevention from slipping and several other benefits.
Measurements of yoga mats
Thickness
- 1/4″ thickness (or 6mm): Generally, thick yoga mat, or heavy yoga mat will be 1/4″-5/16″ or 6-8mm.
- 1/8″ thickness (or 4mm-5mm): This is the most commonly used thickness, also known as standard yoga mats, and it’s the best combination of performance and stability. If you practice often, consider purchasing a 1/8″ mat because they provide enough comfort for your knees, but are light enough to carry to and from the studio on a daily schedule.
- 1/16″ thickness (or 1-3mm): If you’re constantly on-the-go or are looking to practice Yoga when you travel, theJn ultra lite 1/16″ yoga mats is the best answer. Half as thick as a standard mat, 1/16″ yoga mats will fit in any yoga mat bag with room to spare. Aside from this feature, thin mats like these allow you to get a better essence of the floor. This is definitely an excellent option if you prefer the natural feel of touching the ground, while performing exercises.
Size
Mostly yoga mats are 24″ x 68″, but the length can sometimes be different (the width will almost always remain 24″). 72″ and 74″ are typical substitute lengths, but in some yoga mats length could be as long as 84″. While most yogis will fit on a standard-sized mat, taller yogis will need to test a little. For this, start off by trying to do a downward-facing dog pose on a basic standard yoga mat. As long as your hands and feet properly fit on the mat, then the length is perfect.
Important factors to be considered to select the best Yoga Mat
- Always make sure the yoga mate is according to you size and height as getting the smaller one, you will not get fit and your body will be half on mat and other half touching the floor so take the proper measurements
- Make sure you buy eco friendly yoga mats as harming the environment is not good and also there are many eco friendly yoga mats are available in the market
Top 5 Yoga Mats
1. Boldfit Yoga mat for women and men with cover bag TPE material 6mm extra thick exercise mat for workout yoga fitness Pilates and meditation, Anti Tear Anti slip and Extra cushion eco friendly yoga mat
BoldFit provide you with the right kind of yoga mats that will help you carry your exercise routines without any kind of stress. Pro’s
- Excellent design, the mat feels very premium and luxurious
- Does not slip. People can easily do difficult poses like sarvangasana without having the fear of slipping
- Bag is convenient to carry around
- Love the beautiful POP colours of my mat
- Pure value for money
- Non toxic eco friendly material
Features and Details
- Optimum Thickness – This yoga mat is a perfect option for people of all shapes and sizes as it measures 6-feet long and 2-feet wide.
- Durable TPE Material – This yoga mat is made from TPE material, which is the latest technological improvement to the traditional yoga mats.
- Dual Color Mat – The mat comes with a dual color combination on both sides.
- It’s simply superb and classy. – The build of the mat is extremely good & has a feel – good factor towards it unlike the other cheap mats. Light weight & easy to carry around.
2. Brandvilla Yoga Mat with Carrying Bag Anti Skid Yoga Mat for Gym Workout and Flooring Exercise Long Size Yoga Mat for Men Women
Brand Villa Pro Grip mat’s high quality EVA material will make your workouts more comfortable and enjoyable.
This mat is excellent in terms of quality and comfort. There is no foul smell. Also it is not at all slippery. Yoga Mat is designed to give you the most comfortable yoga experience possible.
Features and Details
- ORGANIC RUBBER BASE – Organic Rubber base makes the handloom cotton mat anti skid and stays on any kind of surface – wooden, tile, marble, granite, cemented or carpeted while avoiding slipping and injuries.
- SIZE & WEIGHT – Brandvilla Yoga mat size & weight is designed to suit all kinds of yoga practices as well as to easily carry it around. Size : 6 Feet Long & 2 feet wide ( 183 cm X 61 cm )
- Waterproof and Easy to Clean – Brand Villa Pro Grip mat’s Moisture resistant technology makes the mat to be easily washed with soap and water.
3.Truebox 4mm Yoga Mat Anti Skid Yoga mat for Gym Workout and Flooring Exercise Long Size Yoga Mat for Men & Women
The yoga mat has the length of 173 cm and breadth of 61 cm. It can be used by anyone of any age and any body size. With high quality foam substance, the 1/2 “ thick mat provides comfort to one’s body, while executing the yoga positions or any other exercise.
The mat allows you to keep your posture right. It is manufactured in a way which enables the mat to be easily washed with soap and water.
The mat is available in 6 different colors, which is attractive to see and gives you your own space to perform different exercises.
4. VIFITKIT Yoga Mat with Free Yoga mat Bag Anti Skid Yoga mat for Gym Workout and Flooring Exercise Long Size Yoga Mat for Men Women
- Long Lasting And COMFORTABLE YOGA MAT- The EVA material is extremely durable and eco friendly. It lasts upto 5 times more than a regular plastic mat! The material is biodegradable and free from PVC, silicon, latex and other toxic materials. We have eco friendly products for our customers.
- LongT PROOF AND EASILY WASHABLE YOGA MAT – Next time you don’t have to stress of sweat while doing yoga. The yoga mat is completely sweat resistant and has a Moisture resistant .You can easily wash it with soap and water.
- This Yoga Mat is designed to give you the most comfortable yoga. The extra thick mat protects joints without compromising support or stability
- This yoga mat is Light weighted, Durable and has non-slip surface so you can perform any movement with confident.The subtly textured surface keep your hands and feet from slipping out of position so you can hold. It is suitable for Non-slip on Wood Floor, Cement Floor, Tiles Floor.
- Care Tips: Do not use it in the washing machine,Please keep it dry and clean after use.
5. Hable Yoga Mat - Instructional Alignment Line – helps to maintain the correct body posture - Eco friendly TPE Material - Best Non Slip Yoga Mat with 6mm thickness and Quality Carry Strap - Double Layer mat offers the perfect cushioning for your Knees and Joints - For Men & Women
The Hable Yoga mat has a special laser engraving texture which makes the yoga mat grip at ground more firmly, preventing hands and feet from slipping out of position and prevents injuries. Moisture resistant feature makes the yoga mat easy to be washed with soap and water. The alignment lines helps you to focus and adjust your hands and feet to the accurate position, and keeps the body in proper alignment.
This mat is so soft to practice on, the cushion is great.
Features and Details
- Provided a firm grip for the hand and feet while doing the asanas
- Good cushioning
- lines and guides to help with alignment of the body and placement of hands and feet. This mat met these criteria and more. Also the alignments and guides are laser etched in the mat so they won’t fade from use which is an added bonus.
- Toxin-Free Material : Our mats are made of Eco Friendly TPE material which is without Latex,PVC or any harmful chemicals and traditional non-green PVC, NBR or EVA yoga mats. Some yoga mats are made of polyvinyl chloride, a compound that launches toxic gases into the environment and into your lungs when you exercise.