| Yoga Mat Reviews Presents 'How To Choose A Yoga Mat' |
| Written by Kenneth Tremors | |
| Tuesday, 23 March 2010 | |
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The Yoga products market is booming with new additions. Without a doubt, the most popular product today is a mat. This simple accessory, made of PVC, rubber or something similar may end up costing close to a hundred dollars. Is anyone ready to spend so much money on just a mat? Is it worth it? This article will consider the important aspects of choosing the right mat, the key factors to look at. We will address the possibilities of having your own mat, something disposable or settling for one provided by your studio.
The Yoga products market is booming with new additions. Without a doubt, the most popular product today is a mat. This simple accessory, made of PVC, rubber or something similar may end up costing close to a hundred dollars. Is anyone ready to spend so much money on just a mat? Is it worth it? This article will consider the important aspects of choosing the right mat, the key factors to look at. We will address the possibilities of having your own mat, something disposable or settling for one provided by your studio. How You Practice: 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. Becoming a regular practitioner will eventually awaken a desire to have your own mat. Rolling out the same mat day after day will make your practice more comfortable as you get used to the grip, thickness, smell, color and feel of your mat and become familiar with its limitation. On a more subtle level, your mat will gather your energies, becoming your companion during practice and meditation, making it much easier to stay focused. Keep in mind that a better mat will also provide better practice, enhancing many poses and adding to your confidence. For those who practice on advanced levels choosing a mat shouldn't be a difficult task. By now, you should know exactly what type of yoga mat you need to get the best out your practice. Your mat's 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 mat's material quality depends on the following factors that must be considered to ensure maximum comfort and stability: * 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 will you mat last? Some cheaper, lightweight mats will not last a few months of extensive practice. Surprisingly, some very expensive jute and cotton mats will also break down and deteriorate, as their natural fibers wear off very fast. 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. The Article Author: Read comprehensive, unbiased Yoga Mat Reviews on the author's site. The Best Mat of 2010 is Manduka Black Mat Pro. |
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