For yogis, the yoga mat is a necessity in daily life. The longer the yogis practice yoga, the more they like to bring their own yoga mats. Because a stylish, beautiful and suitable yoga mat not only allows you to get more likes in your social circle of friends, but more importantly, it also allows you to ensure the continuity of your practice in the yoga studio, on the road and at home.
Therefore, choosing a yoga mat that suits you has become an indispensable homework for yoga people. Now, we will analyze how to choose a suitable yoga mat from multiple aspects.
1.Materials: PVC, TPE, and natural rubber are available.
The more mainstream materials for yoga mats are PVC, TPE and natural rubber. There are also EVA materials on the market, but EVA is relatively not soft enough and has a heavier odor. So this material we will not be introduced here.
Let me talk about PVC first. It is a material used in 80% of yoga mats currently on the market. PVC is polyvinyl chloride, a kind of chemical raw material. It is not soft before it is foamed, nor can it serve as a non-slip cushion. But after foaming, it becomes the main material for making yoga mats. Yoga mats made of PVC have average elasticity and good slip resistance. Compared with the other two materials, the price is the cheapest, so they are very popular in the market.
The second is TPE. The main characteristics of TPE yoga mats are good toughness, good elasticity, and good anti-slip effect. Generally, high-level yoga mats will use this material. This material can be recycled and reused, and will not cause environmental pollution after being discarded. It is an environmentally friendly material. Because the body and the mat are in contact for a long time during yoga exercise, a non-toxic and tasteless environmentally friendly yoga mat is very important from the point of view of health and comfort. This material is considered an upgraded version of PVC.
Finally, natural rubber. Its anti-skid and grip are excellent, and its service life is relatively long, so it is the most expensive. The environmental protection of the production process and the durability of the product for an average of ten years are also one of the reasons for the price difference between the rubber material and the first two materials.
2.Choose specifications based on height, shoulder width and practice level
The basic principle is that the length of the yoga mat should not be shorter than the height, the width should not be narrower than the shoulder width, and the thickness should be selected according to your own level.
Generally speaking, it is recommended for beginners to choose a yoga mat that is 6mm thick, because a thicker one can protect the body more and avoid injury. But don't blindly pursue high thickness. After all, yoga is a sport that places great emphasis on balance. If the mat is too thick, it will easily lead to instability of the center of gravity, which is not conducive to perceiving the force of the action. Thicker mats on the market are generally used for fitness exercises such as sit-ups (this type of mat is actually a fitness mat).
Medium-thickness yoga mats are generally around 4mm or 5mm, suitable for advanced users, so beginners should not consider it! As for the 1.5mm-3mm thin yoga mat, it is more suitable for advanced users, and secondly, because it is light, if you often go to the gym then can consider it.
3.Additional function
In order to facilitate the correction of the practitioner's movements, a yoga mat with asana guidance function is becoming more and more popular. There are orthographic lines, gaze points and asana guide lines on it, which can play a very good auxiliary role in the practice process, and it is also the most suitable yoga mat for yoga beginners.
4.Different types of yoga have different emphasis on mats
If it is mainly for soft training, it is better to use a thick and soft yoga mat; if it is more jumpy, such as Power Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, etc., it is recommended to use a thinner and harder mat.
In general, if you have a clear type of yoga that you want to learn, it is recommended to filter according to the type of practice based on the basic principles. If you are not sure what type of yoga to practice, and you are a beginner, it is recommended to choose a yoga mat made of PVC or TPE with a thickness of 6mm, which is enough to meet your needs.
Post time: Nov-26-2021