Choosing a Yoga Mat
Choosing a Yoga Mat
When practicing any form of yoga, the yoga mat is an important piece of equipment for the practice. There are different types of yoga mats that can be found on the market today to match the needs of the practitioners. For beginners, the yoga classes will usually have some yoga mats that they can use so that they can see if yoga is something that they want to continue doing. The trouble with using these mats that are provided is that they are not always cleaned very well and they are not always free to use after the first couple of classes. Since the poses are on the hands and feet as well as laying down, sometimes with the face pressed on the mat, users do not want to be on an unclean mat that multitudes of people have used, sweating while they work out.
Types of Mats
The basic yoga mat is about a half inch thick and is made from a rubber material. The thickness is perfect for the different poses that are done in the practice of yoga since it offers some protection from the hardness of the floor in the gym. However, since many of the poses require balance, the thickness also does not prohibit good balancing on the mat while in those poses. The yoga mat is often in rubber material because the poses also require that the hands and feet do not slip when in the poses. When the hands and feet slip, the person cannot fully concentrate in the pose and has to readjust the pose to be able to hold it. The rubber yoga mats prevent this slipping, allowing the user to hold the pose and relax and breath the entire time.
There are other versions of the yoga mats that are more specialized. There are some yoga mats that have different patterns on them and come in different colors. They also will come with cases and straps for carrying them to and from class. There are some rubber mats that are made from an anti-bacteria material so that the mats stay cleaner for the person to use each time in class. For those who are more environmentally conscious, there are yoga mats that are made from recycled materials, or are made from a cotton casing with natural filler material inside of it. The cotton casing also prevents slipping and is tight enough that it does not get in the way of the movement from pose to pose in most cases.
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