Why are yoga mats like shoes and purses?
If you’re new to yoga and plan to practice frequently, a good yoga mat is a must. A properly constructed mat allows you to 
perform a comprehensive range of yoga poses without slipping, sliding or discomfort. Once you learn proper yoga alignment, you can truly begin focusing on physical fitness as well as mental well-being.
You might think that if you’ve seen one mat, you’ve seen them all; however this is not the case. Yoga mats are a bit like shoes, purses or other commonly-used accessories in that you simply prefer some over others. Here’s why: You might prefer a purse that’s smaller size with a lot of individual compartments; but your sister likes hers to be large and roomy with just one main compartment. This is a matter of individual choice. Yoga mats too, while not quite as diverse as purses, come in a variety of materials, colors, designs and thicknesses. Just to further complicate your selection, some even come with matching yoga bags.
Five factors to keep in mind when choosing a yoga mat:
- Stickiness: Your yoga mat should be rough or “sticky” enough to keep you from slipping, but smooth enough to encourage proper body flow, as is necessary in vinyasas.
- Thickness: Mats come in standard thicknesses of ¼” and 1/8”. If practicing on hard floors causes discomfort to your knees, hips and feet, consider buying one that’s ¼” thick to go underneath your thinner, stickier mat. Why not use only the thicker mat? Too much cushion under your feet prevents them from “grounding” properly which is not optimum for standing poses. (The other option is to buy two 1/8” thick mats and lay one on top of the other.)
- Length: If you’re very tall, choose a yoga mat in the maximum length available. This will ensure that you have enough mat space underneath you, whether you’re doing standing, sitting, or supine poses.
- Absorbency: If you perspire a lot or practice Bikram (“Hot”) Yoga, make sure your mat has good absorbency.
- Wash-ability: The above point leads to this next essential: wash-ability. At minimum, you should be able to spot clean your mat with a simple cleaning solution, or better yet, wipe it down completely.
Choosing a Yoga Bag
After years of practicing yoga, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that yoga bags are also important. The bulkiness and length of yoga mats prevent them from being toted in just any old bag. It’s best to use a one specifically designed to accommodate the mat’s shape. You also need to consider your lifestyle when choosing a yoga bag. If you’re coming to the yoga studio directly from work, you’ll want a bag that not only carries your mat, but also your yoga clothing. Maybe you only need to carry the mat, but would like your bag to have a few pockets for a cell phone, keys, water bottle and your yoga block.
Find yoga mats and yoga bags to suit your individual tastes.
