Using the Goldilocks Principal to Choose a Yoga Mat

Yesterday, I returned my yoga mat to the manufacturer.

It was too thick.

I’d chosen it for just that reason too, thinking that a 3/8” thick mat would be so comfy for my bony knees, hips, ankles and sit bones.

And it was! The super thick mat was great for seated poses. Problem was that it made me wobble during standing poses.

Definitely not good.

So in choosing a yoga mat, I’ve decided to employ the Goldilocks principal: Find one is that is not too thick….. not too thin…. but juuuust riiiiiiight.

When your mat is too thick, your feet can’t grip the ground. When your feet can’t grip the ground, you won’t feel grounded. Feeling grounded is essential in every standing pose from Mountain, Triangle and Side Angle to Prayer Twist, Half-Moon and Warrior.

But if your mat is too thin, you’re going to feel it in your bones and joints during seated and supine positions.

So what’s the solution?

If cushioning is as important to you as it is to me, a 1/8″ mat might be too thin; therefore you might want to consider a  1/4″ yoga mat . Waffle weave, to me, offers a better surface for gripping, but yoga mats also come smoother surfaces (I personally feel these are more slippery, but you’ll have to gauge your own inner-Goldlilocks.)

Speaking of Goldilocks, just 1 more piece of advice: be ready to run like hell if 3 bears catch you trying to filch their porridge!

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