Yoga Mat Buying Guide
Whether you’re looking to purchase your first mat or just looking to buy a new one, this guide can help you make the decision on which mat to choose a little bit easier. Although a mat is not required to practice yoga, some may still find it more comfortable than the bare floor. For me, there’s something about the mat itself that helps center my thoughts and get me in the correct mind frame. It’s as if once I roll out my mat I know I will be breathing and moving with intention so the peace comes over me in preparation.
With so many options to choose from it’s hard to decide on the best one. You may be asking yourself, does it really even matter what kind of mat I get? Does it make a difference? The answer is YES! Continue reading below.
I will be linking all of the yoga mat suggestions. Any name that is underlined will take you to a direct link where to purchase.
Yoga style
The biggest thing to consider when contemplating what yoga mat to purchase is to think about the style of yoga that you will most often practice. If you have fallen in love with Bikram or Hot Yoga, then you may not need a thicker, less sticky mat; instead you would want a yoga mat that is very sticky so that you don’t slide right off when sweating in class. Added tip* a yoga mat towel is a life saver. You just put the yoga mat towel over your mat to absorb the sweat and that’s it! I like this towel.
Good options for hot yoga:
Thickness
Why go with a thinner or thicker mat? It all comes down to comfort level. For me, my wrists and knees hurt when on hard surfaces, so I need the extra cushion. Between 4-6mm thickness will be perfect for someone who prefers more give. If you’re not like me and you take fast flow yoga classes, then you would do fine with a thinner mat because you’re rarely in any one position for too long.
Good option for a little extra cushion:
Good option for a thinner mat:
Material
Rubber? closed-cell, anti-microbial? PVC (depends)?
You may or may not care to be conscious of the different material that your yoga mat is made of.
Any mat made of PVC is usually more reasonably priced compared to the rubber or closed-cell. Keep in mind that although a lot of mats are made out of PVC, the quality and treatment of these mats makes a big difference in overall quality. For instance, when you roll out a brand new Gaiam yoga mat, you can smell the difference, almost smells like a PVC shower curtain. Nonetheless, if you do need a mat in the Gaiam price range, make sure to air out the mat before using it. You can also put a towel down for example if you will only be using the mat for hot yoga.
For reasonably priced mats made out of PVC:
Gaiam is always a good choice
For mats made out of rubber:
For the closed-cell, microbial:
Length
This applies to taller people obviously. It may be a little uncomfortable being in savasana with your feet or head off the mat if your mat is regular length. Standard size is 68 inches long. There are several yoga mat brands that offer a longer length at 72in.
Good option for longer mats:
Liforme Yoga mat (also wider than most mats as well)
Portability
Thickness and material will be the main indicators of portability. If you live in a city and bicycle to class, well then you would need a lightweight mat. Maybe you’re traveling to a retreat and need to be able to have your lightweight yoga mat go on the trip with you? If you don’t travel with your yoga mat frequently, portability may not play a big role in the choice of mat you go with.
A good option:
That is all my friends. A quick Yoga Mat buying guide to help you make one of the most important purchases you can make as a practicing yogi.
If you have a favorite mat that wasn’t listed, please share in the comments which mat it is and why it’s your favorite.
With LOVE,
KayaDejure