Some people have a harder time deciding when faced with many options, but for some, it’s easier to find the one that they need and want when they have more choices. When it comes to buying a yoga mat, it is definitely to your advantage that there are now hundreds (if not thousands) of choices available that will suit your taste and meet your specific physical requirements for a yoga mat. Here is a simple buying guide to get you started in your search for a yoga mat.
What are the Different Types of Yoga Mat?
There are several ways to categorize the different types of yoga mat; by portability, thickness, roll up vs. folding, surface texture, grip, eco-friendliness, etc. So if you are in the market for a yoga mat, it’s important to know which aspects are the most important to you. Beginner students are not that particular when it comes to surface texture, as long as the yoga mat has enough grip and slip resistance. The more advanced yogis, however, like their yoga mats a specific way. And this is why many well-known and/or trusted brands offer a wide variety of yoga mat styles and designs.
The travel yoga mat is, as the name implies, ideal for those who take their yoga practice with them wherever they go. These travel yoga mats are lightweight and tend to be quite thin because the focus is on portability. Eco-friendly yoga mats are also highly popular because respect for life is among the main teachings of yoga, so a lot of companies are using biodegradable or sustainable material to make the different yoga mat styles and types they offer.
What Should I Look For In a Yoga Mat?
Just like when shopping for yoga clothes, comfort also ranks high among the factors to consider when buying a yoga mat. By comfort, we mean the cushion or thickness of the yoga mat. Most people, beginner yogis especially, are most comfortable doing poses on a relatively thick yoga mat. This is true especially for kneeling or sitting poses that can put pressure on the tail or sit bone. While a thick yoga mat would appear to be the obvious choice in terms of cushion, some students feel more comfortable practicing yoga on thinner mats where they don’t feel like they are lifted off the ground.
Thin and lightweight yoga mats are a popular choice among yoga instructors, advanced students, and those who travel a lot. Durability and cost are of course important too. If you’re the type who likes to get their yoga on wherever they go, be careful in choosing a travel-friendly yoga mat. This type of yoga mat tend to be quite thin (hence why it’s lighter to carry around), making it more prone to wear and tear. Not to worry, you have tons of options for yoga mats so we doubt you’ll have a hard time finding one that strikes the perfect balance between cost and the other aspects that meet your needs and taste.
How Much Do I Have to Spend on a Yoga Mat?
You can easily buy a high-quality, durable yoga mat for under $30, so there’s absolutely no reason to go way beyond your budget. Of course there are yoga mats that sell a lot more than your typical yoga mat ($100 and above), but again it all really depends on your needs and preferences. Manduka, Gaiam, and Jade Yoga – three of the most popular yoga mat brands today – have really good yoga mat offerings that are all priced below $30. If you are just starting out and need a mat for learning yoga at home or your yoga for beginners class, there’s no need to spend more than $30 or $40.
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