Exercise Yoga Mat
How to choose the right Yoga Mat?
You need a solid, supporting surface to exercise on, and for that reason, we recommend that you use a yoga mat for your safety. Mats give you padding, comfort, and protection, especially for your knees and spine. However, it isn’t necessary to have a yoga mat when you do yoga-with-weights exercises. You can exercise on a solid, non-slippery, close-weave type of carpet or clean, dry floor.
If you’re taking a yoga-with-weights class in a gym, we recommend bringing your own mat for hygiene purposes. Most gyms offer yoga mats, but they can get very sweaty. Rolling around in your own sweat is much more agreeable and hygienic than rolling around in a stranger’s sweat.
When you shop for a yoga mat, look for one that stretches a little and gives you good support. Like Goldilocks’s porridge, the mat shouldn’t be too thick or too thin. Mats range from a fraction of an inch to an inch deep, but depth isn’t the real issue — cushioning is. The idea is to get some relief from the hard floor, and although comfort is fine, a spongy mat can be a nuisance because it doesn’t give you a solid base to work on. For your purposes, a quarter- to half-inch-thick mat is best because it offers comfort and stability; if you’re uncomfortable sitting on the floor or on your knees, get a mat that’s on the thick side. Also, the mat should be as long as you are tall plus about 6 inches; in other words, if you’re 5’6″, find a 6-foot yoga mat.
Don’t select a foam mat; they’re too thick and too short for yoga-with-weights exercises. Foam mats are made for aerobic exercising.
In the yoga community, some ecology-minded practitioners object to using synthetic materials. You can now buy natural rubber mats and mats made from hemp. These mats are considered more “earth friendly.” Look for a dense, sturdy mat without a slippery surface.
Due to the popularity of yoga, every Tom, Dick, and Harriet has gotten into the yoga-mat business, and some manufacturers don’t really know what they’re doing. People in our yoga classes often complain about the yoga mats they’ve purchased because the mats wear down quickly, slide across the floor during exercises, and get slippery from sweat. We recommend mats made by Airex, Tapas, and Prana; you can buy these mats at sporting goods stores, and the appendix explains where you can find them on the Internet.
About the Author
This author writes about Home Plans and Designs and Easy Wooden Projects. Visit the Snowman Yard Decor website for unique Christmas decoration ideas.
|
|
Multi-use 4′ x 8′ Foam Floor Mat , 1/4 Thick, 32 sq. ft., Grey with a Diamond Plate Finish, Used as Exercise Garage Mat, Workshop Mat, Laundry Room Mat, Anti Fatigue Mat, Outdoor Mat, Camping Mat, Kitchen Mat “BEST-STEP” ANTI-FATIGUE 4′ x 8′ FLOOR MAT, Multi-functional comfort flooring with a grey diamond plate finish for home and school. Use anywhere you need a soft cushion underfoot. Perfect for kitchen, garage, laundry, basements, exercise rooms, workshop, camping, cargo liner, etc…. |
|
|
Music for Pilates $4.98 Whether you want to surround yourself with the beauty of music, or are trying to create the perfect atmosphere, or just need a few moments of Me Time, Lifestyles has the music for you. Lifestyles: your mood, your life, your style. Music For Pilates is the perfect soundtrack for one of the worlds fastest growing exercise trends. Specifically created with the Pilates workout in mind, you … |
|
|
Pilates for Dummies [VHS] $3.99 Pilates Workout for Dummies is a 60-minute DVD, ideal for both the first-time and intermediate Pilates exerciser. In the Basic Workout, well-toned instructor Michelle Dozois clearly and patiently presents 18 classic Pilates mat exercises, first demonstrating and explaining, then doing 6 to 10 repetitions. She explains what the Powerhouse is and how to use it, and covers the basics you’ll need if y… |
|
|
Denise Austin – Mat Workout Based on the Work of J.H. Pilates [VHS] $0.01 Denise Austin’s Mat Workout presents two 20-minute workouts emphasizing flexibility, core strength, balance, and relaxation. Workout 1 is Pilates-based, focusing on the core muscles of the abdominals and back. Pilates-based workouts are heavily founded on technique and awareness, so Austin takes time to explain and demonstrate neutral pelvis, shoulder stability, breathing technique, and the muscle… |
|
|
Stott Pilates – Essential Matwork [VHS] $12.88 Moira Stott-Merrithew has updated Essential Matwork, changing the order of exercises to better balance the body. This is a superb, 63-minute introduction to the Stott Pilates method. First Stott-Merrithew goes through the fundamental principles of breathing, imprinting, and how to stabilize the abdominals, shoulders, and back. Her warm-up practices these principles. Then she works your body thorou… |
|
|
24 X 24 X ~5/8 Thick Multi-purpose Interlocking Black Foam Mats (Set of 4) $28.99 A set of four 24” x 24” black mats are ideal for cushioning any hard surface area. Mats are multi-purpose and can be used children play area, personal gym, exercise mats, floor protection and much more. Includes 4 mats for a total of 16 square feet…. |
|
|
Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Attractive Female Stretching on Yoga Mat – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
|
|
Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Yoga Mat – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
|
|
Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners $4.99 Pilates can transform your body in a way no gym equipment can match. Filmed at a breathtaking location overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners DVD is designed to maximize calorie burn while teaching you the basics of Pilates…. |
|
|
10 Minute Solution: Prenatal Pilates $4.85 Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 08/07/2007 Run time: 67 minutes Rating: Nr… |
