Yoga Information

Yoga Mats - Are They All Created Equal?


Yoga mats are a basic part of every practice. What you might not realize is that there are several types of yoga mats that you can choose from.

Sticky Mats
These yoga mats offer a covering for your practice area, as well as some stability for you when doing poses. They are thin, lightweight, and come in a variety of colors. Some of them have guide marks on them to illustrate proper hand and foot placements. In order for these mats to be sticky and prevent you from slipping and sliding, you need to sprinkle them with a small amount of water and let them air dry. You can use these mats for most types of yoga.

Ultra Double Thickness Mats
These yoga mats are basically sticky mats that are ultra thick. They provide both stability and cushioning which is useful in certain poses. They can be a great choice for Astanga practitioners who often jump from one pose to another. I personally love the ultra thick mats because of the extra cushioning they provide. It is the only type I take with me to classes.

Travel Mats
This type of yoga mat is great to throw in your suitcase or carryon luggage when you are on the go, so you can practice no matter where you are. Travel yoga mats are very thin. You would use one either on a carpeted floor or on top of a towel or blanket on a floor that isn't carpeted.

Cotton Mats
These yoga mats are excellent for those types of yoga that traditionally cause you to sweat a lot such as Astanga or Bikram. Because they absorb sweat, they help keep you from slipping and sliding during these heat-producing practices. They work best when they are sprinkled with a small amount of water. The damp mat gives you a good amount of traction so your hands and feet stay where you place them. Many of them have lines in the patterns, which can help with your body alignment.

Cotton mats also provide cushioning. They can substitute for blankets by helping to bolster your body during certain asanas. Some people use cotton mats over sticky mats during their practice.

Yoga Mat Bag
A yoga mat bag is a great accessory for carrying your yoga mat or mats to class, work, or anywhere else you need to go. Many have extra space where you can put your keys, water bottle, and tee shirt. The bag protects your mat and helps make it easier for you to transport your yoga gear.

Now that you know about the different yoga mats that are available and what each one does, you choose the right mat or mats for you.

Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been involved in fitness for over thirty years. Her website http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with practical information about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive part of your life. Visit the site and get your free meditation e-book.


MORE RESOURCES:

Jennifer McAloon of McKinney: Inner peace - and other benefits of ...
Dallas Morning News, TX - 9 hours ago
I was first drawn to yoga for the clothes. They are all stretchy, cottony and soft. They reminded me of the onesies I'd dress my babies in after a warm bath ...


Fall yoga retreats in Arizona, Honduras and Hawaii
Los Angeles Times, CA - Sep 6, 2008
Go on and strike a pose — September is National Yoga Month, according to the National Health Information Center. If you’re an aficionado of this ages-old ...


Laughter Yoga
WPTV, FL - 8 hours ago
BACKGROUND: Yoga is a well-known exercise that incorporates breathing, stretching and a variety of poses. Now, a growing number of instructors around the ...


Yoga practice a holistic approach to well-being
North Shore News, Canada - 10 hours ago
Yoga has been practised for thousands of years, and it's no wonder; it's one of the most all-around beneficial activities one can do. ...


If you're not into yoga ...
Sioux Falls Argus Leader, SD - 10 hours ago
East Bank Yoga is the latest addition. The center opened last week at 8th & Railroad Center. The center offers a host of yoga and meditation classes ...


The medicinal powers of yoga
CBC.ca, Canada - Sep 5, 2008
But medical research that's been accumulating over the past 10 to 15 years is showing that yoga can provide health benefits that many people may not realize ...


Have A Gala Time With Your Yoga Equipments And Make Yourself Healthy.
Corsavoo.com, France - 19 hours ago
Yoga is a way of life that helps to control mind and helps in developing your personality. Most people in the eastern and western parts of the world too are ...


Higher education, with yoga
Globe and Mail, Canada - Sep 6, 2008
... a gymnasium and a 1700-seat varsity centre that can host convocation ceremonies, as well as dozens of dance, fitness and yoga studios. ...


Restore physical vitality with yoga's downward facing dog
Los Angeles Times, CA - Sep 5, 2008
Practicing yoga can help restore your physical vitality and emotional balance. The various postures are powerful tools to strengthen and stretch your entire ...


Reaching out through yoga
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN - Sep 6, 2008
She also hopes it can change the world, which is why the Indiana native founded the non-profit Yoga World Reach (www.yogaworldreach.org) in Vail, Colo., ...

Yoga - Google News

home | site map
© 2006