For yoga practitioners, yoga mats are a necessity in their daily lives. The longer a yoga practitioner practices yoga, the more they prefer to bring their own yoga mat. Because a fashionable, beautiful and suitable yoga mat not only allows you to receive more likes in social circles, but more importantly, it also ensures the continuity of your practice in yoga studios, on the go, and at home.

So, choosing a yoga mat that suits oneself has become an essential task for yoga practitioners. Next, we will mainly analyze how to choose a yoga mat based on its proper alignment, material, size, portability, and slip resistance.

1、 Ortho line

This is currently the most important detail standard for yoga practitioners when choosing a mat. The upright lines on the cushion surface can guide and assist practitioners in practicing more correct and precise yoga postures. The selection of upright lines can basically focus on two points: first, it depends on the design principle of the lines (i.e. the authenticity of the system), and secondly, whether they match your height (the width and length of upright lines are more accurate when they match various parts of your body)

2、 What are the materials of yoga mats

At present, the mainstream yoga mat materials on the market are generally divided into PVC, TPE, natural rubber, cork, cotton and linen, and mixed material yoga mats. If allergic to latex, pay attention to whether the label indicates latex free.

PVC

Advantages: Good durability, low raw material cost, therefore the price is relatively affordable, and it is also a relatively common yoga mat currently used; Not containing latex, suitable for people allergic to latex; The material has poor absorption, so it is easy to clean.

Shortcomings: Due to poor material absorption, it has good slip resistance in dry conditions, but for people who sweat a lot, its wet slip resistance is poor; Plastic products cannot degrade naturally.

TPE

Advantages: High elasticity; Good anti slip performance regardless of dry/wet conditions; Environmentally friendly, some products can be fully recycled.

Shortcomings: Compared to PVC, it has poor durability.

Natural rubber

Advantages: The raw materials come from natural sources and are environmentally friendly; The natural texture and perforated structure on the surface help absorb moisture, making it effective in preventing dry or wet sliding.

Shortcomings: When I first bought it, it had a strong odor; The perforated structure is easy to absorb stains and requires market cleaning.

cork

Advantages: Environmentally friendly and non-toxic, with almost no odor; Wood has a sense of returning to nature; The anti dry and wet sliding effects are excellent.

Shortcomings: relatively expensive prices; The wooden structure has good absorption and is not easy to clean.

Cotton and linen

Advantages: It is skin friendly, gentle, and non irritating, making it the first choice for those who love traditional weaving techniques; Easy to clean.

Shortcomings: Poor grip effect, limited to yoga classes or meditation exercises with few movements, relatively niche.

Mixed materials

Most chemical synthesized materials are non-toxic and pollution-free products. The modern yoga mat produced on industrial assembly lines was originally made of PVC as the material.

TPE is a relatively high-end material with high production quality and environmental friendliness. It is currently the most commonly used type of public mat in mid to high end gyms.

3、 What is the appropriate size of the yoga mat

The length is usually around 163cm and 183cm; The width is usually around 61cm.

Beginners can choose according to the material. TPE and PVC are recommended to use a medium thickness of 6-8mm, while natural rubber is recommended to use around 4mm, which can make the process of learning yoga more enjoyable for beginners;

Advancers recommend using 3-6mm (also the most common thickness on the market) to gradually adapt;

Experienced professionals recommend using a 1.5-3mm thin pad to fully perceive the ground and maintain stable movements.

4、 Portability

Usually, yoga practitioners prepare two mats, one for home use and one for outdoor practice. A yoga mat placed at home may overlook portability, but the mat taken out must be easy to carry. Firstly, the weight should be light. Many brands produce 1.5-3mm yoga mats for travel, which can be easily rolled up or folded and placed in suitcases and backpacks.

5、 Anti slip performance

For friends who have just started practicing yoga, besides choosing an upright yoga mat that can help them develop good habits, they must also pay the most attention to the issue of anti slip mats, making it more difficult to control the already laborious standing posture, making muscles more tense and difficult to stretch. In addition to not ensuring correct posture practice, it is also related to the safety of practice. Summer yoga is prone to sweating, and at this time, a damp and slippery mat is even more needed.

The most important thing when choosing a yoga mat is to be soft, close to the ground, and have a strong grip when laying flat. It should not slide when sweating, and it is best to be easy to carry. Secondly, it is necessary to have good waterproof and anti slip performance. Even if you are sweating profusely, you can practice with ease on it. The bottom of the mat is full of particles and won't slip.