By: Dalia Mansour

Derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj”, Yoga means union of the individual consciousness or soul with the Universal Consciousness or Spirit. Yoga is a 5000-year-old Indian body of knowledge. Many think of yoga only as a physical exercise where people twist, turn, stretch, and breathe in the most complex ways, but the truth is it unfolds infinite potential of the human mind and soul.

Fifteen years ago, there was only one basic type of yoga mat  . It was made of PVC and noted for its stickiness, and your only choice was whether to buy purple or blue. Now, there are enough yoga mat types to suit all tastes.

And since Yaoota cares about your mind and soul as well as your body, we have prepared this article to help you find the right yoga mat for you. You will find the criteria for choosing a yoga mat, some of the best yoga mats out there, along with their prices. You will also find a review from those who have tried yoga mats themselves. If you find the right one for you, feel free to order it online via Yaoota and have it delivered right to your doorstep.

 *Prices listed in this article are the ones provided at the time of its publication, and are subject to change according to the supply and demand of the market.

If you’re new to yoga, make sure your mat is padded enough. When you’re just starting out, building up your strength takes some time, so make sure your mat is there to help you out along the way.

You can check out yoga mats through Yaoota here.

Criteria for Choosing the Right Yoga Mat:

(1) Thickness

Why is it important?

Thick yoga mats (some as thick as 6 mm) can make it harder for you to feel a strong connection to the floor, making you more wobbly while doing some positions.

Basic guidelines:

1. A standard yoga mat is about 4 mm thick, while the thickest is about 6 mm. There are also wafer-thin yoga mats (travel yoga mats). They fold easily and don’t weigh much.
2. You need to consider how much room you have to stow your yoga mat, how important portability is to you, and where your sweet spot is where you will be able to feel a direct connection to the floor.
3. If you’re short on storage space, go for the 4 mm. 
4. If you’re fine carrying/storing a little more heft in return for more cushioning, consider the 6 mm.
5. If you need to be able to pack your yoga mat in a suitcase, get yourself a foldable travel yoga mat in the 2 mm range.

(2) Material

Why is it important?

The material of your yoga mat decides its texture, stickiness, eco-friendliness, and sponginess, means (how much it yields to pressure), and how it will look with time.

Things to know:

• Most standard yoga mats are made of PVC. Recently, however, there are more earth-friendly options, including natural and recycled rubber, jute, and organic/natural cotton.
• A negative thing about material is that some yoga mats are full of PVC, which is a toxic plastic with carcinogens in it. So, when shopping, opt for a PVC-free mat.

Basic guidelines:

• If you’re allergic to latex, avoid yoga mats made of natural rubber.
• If you want a sticky mat, choose a yoga mat made out of PVC, which can endure your use and abuse for more than a decade. Sponginess can vary widely with different blends of materials, but in general, PVC has the most “give” of any yoga mat material; jute and cotton have the least.
• Beyond these fundamentals, read on and let your other priorities — texture, stickiness, and eco-friendliness — be your guides.

(3) Texture

Why is it important?

The texture of your mat dictates how much traction it provides and how much slippage will occur. It provides physical barriers to sliding (whereas stickiness relies on suction). It’s also a component of overall comfort.

Things to know:

• Texture can be either man-made (a pattern of raised bumps, for example) or dictated by the material.
• Jute yoga mats have an organic roughness to them, while PVC yoga mats, though slightly textured, have a softer feel.

Basic guidelines:

• If want to avoid slipping but still avoid PVC mats (the traditional sticky yoga mats), look for a rubber, jute, or cotton yoga mat that has a raised, tactile pattern. The added grip the raised texture provides can help you stay put no matter how sweaty or vigorous your practice gets.
• If you relish stickiness but are curious about new options, eco-friendly mats often either add a raised texture to keep sliding at a minimum or are made from slip-resistant rubber. 

(4) Stickiness

Why is it important?

A sticky yoga mat is key to preventing slipping and sliding. It helps you maintain your alignment as you move from one pose to another, and also when you hold poses for several seconds.

Things to know:

• PVC yoga mats are super sticky. Some are even made with a fabric-like surface on top and a patterned bottom to help hands (and the mat itself) stay put.

Basic guideline:

• If you need help staying put in your poses but you bristle at the thought of practicing on a yoga mat with a raised texture, a PVC yoga mat is probably your best bet.
• Remember that these yoga mats are only sticky when they are clean. If you buy a PVC yoga mat, wash it before you use it and again whenever you notice your hands sliding.

(5) Length

A typical yoga mat is 173 cm long, though they do make super-stretched mats for people with naturally long legs.

(6) Price

Yoga mats can be found with different prices, You can check out yoga mats through Yaoota here.

(7) Style

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down by thickness, material, texture, stickiness, and price, there’s only one factor left: style! So go ahead and pick your favorite color, pattern, or print. After all, you’ll be seeing a lot of it in downward dog.

Happy shopping!

Quick Tips:

• Go for grip: nothing is worse than sliding on your yoga mat when you’re taking deep breaths in downward dog.
• Keep toxins in mind: opt for PVC-free mats if possible.
• Keep it light: keep a balance of thickness and lightness. Check out eKO Lite Mat here.

Accessories for Your Yoga Mat:

If you want to add some fun to your mat or make it more unique or practical, you can add a yoga mat towel or make it clean and scented using mist mat spray.

Check out a yoga mat guide here.

Check out I.Care 2130 Yoga Mat Towel here.

Check out YOGA MIST MAT & ROOM SPRAY here.