A yoga mat is a synthetic rubber or woven fabric mat and is an important accessory for practising yoga. A yoga mat stops you from slipping or sliding and hence you can execute all yoga postures and asanas more easily and in comfort.
A yoga mat helps improve balance and co-ordination and enables you to perform with stability when adopting any yoga pose. Apart from providing traction for your hands and feet, and preventing them from slipping, a yoga mat also provides good cushioning on a hard floor, which could otherwise prove to be uncomfortable. It is particularly useful when you are practising yoga in a yoga studio and you need to execute various poses, especially any which require you to lie on your back.
There are several types of yoga mats available. One of the most popular is the traditional sticky mat. Sticky mats are thin and have a textured synthetic surface, usually of polyester latex, with low padding. When moistened by perspiration, these mats become sticky and prevent slipping. Sticky mats provide essential support in the complex postures of Ashtanga yoga or Bikram yoga. Newer versions of sticky yoga mats with thicker padding and extra cushioning are available today and are called Ultra Double Thickness mats. Moving from one posture to another quickly is easier with sticky yoga mats and ultra double thickness mats.
Travel yoga mats, as the name implies, are used while travelling and if you frequently travel and don’t want to miss out on your daily yoga session then a lightweight travel yoga mat is a good choice. Meditation mats come with a pillow and conform to your body shape allowing a better sitting posture.
Cotton yoga mats absorb sweat and keep the surface dry. A tricky posture in yoga could lead you to slip if there is sweat on the mat or body and this could lead to injury. Many yoga mats are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride). However, the use of PVC, which is a long-term pollutant plastic, could result in the release of toxins into the atmosphere. Eco-friendly yoga mats are now more readily available and can be either made from jute, rubber or cotton.
Yoga mats are available in a variety of sizes, colours and made using different materials such as cotton fabric, PVC, soft plastic elastomer, rubberised foam, polyurethane foam and soft jute. Most yoga mats are easily washable. Yoga mat bags are also available online in various colours and sizes.
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