An ideal yoga mat reduces the stress on joints by providing traction, cushioning, and comfort. The yoga mat also absorbs your sweat thereby preventing you from slipping away while practicing yoga. It also helps in maintaining proper balance, stability, and support while practicing various asanas like dhanurasana, tree pose, chakrasana, etc.
Three factors are kept in mind while purchasing a yoga mat:
- Thickness: The amount of comfort a yoga mat will provide is directly proportional to the thickness of that mat. The superlative thickness of the mat provides a proper shield to the body. A mat with a thickness of 2mm is best suitable for practicing postures while a mat with a thickness of 3mm is suitable for practicing asanas. While a mat with a thickness of 6mm is good for people having knees or joints pain.
- Material: PVC, TPE, Foam, Rubber, Cotton, and Jute are commonly used for manufacturing yoga mats. PVC is not eco-friendly but provides better grip and stability.
- Size: 6 x 2 feet is considered to be the standard size of any yoga mat. This because this size covers the whole body and is long enough for performing almost all yoga postures.
- Weight, durability, and shape are also kept in mind while purchasing a yoga mat.
Some of the best yoga mats available in India are listed below:
Amazon Basics yoga and exercise mat
- This is a ½ inch extra thickness mat with a carrying strap. Defining your personal workout space, this extra thickness creates a layer of comfort and cushions the support to the user while practicing. Yoga, Pilates, meditation, and stretching can easily be performed using this high-quality mat. It is made up of strong and light-weighted durable foam. The grip is enhanced by textured surfaces for performing safe and stable poses. It offers a warranty of 1-year with72(L) X 24 (W) X 0.5 (H) inches of dimensions.
- Kobo NBR Athletica Yoga Mat: It is a kobo yoga mat 8mm of thickness. It is a flexible, durable mat made up of non-toxic NBR foam, which is eco-friendly and phthalate-free. It is a multipurpose mat used for practicing Pilates, core training, ab training, stretching, and many fitness workouts. It’s waterproof design and non-slip texture protects you from slipping. It has a soft cushion that protects you against hard gym floors.
- I-Heir Power Yoga Mat: Because of its stitched edges, this mat has longer life and durability. Its 72×24 inches dimensions make it to be a perfect choice for different aged groups that perform different types of exercises. It is made up of non-toxic PVC material. This power yoga mat has 6mm thickness cushions which makes it very comfortable and protects your elbows, knees, and hips from getting injured while practicing yoga on hard floors. It has a double-sided non-slip surface which prevents you from slipping or falling by maintaining proper balance.
- Strauss Anti-Skid Floral Yoga Mat: It is a portable, light-weighted, odor-free yoga mat. It has a slip-resistant top layer that provides the maximum grip and stability and a non-dip bottom that is tied up to the floor and prevents you from slipping or sliding. The thickness of this Strauss is 6mm followed by the dimensions of 173X 61 centimeters. It offers high padding and support and high compression resistance.
