Summary :Yoga supplies include mats, blankets, bolsters and many more things. However, the one thing that yoga workout definitely requires is a yoga mat. This is the very basic of all yoga supplies and is available in the market in a wide variety of choices. Synthetic materials may be used to make these yoga mats or in keeping with the natural element of yoga it could be crafted out of completely natural materials as well as their blends. A yoga mat is also a reflection of a person’s style and taste.

There are a few fundamental categories of yoga mats: sticky mats, natural fibre mats, and natural rubber/vinyl mats. Each mat comes with its benefits depending on the type of yoga practised, the person’s personal preference of feel, and the budget allowed for the item. Every store or website that a person will search for yoga mats will offer many products that all appear the same, but each claiming to be the best. The best yoga mat actually lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Some people who are interested in the mat for power yoga (also known as hatha yoga) will be performing more physical activity and are likely to perspire more. Due to this reason a natural fibre such as cotton or other natural woven fibres would provide a better grip while sweating. People interested in utilizing the mat for entire forms of yoga that include relaxation and meditation will require longer and perhaps thicker yoga mats suitable for lying stretched out flat. Some of these mats may be made from natural rubber or vinyl depending on the manufacturer.

For stretches and balancing postures many people favour the security of a sticky mat. These mats are made of PVC, a synthetic material that is intended to help people maintain their grip. The mats are often lightweight and convenient to carry.

Buying Basics

Irrespective of the actual material used for the mat, there are a few basic issues that should be considered while buying a yoga mat. The yoga mat should be long-lasting; to check the toughness some people use a quarter to rub away at a sample of the material counting the strokes. At the end of the test, the person can conclude that the mat that was able to endure the largest number of strokes is the most durable.

Another aspect to consider is the maintenance of the yoga mat. It should be convenient and easy to care for. Machine washable yoga mats are better than those that require hand wash or other special care because they will be used in public places quite regularly and so will need frequent washing.

At the same time it must be kept in mind that most machine washable mats are unable to bear the pressure of the spin cycle, so it is better to air dry them flat or even leave them hanging. Folding and rolling away the yoga mat before it is completely dry can also adversely affect its life.

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This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 6:01 pm and is filed under Yoga. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.