If you decide to do yoga, you need to have a special mat. Now a large assortment of these products is presented, as well as other items for this hobby. You need to know how to choose yoga mats. There are several criteria that you should focus on when buying.
Why do I need a product?
Before you learn how to choose yoga mats, you need to familiarize yourself with what they are needed for. If classes are performed irregularly, then you can not buy the product. To do this, you can take a bedspread, a mat for fitness, a tourist mat. But with constant practice, it is necessary.
The mat is needed to comply with personal hygiene. Performing various exercises on the floor or on the ground is hazardous to health. The product allows you to make classes convenient so that there are no discomfort. In addition, with him, the risk of injury is minimal. The need for a rug is associated with the tradition of yogis, who necessarily had them for classes.
Kinds
How to choose yoga mats? To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of products. They differ in material, weight, thickness. The intended use of the product can be intended for beginners and professionals. Weight also plays an important role. In the Russian market there are products with different weights.
Based on the mats are divided into the following:
1. Synthetic: latex - create from rubber. Rugs are expensive and heavy. Although they wear out over time, they are considered non-slip and environmentally friendly.
2. Natural - create from cotton, wool, jute fiber. Quickly absorb moisture.
Thermoplastic elastomer - has a low weight and excellent softness.
Polyvinyl chloride - is inexpensive and has high wear resistance.
Which yoga mat is better to choose? It is advisable to prefer natural products, since they are the most practical and convenient. But in any case, each product requires careful and regular care.
The size
Common sizes include a length of 183 cm and a width of 60 cm. The first indicator should be selected based on the person’s height, to which 10-15 cm should be added. If dynamic exercises are to be performed, a length of 220 cm is required.
Many people prefer a width of 80 cm. The large parameters of the rugs increase the useful area for practical activities, but complicate their transportation.
Stickiness
How to choose yoga mats to be comfortable? When performing dynamic exercises, a person takes unstable poses. Such a property of the mat as stickiness will protect the body from falling. This is necessary for its adhesion to the floor and body. But you need to remember that a sticky product wears out a lot. It is advisable for beginners to choose synthetic rugs.
Absorbency
When practicing yoga, sweat is released in a person, so the product must absorb moisture. And increased humidity causes slippage. What mat to choose for yoga? It should be made of natural materials or latex. Then the carpet will have a porous structure and excellent moisture absorption.
Elongation
How to choose a yoga mat? A quality product should not stretch. Therefore, it is reinforced with dacron fibers. They serve as an internal frame that protects against stretching.
Thickness
It is necessary to choose an indicator of 4-6 mm. But beginners also get a thickness of 6 mm. Products are soft and do not allow cold. Reviews show that professionals prefer a thickness of up to 3 mm. They will be easily transported, since they only need to be folded.
How to choose a good yoga mat? All the above parameters must be considered. The reviews show that for beginners it is better to choose synthetic carpets. They have average characteristics, quite suitable for beginners. With the transition to professional occupations, you will need an individual carpet.
Single or double sided
How to choose a yoga mat? Reviews say that the product should be different on two sides: one is in contact with the base, and the second is for the body. During classes, you should not use different sides, because it is considered dangerous to health.
The lower part, according to reviews, should not be slippery, even if the surface is smooth, for example: varnished parquet, wet tiles, laminate. You need to choose with the front side, which is adapted to the body: absorbs moisture, does not irritate the skin, does not cause allergic reactions. Therefore, the lower part should be made of non-slip material with a textured surface, which is necessary for adhesion to the floor. A natural topcoat protects against slipping.
The weight
If you are interested in how to choose yoga mats, you need to pay attention to their weight. They come in from 900 g to 3.3 kg. What is best to buy depends on the regular use. A solid model is suitable for the home, and for carrying girls a product weighing no more than 1.5 kg is required so as not to pull the shoulder.
Men can choose a yoga device weighing 2-2.5 kg. If it will be used in the hall, it is better to purchase a folding option, which easily turns into a roll and fits in a case with handles.
Aesthetic properties
How to choose a yoga mat and which one is better depends on your desire. For many, the beauty of the product is important. This applies to color, texture of the material, design. There are no rules for such parameters, it is important that the owner likes the device.
Experienced yogis advise not to choose bright products, as this will distract from classes. It is better to choose a natural color and texture, then the events will be effective. Given these parameters, it will be possible to determine how to choose the right yoga mat.
Where to get?
The range of rugs is diverse. Beginners can find it difficult to choose something suitable. Almost all goods are manufactured in China and Thailand. An exception is the Spanish products Salamander, as well as German - Wunderlich. The following products are offered on the Russian market:
- Salamander - 4800-6900 rubles. The product is of excellent quality, made of natural rubber. The surface has excellent grip. Products are non-toxic and do not include allergenic substances. There are wide products - 66 cm, long - 200 cm, thin - up to 2 mm, and thick - 6 mm.
- Comfort Pro - the price is about 5400 rubles. Parameters - 200 * 60 * 0.6 cm.
- Ashtanga Master XL - the cost of 1700 rubles. Parameters - 220 * 60 * 0.6 cm.
- FT-YGM-PVC-3,5-DR - the price is 440 rubles. The product has a non-slip antimicrobial coating. Dimensions are 172 * 60 * 0.35 cm.
Experts do not recommend purchasing goods in supermarkets or sports stores. Often they offer low-quality products at high prices. It is advisable to purchase yoga mats at yoga centers or online stores.
Care and storage
How care will be performed depends on the type of material. You should not often change the product, because it retains the energy of the owner for a long time. It is forbidden to practice in shoes, and also to fold the rug several times and in half. It is rolled into a roll with the back inward. It is best to fold it in the opposite direction.
Mats made of synthetic materials should be washed with warm, soapy water after purchase. You can use ordinary soap without flavoring, such as laundry or baby. After eliminating the factory grease, the mat should be dampened with a towel and dried.
It should be washed every 2-3 months. You can wash the product in a typewriter, but with the inclusion of a gentle regime, without powder and spin. Natural materials should not be washed and washed. They are wiped with a damp cloth. Latex mats should be hung out for ventilation.
Modern technology has penetrated many spheres of human life. New is SmartMat - the “smart” rug. Although it is not on sale yet, the company received a lot of pre-orders. The cost of production is about $ 250. The manufacturer claims that such a product will be convenient for regular classes of those who wish to make them effective. Product features include:
- voice motivation yoga;
- assessment of body position and weight distribution;
- diary function.
Although there are such novelties, you can still get a classic rug that is suitable for all characteristics. Then the classes will be interesting and comfortable.