My intention with this article of the best yoga mat review is to help you find the best yoga mat for your practice. The benefits of having a good yoga mat are many. Whether you are an experienced yogini or a beginner there is no reason why you shouldn´t have the best yoga mat out there.
Best Yoga Mat Review
The last couple of years I have been falling in love with yoga. It is such a loving practice that teaches so much about how to live life. Yoga doesn’t stress. It just lets you try again. And again. And you will fall. But the yoga mat will catch you. Having a beautiful mat to practice on can make the ritual feel more fun.
Depending on what kind of yoga you practice there are a couple of things to keep in mind when you are buying a new mat. Are you practicing at home or in a studio? Do you love Hatha Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga?
There is no right or wrong yoga. You know what works best for your body. The best yoga practice is the one that keeps you flowing so make it a habit to always return to the practice so that you can live your best life.
Yoga keeps the body humble and the mind in check, the ego can’t be present in the different poses and it is such a beautiful way to honor life. Being alive feels so real after a yoga practice. It is important to remember that the yoga practice doesn’t always have to be so serious and strict. For me, it is a lot about breathing right and feeling the sensations of my body fully. It is about showing respect for the body and honoring the mind-body intelligence. Earth keeps you grounded and the law of nature helps you remember that you need to focus or else you will fall.
Yoga is a balancing act and the best way to listen to your body is to slow down and notice where you are tense and what you can let go of. You can have your head in the clouds but just remember to keep your feet on the ground.
Yoga is a practice, not a competition.
They say that who you are on your yoga mat is who you are in life. That is so true and it changed my perspective about falling and failing. Sometimes the balance isn’t as strong as you want it to be and other times we can’t stretch as much as we want to but yoga allows you to be yourself. It always has your back.
I have been playing with this idea and trying to change the way I respond to life by just letting my body tell me when it is enough. The same way that I can’t always stretch down my hands to my feet on my yoga mat, I might not be able to reach certain goals in life when I want to. But practicing every day or once a week I know I will one day reach down and make a comfortable stretch so I let it take the time it needs.
The same goes for real life. You have to make it a practice to always return to the things that you struggle with and find a new way to reach out and touch the things you have your eyes on with your hands. Sometimes it is completely fine to ask for help. Just as we use props in yoga class to get closer to earth or use a strap to get deeper into the stretch we can apply this thinking to life. Call a friend to help you out if you are struggling. Use a tool to help you accomplish your goals. It is not cheating, it is being smart. Admitting to yourself that you need help is a beautiful way to practice self-love.
Roll out your mat!
For me, one thing I struggle with is, returning to my yoga practice. Sometimes it feels hard to roll out the mat and get started. There are plenty of excuses I can come up with as to why I shouldn´t work on my practice. The most common ones are;
- I don´t have enough time. (Even though I always do.)
- I am too tired. (Get moving and the energy will flow.)
- I have pain in the body. (1 hour of yoga will clear the pain away.)
If you are struggling to find time and motivation to practice yoga I have one tip that will help you get started easier: Get a beautiful yoga mat that you love to roll out and that makes you want to spend all your free time on!
How do I know what mat to choose?
Below I have listed a couple of questions for you to help decide what mat to choose for your practice.
- Grip – Do you sweat a lot? Do you find yourself slippering in the more intense asanas? How does your mat react to the floor?
- Thickness – Do you need a mat that supports your knees in tabletop position? Is it good for your body to have a soft mat? Do you need a 2, 4, 6 or 8-mm mat?
- Weight – Are you carrying your mat around or is it always at home? Do you travel a lot? Do you need a heavy or a lightweight mat?
- Eco-friendly/Vegan – What kind of material do prefer? Is the material sustainable and environment-friendly? Is it PVC-free? How does the mat smell? (Your nose will touch the mat a lot…)
- Maintenance – Is it easy to clean? Does it absorb the sweat or can it be wiped easily?
- Design – Is there a specific color or print you like? Is the design of the mat important to you?
After you have answered these questions I hope you have a better understanding of your own needs and that it helps you to figure out what mat to buy.
I hope you found this review of the best yoga mat to be helpful and that you found it interesting. If you practice yoga I would love to hear about your practice and which mat is your favorite. Please, leave a comment in the section below and let me know more about your yoga experience. Also, if you have any questions about this review I will be more than happy to answer them below!
Namaste,
Pet
