Which Yoga Mats Kick Ass!
The first piece of equipment that comes to mind when you think of yoga is the mat.
The mat matters. If you’re dripping sweat in a class and you can’t even hold the poses because you might as well have just rubbed Crisco all over your mat, we have a problem. A Yoga towel can help but if your mat is too thin, it’s going to cause stress on your joints. If it’s too think and not dense enough, it can affect your balance. The type of mat that’s right for you depends on your practice and your environment.
Let’s talk about features.
Reviews.com recently conducted 50 hours of research and surveyed over 100 yoga professionals to find out what’s most important in a mat:
The 8 Most Important Features
Durability and longevity — Can the mat take a beating and last?
Comfort and support — Just enough cushion…but not too much.
Stability — Firm + dense = not falling on your ass.
Portability — There are some pretty heavy mats out there, so think about that when you are lugging that around from class to class.
Traction and stickiness — You need to stay connected to the ground, this isn’t a Slip N Slide.
Texture — The more natural feeling, the better.
Environmental consideration — Eco-friendly ingredients are important to a lot of yogis.
Size — You need your mat to cover the whole length of your body, so tall people be wary of measurements.
Here are their top yoga mat choices:
Best Overall: Manduka PROlite
If you want a mat to last you a lifetime, and can also tick the boxes for grip, portability, and comfort, the Manduka PROlite is the way to go. This mat beat out its category contenders for longevity by a landslide. It’s an extremely durable, high-performing mat that’s stamped with a lifetime guarantee. Yoga teachers everywhere agree that the Manduka PROlite gets better with age the more you use it, similar to a baseball glove. We’ll get upside-down to that.
The Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat: Jade Harmony Professional Mat
The Jade Harmony Professional is a favorite among yoga professionals everywhere because of its great balance of traction and support. It's made from all-natural rubber, making it environmentally friendly. As a bonus, JadeYoga also plants a tree for every mat that's purchased.
The Best Budget-Friendly Yoga Mat: Gaiam Print Premium
It's important to invest in a reliable mat, but if you are unsure of making that investment just yet, try the Gaiam Print Premium. It retails for under $30 and is backed with a lifetime warranty. It comes in an array of fun colors and prints, too.
Best Non-Slip Yoga Mat: Liforme Yoga Mat
A favorite mat for hot yoga, with a non-slip surface that requires no breaking-in period and performs well no matter how much you sweat. At $140, it’s on the pricy side, but it offers traction unsurpassed by any of the other mats tested.
Most Low-Maintenance Yoga Mat: Yoloha Native Cork Yoga Mat
The Yoloha Native is made from a mixture of recycled rubber and cork, resulting in a pleasantly springy surface that’s naturally antimicrobial. Cork gets grippier as it gets wet, making the Yoloha another good option for hot yoga.
See the full review: http://www.reviews.com/best-yoga-mat/
This information was provided by Reviews.com