Choosing the right yoga mat: our advice to avoid making a mistake

Never without my yoga mat!

The yoga mat is to the yogi what the racket is to the tennis player or the swimsuit to the swimmer: an essential object! It accompanies us in all our sessions, supports us in our efforts, helps us find our breath, and welcomes our moments of relaxation. Having your own mat has a major advantage: that of only accommodating our feet (and all the other parts of our body, including our face). Our yoga mat is quite simply THE basis for a pleasant practice. It is therefore also a question of hygiene and comfort of practice.

How to choose the right carpet? Based on technical criteria such as composition, thickness, weight, dimensions, but also on aesthetic and ethical considerations.

Six essential criteria for choosing the right yoga mat 

1) Adhesion and resistance

The material of your yoga mat determines its texture, grip, "softness", durability and longevity. The "non-slip" feature of a mat is an important criterion, especially if you practice dynamic or physically demanding yoga (and most yoga is!).

Some rubber mats covered with a microfiber coating that allows the printing of pretty designs are particularly suitable for hot yoga because the more you sweat, the more they "stick". But on the other hand, they are slippery if you do not have sweaty hands, therefore uncomfortable for a dynamic yoga practice. On the other hand, they are pretty with their colors and design.

PVC and TPE yoga mats provide good grip in all circumstances. Those made of natural rubber are suitable for yogis who want maximum grip while ensuring environmental protection. They are made from rubber that is not derived from deforestation (for the Manduka or Jade brands). Natural or recycled rubber mats are well suited to a Hatha Yoga practice, while jute, organic or natural cotton mats are best reserved for gentler Yoga practices such as Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra.

2) Thickness

The thickness is chosen according to the type of yoga practiced. For dynamic yogas such as Ashtanga or Vinyasa, prefer a mat with a thickness between 4.5 and 6 mm to properly cushion jumps. Fans of Hatha, Iyengar, Viniyoga, etc., you can choose a thinner mat, unless you have sensitive knees (in this case, again choose a thick mat). Travel mats, which are thinner, are extremely practical when you are a nomadic yogi!

3) Weight

The thickness of the mat also determines its weight. If you are more of a traveler (you want to practice at home, in a studio, and in Lyon as well as in Bali), the weight of the latter can be a decisive factor. Travel mats are very light, just like TPE mats but more fragile. If you plan to always leave your mat in the same place, its weight is less important: instead, base your choice on the previous characteristics, grip and thickness.

4) Size

Tall people should opt for models with a length of 220 cm on which they can lie down at full length without being in direct contact with the ground. For most people, 177/180 cm mats are perfect! Also pay attention to the width of your mat if you have a wide build: you may find yourself cramped on standard width accessories (60/61 cm). Instead, choose an "XL" mat with a width of 66 cm ( Liform e or Manduka ) or 80 cm ( Mad Yoga )

5) Color

Of course, it is best to choose a rug whose design appeals to you: you will want to unroll it as often as possible! Beyond that, the choice of color is also crucial.

Indeed, each color corresponds to a particular energy and some practitioners are very sensitive to it (sometimes without really realizing it). Yogis have a preference for the colors petrol blue and eggplant.

For those who have too much energy, they can choose an indigo or purple mat, those who feel they lack grounding and stability can opt for a red mat. A practitioner who lacks a little energy will choose a yellow, saffron or orange mat.

6) Ecological awareness, choose an eco-responsible carpet

Last but not least: respect for the environment. Be aware that whatever the materials that make up your mat, the major brands (Liform, Jade, Manduka, Tayrona, etc.) are increasingly eco-conscious and pay particular attention to the origin of the materials that make up yoga mats. To learn more about this issue, don't hesitate to consult our article "How to choose your eco-responsible mat" https://www.tayronalife.com/pages/choisir-son-tapis-de-yoga-2

Discover our eco-responsible Yoga mats on our Tayrona Yoga website

Article written by Laurence Pinsard (Yoga Journalist)