Which yoga mat is better to choose - TOP 10 best options

Health, youth, inner peace - people come to yoga for all this. You don’t need much to practice comfortably - comfortable sportswear (you don’t even need sneakers) and a good mat. Which yoga mat is best to choose for practicing in the gym and at home?

The author of this article has been practicing yoga for more than 15 years, and during this time she has tried many options. Let's figure out together why it is so important to choose the right yoga mat.

Is it possible to do without your own rug? Size matters What else you need to know Exercise beautifully! TOP 10 best yoga mats: review TOP 10 mats: comparison table

Is it possible to do without your own rug?

When they first started teaching yoga in Russia, the gyms used ordinary tourist “foams” - there were simply no other options. But foam is, frankly speaking, not the best option. First of all, it slides. Secondly, as soon as you start doing stretching asanas, for example, longitudinal splits, and rest your heel on such a mat, a mark will immediately remain on it. Finally, foams take up a lot of space and are inconvenient to carry around.

Why is a rug so important anyway?

The quality of your practice directly depends on it. If your legs and arms move apart on a slippery surface, you will not be able to form asanas correctly, and you will feel irritated all the time. And practice should bring joy and pleasure.

Yoga rooms usually have mats, but experienced practitioners prefer to bring their own. Firstly, mats are not always disinfected after each lesson, but the mat absorbs sweat and retains particles of the skin of the person who exercised on it. Sometimes these rugs don't smell very nice. Secondly, they usually buy cheap fitness mats for gyms, which are not very suitable for yoga - they are too thin and slippery. Finally, yoga also involves working with energy, and whether you believe it or not, the mat also bears the energetic imprint of its owner. On your own mat, practice goes differently.

Lack of time for classes

Yoga and the meditation it preaches help normalize thoughts and feelings, calm anxiety and calm nerves. Alas, not all heroes of office work find at least one free hour a week in their busy work schedule to attend a yoga class.

Also, few of those working in pompous buildings made of glass and concrete are lucky enough to have a caring boss who pays for classes with a highly experienced guru in the corporate gym.

Which yoga mat is better to choose: size matters

Most rugs now have a standard size: 183-185 cm long and 61-68 cm wide. And for most people of average height, this option is perfect. But if you are a large and tall person, then you can also find an enlarged version - up to 200-220 cm long and up to 80 cm wide. Still, it is advisable that in shavasana you fit on the mat as a whole, from the top of your head to your heels.

Particular attention should be paid to the thickness of the mat.

On the one hand, the thicker the mat, the more convenient it is to practice on it. For example, when you press your knee into the floor in frog or a lighter version of warrior pose, it may hurt your knees on a mat that is too thin; you will have to put a pillow or something else soft under them. The thickness of the mat is especially important for thin practitioners - they feel more uncomfortable on a thin mat.

Of course, the rug should not be so soft that you sink into it, like on a feather bed. Once I was visiting a friend in Europe, and she lent me her yoga mat for practicing - it was a real mat, 5 centimeters thick, I didn’t even understand how I could practice on it. 10 mm is the maximum comfortable thickness.

On the other hand, a thick mat is usually too heavy and bulky to take with you to class, especially if you don't have a car. Advanced practitioners usually have two mats - a 6-8 mm thick one for home practice and a thin, lightweight mat that can be carried with them.

For those who do not part with a rug when traveling, there are now ultra-thin and very beautiful rugs with a thickness of 1.5 mm, which can not only be rolled up, but folded like a bedspread. They weigh little and fit easily into luggage.

Regular yoga mat

Compact travel mat

If you are just trying yoga, it is best to take a mat 4-5 mm thick so that you can practice comfortably at home and take it with you to class.

What else do you need to know?

Yoga classes with children

With the growing popularity of yoga, the older generation is increasingly introducing youth, youth and children to this teaching. Moreover, many parents insist that children start meditating and practicing asanas from a very early age.

Accordingly, the question quite logically arises, what criteria should be used when choosing a children's rug.

It is clear that it should be decorated cheerfully and colorfully, but this does not say anything about what performance qualities will suit the young yogi most.

What are rugs made of?

Modern rugs come in both artificial and natural materials.

The most important thing in the material is that the mat does not slip, especially if your hands and feet sweat.

Another important characteristic is strength. It's good when the rug lasts a long time.

The cheapest material - from which travel mats are sometimes made - is EVA. EVA mats are cheap and lightweight, but are not very durable and may smell bad when purchased.

The next option is PVC. This material is more wear-resistant and less slippery, and is also quite cheap. Most fitness mats sold in supermarkets and sporting goods stores are made from it.

But the most suitable modern material is TPE. It is more environmentally friendly, its anti-slip properties are not inferior to natural rubber, and it is very lightweight. Rugs made from it are somewhat less durable than those made from PVC - they should be protected from cat claws and improper storage - but much more comfortable in terms of exercise.

Natural materials used are rubber, latex and cork. Rugs made of natural rubber and latex are expensive and heavy, but cork is a very nice material that is worth taking a closer look at. Typically, such a mat is made of modern non-slip material on one side, and cork on the other side - where you will practice.

Finally, recently double-sided mats have come into fashion - on one side it is TPE, and on the side you will be working on, it is cotton or suede. Such rugs come in thicknesses of 4-5 mm, or very thin, for travel and trips. These rugs cost a little more, but their advantage is that they come in absolutely any color. And this is also an important point.

Stickiness

Why is it important:

A sticky mat prevents your body from slipping when you take a new pose or hold the asana for a few seconds.

Recommendations:

If you're looking for a mat that helps you maintain your pose, but you don't feel comfortable practicing on a rough surface, a PVC mat is a good choice. Remember that only a clean mat is sticky, so when you bring it back from the store, be sure to rinse it. This will remove the special protective coating that is applied to it at the factory and increase stickiness. If your hands begin to slip in downward-facing dog pose, then it’s time to wash the mat.

Rubber mats have excellent stickiness, but rubber is more expensive and its strength is significantly lower than that of PVC.

Do it beautifully!

The aesthetic component is also an important point. Working out on a beautiful mat is always especially pleasant. You can also take beautiful photos, although this, of course, is not the main thing in yoga.

In addition, for the convenience of beginners, some mats have markings to guide you when performing asanas.

Now you know which yoga mat is best to choose.

Where can you buy a good yoga mat inexpensively? We have prepared for you a mini-rating of the 10 best options for yoga mats that can be ordered on Ali Express at an affordable price - from 500 to 4000 rubles.

Wide range of benefits

Judging by the impressions of avid yogis, the use of a mat allows you to raise the effectiveness of meditation and asanas to a whole new level.

The following advantages of a modern factory mat are especially obvious:

• The ability to select the optimal thickness, length and friction force of the litter;
• Increased resistance to stains and ease of washing;
• The widest selection of design solutions, as well as the possibility of applying an individual pattern or ornament;
• Pleasant tactile sensations delivered by synthetic fabric;
• Effective insulation against cold floors.

TOP 10 best yoga mats

A simple budget option

Budget option made of PVC. Standard size. The thickness of 6 mm is sufficient for comfortable practice.

A simple floral print will help you differentiate your rug from others.

The advantage of this material is its strength and reliability, the disadvantage is that if your hands or feet sweat noticeably, this may be too slippery for you. If your hands and feet always remain dry, then this mat is quite suitable.

Although this mat is noticeably heavier than the next option, it is quite possible to carry it with you to class.

In addition, the seller offers fast delivery - to Moscow, for example, this rug will be delivered to you in just a week.

Cost: 400-500 rub.

Another budget option

Another budget option is a simple, lightweight and compact EVA mat. You can choose from bright colors. The length is slightly shorter than usual - 173 mm, thickness 4 mm. Suitable for short women, especially convenient if you need to carry it with you in transport.

Non-slip enough for dry hands and feet.

Cost: 500-700 rub.

Comfortable and affordable in terms of price/quality

A simple TPE mat is a comfortable option for those who want a non-slip mat.

This material is much more pleasant to the touch than PVC and noticeably lighter.

If you don’t want to overpay for a beautiful drawing, then feel free to choose this option. But protect it from cat claws, do not place it on the battery or place heavy objects on it - marks and dents may remain.

Cost: about 1,000 rubles.

Another simple and comfortable option

Another good non-slip mat made of TPE, you can choose brighter colors.

Cost: 1300-1400 rub.

Comfortable and beautiful

If the aesthetic component is important to you, you can choose the same rug, but with a beautiful pattern. And it will be a little wider than usual - 66 cm. True, it will cost noticeably more: approximately 3,900 rubles. But maybe the luxurious print is worth it. In addition, the package includes a bag for the mat. You can also choose an option with a width of 80 cm, it will cost about 400 rubles more. expensive.

A wide selection of prints is offered - both yoga-themed and simply beautiful floral motifs.

With markings for adjusting asanas

If you are just starting to practice or often practice at home without the supervision of an instructor, then you may find it useful to have a mat with markings to help you line up your asanas correctly.

This is also a standard size version made of TPE, there are different colors.

The cost is quite affordable - about 1,500 rubles, and the set includes a bag.

Large size - for respectable people

This soft and thick mat is made of NBR (a soft but dense synthetic material) and is suitable for home activities for those who want more comfort.

Its dimensions are: 185x80 - it is wider and slightly longer than the standard one, and the thickness is as much as 10 mm.

The colors are a bit boring, though.

The mat has a pleasant corrugated anti-slip surface.

Its price is average - about 2 thousand rubles.

Lightweight and compact for travel

If you travel frequently, especially if you have to fly with discount stores or travel with a backpack on your back, you will want a lightweight and compact rug that can not only be rolled up, but also folded like a blanket and hidden in luggage or carry-on luggage.

The downside of this mat is that it is very thin, only 1.5 mm. Pros: nice suede surface, there are many very beautiful colors, you will never confuse your rug with any other. In addition, it is slightly wider than the standard one - 68 cm.

There are so many color options that it is impossible to limit yourself to just one option. They also differ slightly in price.

This option is quite expensive: about 2,700 rubles.

But here are two cheaper options: 2,100 - 2,200 rubles.

Handsome and pleasant in every way

If you want to have a rug with the same pleasant suede surface and beautiful pattern, but with a fairly comfortable thickness, you can choose this option.

Its thickness is 5-6 mm, the cost is about 1,700 rubles.

This is one of the best options in terms of price/quality ratio.

Suberic

Finally, a stylish and comfortable option is a rug with a natural cork coating. On the reverse side it is also made of non-slip and practical TPE.

These rugs also come in different patterns, including markings.

Cost with delivery: approximately 3,200 rubles.

For your convenience, we have compiled all the information on rugs into a single table.

Price

As a rule, the cheapest yoga mats are standard plain PVC mats about 3-4 mm thick. For an unusual design, a well-known brand, non-standard thickness, antimicrobial coating or a convex geometric pattern, you will have to pay a little extra. The most expensive rugs are made from environmentally friendly materials made in the USA, for example, under the Manduka brand. Premium mats from Russian brands Art Yogamatic and Devi Yoga are not inferior in quality

TOP 10 yoga mats: comparison table

Pay special attention to options: 1 - the cheapest and with fast delivery; 3 and 4 - excellent value for money; 6 - with markings for correct adjustment of asanas; 9 is the most affordable of the rugs with original colors.

And feel free to take rugs 8-8.2 with a thickness of 1.5 mm on a trip!

Choose your option right now and practice yoga with comfort and pleasure!

Reducing pressure on the body

It should be noted that many years before the invention of polymers, which made it possible to produce mats with increased elasticity, adherents actively practiced yoga directly on soft grass. In the absence of such an opportunity, animal skins were used to alleviate the pressure on the body.

However, as the poses became more complex, yogis needed increasingly soft and elastic materials. So, cotton towels began to be used for asanas, and after some time they were replaced by synthetic mats.