While most types of yoga can be practiced on bare floors, yoga mats give you superior traction, so you can focus on your posture and worry less about slipping, while relieving spinal stress for better posture. Yoga mats are made from a slightly tacky PVC or vinyl, but you can find mats in materials like organic cotton and rubber as well. When you purchase your first yoga mat, using it properly in class and caring for your mat will allow you to get the most use out of your investment.
Step 1
Test a variety of materials before you purchase your first mat. Visit a fitness-supply store and you should be able to see, touch and even try a few poses on the various mat models before you make a purchase. The mat that you like the best may be different from the one that your best friend uses, so make sure that you're comfortable using a mat before you buy it.
Step 2
Keep your mat in a mat bag when not in use. Some mats will come with a bag, but for others, you'll need to purchase a bag separately. A mat bag keeps your mat clean and dry during transport and when it is not in use. Since your yoga mat should be dedicated for exercise only, you can leave it in its bag to avoid children playing with your mat, pets tearing at the mat or other mishaps that could ruin its surface.
Step 3
Cover your mat with a towel when you're participating in certain types of intense yoga, including ashtanga and Bikram yoga. The former requires a quick succession of movements and the latter is performed in a hot studio. Both can cause profuse sweating, which can make your mat surface slippery and dirty. A towel will absorb the sweat so that you're able to maintain a good grip on your mat.
Step 4
Imagine your energy moving into the mat and circulating back into your body as you exercise. One of the benefits of using a yoga mat is that your energy stays in your personal space, rather than dissipating through the floor, notes the Yoga Wiz website. The school of thought is that the mat allows your space to stay warm for better energy circulation, while you practice your asanas. Think of your yoga mat as a tool for better yoga instead of a regular exercise mat.
Step 5
Allow your yoga mat to support your back by maintaining ideal posture while practicing. The mat can help increase balance and support your back so that your yoga is more beneficial to your back, balance, flexibility and posture.
Step 6
Wash your mat on a regular basis. Sweat, the gym floor and transit can all make your mat dirty, which can affect the mat surface. Clean your may by filling a spray bottle with 2 cups of water mixed with four drops of dishwasher liquid. Spray the cleaning mixture over the mat and rub it with a sponge to remove visibly soiled areas. Rinse with cool water, pat with a towel and then hang the mat to air dry. Once the mat is dry, roll it and store it in a mat bag.
Things You'll Need
- Yoga mat
- Mat bag
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- Water
- Dish soap
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