After a long time looking for information on yoga mats, and after a while with my magnificent "soul mat", today I want to tell you everything I took into account to make my choice.
I hope this guide will help you choose the yoga mat that suits you, the type of yoga you practice, your lifestyle, your priorities and your budget. Choosing a suitable yoga mat is very important, as it will make your practice much more comfortable and happier, among other things.
COMFORT
Close your eyes a moment, and imagine yourself lying on your yoga mat, in the position of Savasana, as in the picture below. Imagine your slow breathing, feeling the air as you rub with your skin, and feeling your body completely relaxed on top of a HARD and COLD FLOOR! I know it is an exaggeration, I just wanted to reflect the importance of your comfort in practice:)
The thickness of the mattress greatly influences this. A standard thickness can be about 3 or 4 millimeters, but I have seen options ranging from 2mm to 6mm.
DURABILITY
This point is very very important. When you're going to invest money in a yoga mat, one of the things you think about is how long will it last? And of course, I would not spend 90 € on a mat that I have to change every year.
That is why my recommendation is that you choose one of which you have guarantees of its durability.
The first thing I did when I wanted to buy one for myself was to ask my brother (yoga teacher for more than 10 years in Germany) and my teacher at that time, also with several years in practice, on what was his best recommendation for me. And the two coincided with this brand that I bought, among other things, for durability.
I've been with people who have been around for over 10 years! With the same yoga mat (the Black Mat® PRO). Can you imagine that? 10 years without having to worry about buying a yoga mat again.
It is also important to take into account the warranty you have to return if the product is damaged or defective. That is why another of my recommendations is that if you buy online or if you buy it in a physical store, keep in mind the existing conditions on this subject, in case something happens. For example, here in this link you can see the conditions that Amazon, which is where I normally do my purchases online. You usually have 30 days to make sure your yoga mat is in good condition.
TRACTION
Have you seen someone slip and fall into a yoga class? Surely yes! And of course, it is logical to happen, because many times the cause is that we are doing a balance that is difficult to maintain. But both to improve the balance and to be able to concentrate on your breathing, to avoid sliding on the mat, sweat or simply rubbing, it is best to take this point into account when buying one.
As I told you before, I have at home another mat that I bought some time ago in a Chinese shop, before buying this one, to do crunches. When I resumed my yoga practice and wanted to start doing yoga at home, I realized that it was very far from being able to do some posture there, because it slipped too much and it was very easy to fall.
In this case there is a measure that can tell you to check before making the purchase. Just keep in mind that in the online store or physical where you buy it, make sure it has strong traction or is non-slip.
RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
If in your lifestyle you have considered being "ecologically conscious" and helping make the world a better place, then you will surely want to buy an eco-friendly or eco-friendly mat.
Keep in mind the material your mat is made from when you buy it. Most of the ones that I found on the market are made with PVC, which I read, is not recyclable and causes great environmental damage and health risks during its production, use and disposal.
This was another of the things I learned in my intensive pursuit of the yoga mat. And I was very happy to see that the "winning", the Manduka mat, had been manufactured through a process that guarantees that there are no toxic emissions into the atmosphere, besides being PVC free.
PURCHASE OPTIONS AND DELIVERY OF THE YOGA MAT
What should you keep in mind when buying an internet yoga mat?
First, always shop in a store that you trust. One thing I do before buying online, is to review people's comments. For example, in the image that I put below, you will see the number of votes and positive comments that the Black Mat® PRO has. That says a lot about the quality of the product, and everything that has to do with the purchase and shipping options.
