Yoga Mat Review

There are lots of different yoga mats on the market today ranging in price, quality and materials used. A good yoga mat is essential to your practice. With all the choices available, how do you choose one that would best serve your needs? This section will help you make a decision.

Something to consider is making sure that your mat provides good traction and stability. Mats made for yoga are purposely made thinner than traditional exercise mats. If you are new to yoga, you may want to have a little more thickness, especially since you will be doing some kneeling poses. Mats of 1/4" thickness provide a good amount of cushioning. Thinner mats of 1/8" are great for balancing and doing any kind of yoga, but a thicker mat will be a little more comfortable if you have prominent bones or are a thin person.

Next would be the length. Most mats are usually about 24 inches wide and 68 inches long, but if you're tall, over 6 feet, you may want to look for a longer yoga mat. You'll find them up to about 72 inches long, and certain companies will cut the mat to your specifications.

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Mat Quality

Mats are made of a variety of materials. Unfortunately, the most inexpensive and popular mats are not eco-friendly. They are made from PVC, Poly Vinyl Chloride. The PVC mats contain toxic additives that emit chemical fumes and are harmful to you and the environment. PVC mats are abundant and available everywhere, but I don't recommend buying one. You can get one very inexpensively, but the price paid in toxic waste and harmful vapors is way too steep. Unfortunately, there is no safe way to create, use or destroy these mats, and what starts out as good intentions for our body, mind and soul winds up as toxicity for the body and the planet.

Eco friendly yoga mats are made from natural ingredients, like jute, natural rubber, hemp, dried grass, and other non-toxic materials. They are a little more expensive, but last a long time and will be safer for you and the planet. Eco-friendly yoga mats are made from entirely natural plant based materials. They are PVC free. At the end of the Yoga mat's life they can be composted, making them completely eco-friendly.

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JADE MATS - A Great, Gripping, Eco-Friendly Mat


Jade Yoga makes high-quality mats that are eco-friendly and great to practice on. They are pure rubber and have a combination of cushioning and traction. You'll never slip on a Jade Mat. Jade is committed to sustaining the environment and when you buy a mat, they plant a tree! Try a Jade Mat and feel the difference. I highly recommend them to anyone who seriously practices yoga.

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The Bolder Mat Company - Unique and Cool Eco-Friendly Mats and Accessories

If you are looking for a great eco-friendly mat with really cool and unique designs, or if you would like one custom designed, visit The Bolder Mat Company. They have mats with great designs that are eco-friendly, and they will even recycle your old mat and give you a $5.00 credit towards a new one! The Bolder Mat Company runs a recycling program that takes old mats, cleans and refurbishes them, and then donates them to charities across the country, bringing yoga into jails, detention centers and schools. Now that's the kind of effort that really makes a difference!

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Cotton Mats

Tightly woven Cotton Mats work best for different types of yoga, such as Ashtanga and Bikram, where the heat is usually intense in the room. Cotton Yoga Mats are ideal for any form of sweaty yoga practice because traction on a cotton mat is activated by the moisture build up from sweat. They also provide extra cushioning for seated postures. Cotton Mats can be purchased from the Yoga Accessories.com link below.

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Travel Mats

Yoga Travel Mats are ideal for people on the go. They are lightweight, portable, and fold or roll-up easily to fit in luggage or travel bags. Travel Mats can be purchased from the Yoga Accessories.com link below.

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Yoga Accessories.com

Yoga Accessories.com is where you will find a large variety of yoga supplies, mats, blocks, straps and yoga related products at great prices. Be sure to look for the eco-friendly mats because not all of the mats are "green."

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Here are some things to consider when buying a yoga mat:

Gripping and stability: After sweating on the mat, can you still stay gripped and stable with your feet and not slip?

Will the mat stay gripped to the floor and not stick to your feet as you change positions?

Can the mat be washed easily?

Is it easy to shake dust and dirt off?

Is it lightweight for carrying?

Is the mat durable or will it fall apart after a few sessions or washings?

And, most importantly, is it eco-friendly? :)

New mats sometimes have an odor which usually wears off after a few uses. Open the mat up when first purchased and allow it to air out for a few days. You can wash it before use to get rid of any odor, particles or residue from packaging, etc. Wash your mat according to how frequently it is used. There are sprays for mats that keep them clean and fresh, but washing with a damp sponge and mild soap is best. Let it dry completely before using.

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