Props Don’t Lie: Yoga Mat Buying Guide

buy yoga mat

Here’s a juicy piece of information for all of you who want to know if yoga can help you get the “wow” body – one of the most famous, extremely handsome, breath-taking male singers of this decade, Adam Levine from the band Maroon5 is a huge yoga practitioner and doesn’t go anywhere without his yoga instructor. If you thought his sculpted, jaw-dropping behind in the explicit version of the video This Summer’s gonna hurt like a Motherf***** is a result of heavy lifting and too much running, the answer is “No”, it is yoga. Here’s one more – Victoria’s Secret supermodel Gisele Bunchen, the highest paid model in the world does yoga everyday to keep those long legs toned and those six-pack abs in check. Inspired enough?

I bought my first yoga mat just a few months ago. I’ve been having terrible headaches daily for quite some time because of work-related stress so I had to do something about it. Plus, the gym started getting me so tired that my doctor literally forbid me from doing heavy lifting. Instead, he suggested I try yoga. Relaxing and sculpting at the same time. And so I did.

After only one session, I knew this was going to be a long-lasting relationship. I was sore, which showed me I did some great muscle work, but I felt great. The best thing about living the OM life, is that I will feel so relaxed; for me, no worrying thoughts for more than an hour, is a real blessing. So believe me when I tell you: buy yoga mat and allow yourself to be introduced to the yoga life – you won’t regret it. Trust me, once you buy yoga mat you’ll be “OM-ing” with all your body and soul.

Here are few things to keep in mind so you don’t wonder whether you should have bought something else.

Mat material

What the mat is made of matters a lot. Most commonly used material for yoga mats is PVC or vinyl. Vinyl is a strong material and very durable, which is what you need since you’re going to be using this mat for quite some time. Other good options are rubber, which sticks well, but may be problematic for people prone to allergies on latex. Jut and cotton, which are Eco-friendly and perfect if you sweat a lot.

Thickness

You should buy yoga mat that’s just thick enough. Mainly, mats are about 3,5 – 5 millimetres thick; you can also get the travel yoga mat, which is thinner. Have in mind that thicker mats may not be very flat, which can make standing on them less stable.

Texture

Texture affects friction. There are completely smooth mats and those with ridges. The important thing here is whether you sweat a lot or not. If you sweat a lot, go for a mat with more traction.

Stickiness

You want your mat to stick well to the floor, for stability reasons. The material that offers best stickiness is PVC, so go for a PVC mat.