If you are just starting your yoga practice, one of the first decisions you'll need to make is what kind of yoga mat to buy. So below you'll find descriptions of some of the different kinds that are available as well as an outline of some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider when buying your yoga mat.
Plastic Yoga Mats
Most people begin with a plastic yoga mat, maybe because they are highly promoted or because they tend to be cheap. Unfortunately they are not the most comfortable because they are thin and and do not provide a lot of cushion. In addition, they smell like chemicals which isn't really conducive to good health and they won't make hard-core environmentalists happy.
Bottom line: If you're not sure you are in yoga for the long haul, this mat is ok for beginners with the suggestion that you put a towel over it when you're using it and don't leave it in the hot sun.
Foam Yoga Mats
These yoga mats are typically made ouf of PVC and are also cheaper than most mats. They're fairly durable and easy to find in a large variety and they are also easy to wash (usually just with a cloth). They aren't, however, the most enviromentally friendly mat and they also have a chemical smell. Actually they are used more for tumbling mats for kids.
Cork Yoga Mats
These mats are environmentally friendly as well as anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-static, sound absorbing, fire retardant and anti allergenic (so the manufactuers claim). As a result, the cork mat is ideal for those with sensitive skin and people who are prone to allergies. Cork is also a material that can be harvested with virtually no environmental impact from a source that is completely renewable.
On the downside, cork yoga mats are made from porous plants and therefore are prone to absorb your sweat which may create an odor issue. It also is debatable about how long it will actually last before you need to buy a new one.
Jute Yoga Mats
Jute is a natural fiber plant grown primarily in India, Bangladesh and China and it is a highly versatile fiber. It combines breathability with high tensile strength, making it a good balance of durability and comfort. You'll want a non-slip backing of something called PER which is an eco-friendly material that contains no formaldehyde or heavy metals and is static free and resistant to mildew.
Some people report that this mat allows for a good grip and is free of that rubbery smell, but can feel itchy at first until you wear it in a little. And, after about a year of pretty frequent use, some bits of the material start to come off from wear.
Rubber Yoga Mats
Made from biodegradable, natural rubber, this kind of yoga mat offers good traction for performing postures such as the downward dog and triangle pose. This mat's dense, high-rebound cushion is soft and comfortable, so you can extend your yoga routine without compromising your joints. It is also free of cadmium, lead, phthalates, and PVC, making it environmentally benign as compared to many other yoga mats and it comes in an array of colors.
Be sure not to get synthetic rubber which is liable to have health detriments. Natural rubber mats could be a problem for you if you're allergic to latex, but they do make phthalate-free and latex-free mats for a bit more in cost.
Woven Grass Yoga Mat
This Japanese-style yoga mat is all natural typically a straw-color and ideally with a reinforced double woven rush grass Goza floor mat. It is definitely eco-friendly and can be used as a throw rug, or roll up as well as take with you as a portable yoga mat
People who love natural materials enjoy this kind of mat and some have said that if you have trouble with the "straw" smell, use some lavendar oil or Febreeze on it.
Cotton Yoga Mats
Cotton yoga mats are made from a natural fiber and they come in a variety of colors, sizes and thickness. They do, however absorb your sweat and stain easier, so you'll have to clean them often and you have to be careful of the slip factor on hard floors. Actually cotton is a fabric that a majority of yogis agree on as a good choice for a yoga mat.
What ever yoga mat you choose, get out there and have some fun with Yoga!
