How to Choose the Best Yoga Mat for Your Home Studio

Several years ago, when you wanted to buy your first yoga mat, the choice in your nearest sports gear shop was limited to the basic type of non-slip yoga mat made of sticky PVC and available in grey and purple only.

Nowadays, on the other hand, there is a plethora of yoga mats in different sizes, thicknesses, and colors. So much that you are left confused, not knowing what to buy.

Finding the Best Yoga Mat That Suits You

Lucky for you, in this guide, we will discuss all about choosing among the best yoga mats for your in-home yoga studio.

After all, why would you pay for a gym membership when you can do yoga in the convenience of your home anytime you'd like with a stretching mat that supports all your movements and poses.

With that said, let's take a look at what makes a yoga mat great.

The Material

Whether you are looking for the best yoga mat for beginners or you are an experienced yogi already, chances are you'll be using your mat every day.

This makes your pad's material extra important because it can either make or break your yoga experience. Namely, the texture, balance, durability, comfort, and absorbance of shock and pressure depend on the material. This is why getting a mat made of a high-quality Polyvinyl Chloride Foam will guarantee to get a non-slip yoga mat with high-durability stretchiness.

Additionally, if you are looking for the best yoga mat for bad knees or painful joints, getting a pad with such blends of materials will give you the optimal support you're looking for. Looking for the Best Yoga practices for Knee Pain Relief? Find out more here.

What is the Best Thickness for a Yoga Mat?

Thickness is also vital because it dictates how comfortable your yoga mat is. If you plan on using your non-slip yoga mat for elaborate poses like the crescent lunge that requires a lot of support for the knees or the Salamba Sirsasana (the headstand), you will need a thick mat.

 

Additionally, you need to make sure that your yoga mat has high-density foam to cushion all your impacts on the floor and even reduce the noise of your movements effectively. So, with that said, anything below 6mm will be too thin and you will need a ticker mat to give your joints the right support, with 8mm thickness being the optimal for comfort. Note that the thickness of the yoga pad will make it more durable and resistant to potential scratches and tears caused by footwear or by yoga props like yoga blocks, wedges, and even weights if you are using them to spice up your routine.

The best part when looking for the best yoga mat for bad knees is that you don't have to sacrifice comfort for lack of space. An 8mm thick yoga mat will be easy to fold and store. Of course, if you are looking to travel with your paddle mat, then opt for something thinner and smaller in size for the sake of convenience when packing. But when it comes to doing in-home yoga, don't sacrifice comfort and support.

The Sizing

Getting good at yoga requires doing poses and stretching that take up a lot of space. This is why you need a large yoga mat that is able to support you no matter where you turn.

 

You see, doing something like the warrior pose and going from the downward-facing dog to the upward facing dog requires an extra wide yoga mat to give you the needed space on all sides. Imagine how dangerous it can be if, during your warrior pose, your feet are on the floor away from the mat, and you slip.

Yoga is a form of meditation, and you need all the comfort you can get in order to focus and truly relax. For this, a non-slip yoga mat of 6'x4’ or 7'x5' or the extra-large yoga mat of 8'x6' will be optimal for all your poses and stretching. Plus, being so thick and cozy, we guarantee you wouldn't want to step away even after your yoga session.

The Best Quality Texture of your Non-Slip Yoga Mat

The texture of your non-slip yoga mat is crucial in staying balanced no matter which poses you are holding. Simply put, the texture is how much traction a yoga pad is able to provide. It is important that your thick yoga mat is sticky, but it's also important to have some kind of textured surface that makes it non-slip and doesn’t allow it to slide while you are in motion. Additionally, a high-quality texture will provide physical barriers to sliding, no matter how sweaty or vigorous your practice gets.

On the other hand, stickiness prevents sliding only by suction. So, it is essential to have texture and stickiness combined in your yoga mat for optimal balance. You can look for man-made patterns with raised bumps or a thick yoga mat material with a more slightly textured touch, or even an organic roughness for a softer feel overall.

These different models depend on your preferences, and each one is a component of overall comfort. Basically, there are yoga pads of all types and designs for every single yogi out there, and yours is to find what truly makes you Zen based on our helpful guidelines.

The Balance

The best yoga mats on the market provide balance with their stickiness. Namely, a non-slip yoga mat should keep your feet or hands from sliding while holding a pose steady. Such high-quality material like Polyvinyl Chloride Foam will ensure that you are safe in any situation.

This will give you confidence that you can try out new yoga poses and maintain your alignment as you move from one pose to another without the fear of sliding or hurting yourself.

How Often should I Clean my Yoga Mat?

If buying your non-slip yoga mat and stickiness is extremely important to you because of increased balance, remember that a yoga mat best sticks when it is clean, no matter the material. So, cleaning your mat and taking proper care of your in-home yoga space is essential.

After each use or when you notice your hands sliding forward in the downward dog, wash it with a yoga wash cleaner that will remove the residue and bring back its stickiness. This way, you can rest assured that your stretching mat will provide you with all the comfort and support you need.

Quality Materials Matter when You're Looking for the Best Indoor / Outdoor Yoga Mat

Now, we have talked about the material itself, but apart from the type of material your yoga mat is made from, check to see if it was manufactured from premium, eco-friendly, non-toxic materials. Such a product won't only give you the best experience doing yoga, but it will be optimal for the environment as well.

Plus, if you are someone who's allergic to latex, note that you should avoid natural rubber yoga mat models. Instead, choose a non-toxic one made of Polyvinyl Chloride Foam that has no odor or smell and offers extra durability and tear-resistance.

Such high-quality blends can be used as an outdoor yoga mat, which is fantastic for warmer weather when you want to stretch your body and relax while being in the fresh air.

The Style

With all the technical aspects of the best yoga mat aside, I hope everything you have learned in this blog was super helpful, and you can apply all your knowledge into buying your yoga mat today. And now we have come to the fun part – choosing the perfect style of your exercise yoga mat.

After all, you will be seeing it every day, so it is important that you pick the one that suits you by color, practice, priorities, values, and budget and makes you blissfully happy.

You can check our store for the best yoga mats and numerous other exercise preps that will put you in the best shape possible. Looking for that little bit extra? Find out the Three Benefits of using a Waist Trainer during your Yoga Workout here.