Yoga mats are important to the lives of people for a variety of reasons, as they depend on them to act as a kind of cushion for their yoga sessions in order to make them all that much more comfortable and relaxing. However, it is worth noting that in reality, they are necessary for various other reasons as well. Aside from providing a sense of ease to the ones using them, they serve several other purposes as well.
Prevents slipping
When doing yoga, slipping can be inevitable for some as they are stretching different parts of their body and that too on surfaces such as wood or carpet. But luckily, most (if not all) yoga mats are designed with the very intention of keeping their user in place while they do their thing. Additionally, it also provides a sort of thermo-insulation, which essentially just means that it traps heat, charge, or energy from the body to the ground. Along with this, the right material is made to be breathable and absorb sweat, the latter of which can cause slipping in the first place.
Improves posture
Many people out there struggle with their posture and tend to slouch instead of keeping their bodies straight. As mentioned above, this can eventually lead to back pain in the long run if not fixed. However, the right yoga mat can change this bad habit for the better. Since the yoga mat itself provides stability and keeps its user from losing their grip, it lets them really ease up their body to the point where it is fully stretched out.
Physical benefits
The right yoga mat means a greater chance that a person will want to get their daily dose of yoga on it, which in itself offers several types of benefits physically. Because this practice involves stretching one’s limbs in various different positions and for certain periods of time, the mat aids in increased flexibility as well as balance when placed properly on the ground. As mentioned before, certain yoga mat materials allow for more breathability and improvisation on numerous breathing techniques. This in turn, improves one’s respiratory system as well. And last but not least, yoga helps to fight back pain and lessen arthritis pains due to having one extend their body in a lengthy manner on a stable surface.
Spiritually beneficial
In regards to its physical counterpart, owning a yoga mat can help improve one’s mind, senses, and body. In other words, it is useful in a spiritual aspect just as much as it is in a physical one (if not more). This is because yoga mats and doing yoga on them allow for one to be more in touch with their inner selves through the refocus and redirection of energy towards a bigger picture. With that being said, having a yoga mat handy in a way also temporarily lets its user escape reality and the problems they may be facing in it (tension, stress, etc). This is especially favorable as they grow older and as such are prone to more stress.
Calms the body
Since the art of yoga focuses on stretching and breathing techniques, the body should naturally become loose when it is practiced and done correctly. Doing this on a mat also helps air that enters the body to flow in a cleaner manner through one’s system whenever one inhales, creating a positive effect when combined together in harmony. These course throughout the body, eventually reaching the brain towards the end. Even though benefits are more on the physical side of things, they also help to put one’s mind at ease.
Lets its users escape reality
As mentioned before, many turn to yoga to attain peace of mind. For certain people, this is done by escaping what is right in front of them in favor of their own world. In other words, this is also defined as escaping reality. Practicing yoga on mats can do that perfectly, by letting one immerse so deep into their inner thoughts that they successfully transport themselves from the actual world into another, more imaginative one. While this may seem counterintuitive in the eyes of some as they might believe in facing one’s problems directly, it is not the case for those that truly embrace yoga in all aspects.
Allows for the channeling of energy
Yoga mats also allow its practitioner to be more in sync with their inner selves by having them refocus as well as redirect the energy inside of them towards a broader goal for the better. Sometimes, this is a necessary thing to do as one may just have a build-up of negative energy in their body for a number of reasons but no idea as to how to release it or convert it into something positive. Doing yoga can serve as the perfect antidote as its whole purpose essentially centers around understanding one’s energy better so that they may know how to harness it the right way.
How to choose a yoga mat
There are a few things one should know before picking a yoga mat. The first is the material which the mat itself is made of. The 3 most common ones include: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), rubber, and TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer). PVC is man-made but not biodegradable, rubber is both natural and biodegradable, and TPE is man-made but at the same time biodegradable. Learning more about these materials and their characteristics will let one get a better idea of the right one to get as some tend to be a bit more slippery than others. The next thing worth mentioning is the place where one should actually shop for the mat. This can be done either through purchasing one from a local yoga studio or just buying one from online. And last but not least, the final factor to consider before choosing a yoga mat is figuring out how to carry it around from place to place. While some yoga studios store their clients’ mats, a yoga mat bag is crucial for those whose studios do not.