By Rob Kuhn
There's a fairly natural hierarchy to the choices involved in selecting equipment for doing Yoga, but there's still plenty of room for you to set your own priorities.
One of the most basic choices involves the density of the mat, and you might be surprised to learn that not everyone prefers thick Yoga mats.
Here's a quick list of commonly offered thicknesses:
1/8-inch - 3.2 mm (one common standard)
3/16-inch - 4.7 mm
4 mm - just under 3/16-inch
1/4-inch - 6.4 mm (common "double standard")
5 mm - just under 1/4-inch
5/16-inch - 7.8 mm
3/8-inch - 9.4 mm
1/2-inch - 12.8 mm (extreme thickness)
And what will those offer you? Well, among the most typical advertising adjectives are: support/cushioning, comfort/safety, density/resistance, durability/resilience.
Beginners may be comfortable with the thinnest of those, and some folks simply prefer that 1/8-inch option. The thickest mats, four times that depth, may suit some folks, but can also be too soft to allow maintaining proper alignment in some poses. Others will find comfort in an intermediate thickness.
What's intermediate in this range, however, is rarely referred to that way. In order to be able to establish value in mats of differing thickness, manufacturers tend to want to define a "standard" -- typically 1/8-inch -- so that they can then refer to their 1/4-inch mats as "twice the standard thickness." But 1/4-inch mats are also so common that you'll occasionally see those referred to as "standard."
There's certainly validity in calling 1/8-inch a standard because -- other than a plain cotton mat that's closer to a blanket -- it's tough to find a mat with less thickness than that. The point is never to go exclusively by the word "standard" -- make sure you check the thickness!
In terms of mat materials, there are two main aspects to consider: type and texture. Most mats offer "high-tack" texture designed to prevent slipping -- by the mat on the floor, yes, but more importantly by you on top of the mat.
The variety of types materials requires research and thought. If you're willing to experiment with different ones, just remember to avoid anything to which you might be allergic (latex, for instance).
Most mats come in standard and kids sizes, with assorted other options. There are dozens of color choices and design options, but of course not all of them are offered on every mat.
As far as additional features, some folks want a reversible or two-sided mat, while other highly valued characteristics include easy cleaning and easy portability.
Yoga mats and Yoga accessories ON SALE NOW at http://www.yogaaccessorries.com/
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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 7:16 PM
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