Choosing a yoga mat is not as important as choosing “your” teacher, but a comfortable mat can improve the quality of your practice and allow you to relax during asanas without being distracted by sliding surfaces.
When choosing the material from which the yoga mat is made, it is worth thinking about the purpose for which you are doing. If yoga is not a lifestyle but just regular exercise, an inexpensive thick PVC or thermoplastic elastomer mat will do. Rugs made of these materials do not slip, have sufficient elasticity and strength and do not wipe from time and twisting. They have a small drawback: such rugs can release harmful substances into the air at high ambient temperatures (you should not use them when doing hot yoga). When buying, you should focus on the price, high-quality PVC rugs should not cost less than 500-600 rubles.
Natural rubber rugs - rubber will cost significantly more, from 1500 rubles. Rubber mats are very strong and durable, but also quite heavy. They are designed for professionals: athletes, trainers and yoga enthusiasts, aiming at long-term practice.
If you plan to use the rug outdoors, or move it from home to the gym for training, it is better to purchase a rug in a case or buy a cover with a carrying strap separately. The design of the rug is also of no small importance: it is better to take a product with a pleasant-looking color, without patterns and drawings distracting from the occupation.
The ideal length of a yoga mat is a person's height +10 cm. For Ashtanga yoga, they usually use rugs 200-220 cm long. The thickness of the mat depends on your preferences, they are usually made 2-6 cm thick.
