What to consider when looking for a good yoga mat

The first thing I always ask is: where are you going to use the mat most? There’s a difference in the yoga mat you use at home, the studio or when travelling. If you’re just starting out your yoga journey you often don’t want to spend a fortune or have multiple mats straight away. However if there’s one advice I can give you is to invest in something that can be used for most purposes. Please don’t skimp out, and buy one of those cheap yoga mats from your local sport stores. They’re rubbery, slippery and usually start falling apart after 2 or 3 practices, leaving a trail of yoga mat- crumbs to clean up after. Just. don’t. 

OK, now we’ve agreed on that, it doesn’t really matter what brand, colour or style of mat you buy as long as it at least meets the following requirements:

Thickness:

For at home mats I suggest at least a 4mm thickness, for comfort and stability, which is standard for most yoga mats. You can opt for a thicker mat, between 6 - 8mm if you like more of a buffer between you and the floor. This also helps give extra protection for your joints, especially when you suffer from bad knees or painful bones. The only pitfall with thicker mats, is that they get heavier and harder to roll-up, which can be annoying when dragging it along to the yoga studio. Anything above 1cm is really only practical for more Fitness related practices, such as pilates or strength-training, and anything under 4mm is perfect for travel.

Density:

How thick the mat is, is really not so important as much as the actual density of the mat. The higher the quality, the higher the density. If you know the weight you can divide it by the volume and get the density. As a reference point a good quality yoga mat has a density of 0,38.

Length:

Depending on your height, a standard length of 180cm should be fine for most people. If you’re a tall person, you will want to opt for an extra long mat between 190 - 220cm. Generally speaking, take your own height + 10cm to calculate the best mat size for you!

Material:

Finally, and probably most importantly, is the texture. Cheaper mats are usually made from materials that slide in more advanced postures. This is why it’s so important to invest in a better mat, for a better yoga experience! The most common and best materials to look for in mats are; PVC, Rubber, Rubber with Polyurethaan and Cork. 

If you stick to the above guidelines, you’ll be sure to find an all-round purpose mat that works for you. Below I’ll highlight some of the brands I’ve used and would definitely recommend: