Common problems of yoga mats

Question 1

Beginners are faced with yoga mats of different thicknesses, which one should be the most suitable? Choose according to the material.

TPE pads are the most environmentally friendly

TPE is the most high-end product for yoga mat products. It does not contain chloride, metal elements, and is anti-static. Each mat is about 1200 grams, which is about 300 grams lighter than PVC foam mats. It is more suitable for carrying out. General thickness 6mm-8mm

Features: soft, compliant, strong grip-it is more reliable when placed on any ground. Compared with the yoga mat made of PVC material, the weight is about 300 grams lighter and it is more convenient to carry around.

Reminder: The price of yoga mats made of TPE material is relatively high.

The advantages of TPE pads are light weight, easy to carry, easy to clean, excellent in slip resistance in wet and dry conditions, and there is no smell if the TPE material of the pad is high in purity. Most of the PVC foamed cushions still have some flavor due to the process and cost, and there is no way to remove this. Even if some products have no taste, it does not mean that their ingredients have changed or that some harmful substances do not exist, unless they have undergone various inspections through the standards of export products.

PVC is cheap and good quality

PVC foam (the weight of a yoga mat with a pvc content of 96% is about 1500 grams) pvc is the name of a chemical raw material, and it is a raw material. However, PVC does not have the function of softness and anti-slip cushioning without foaming. Only after foaming, can finished products like yoga mats and anti-slip mats be produced.

Features: PVC materials are affordable, can be bought everywhere, quality is guaranteed, and cost-effective.

Reminder: Avoid buying low-quality yoga mats made of secondary materials.

Cloth cushions are hard to buy

Sometimes, in yoga classes, we see that some people use a yoga mat with bright colors that looks like an Arabian flying carpet. It is said that this is an Indian yoga cloth mat. This kind of cloth mat is imported from India and is knitted and dyed by hand. It can be used on a regular plastic yoga mat. The reason for this is that the plastic yoga mat is not good for contact with the skin, and the cloth mat is also softer, and it can also be carried around to isolate when using public yoga mats. But I don’t know if the anti-slip effect of the cloth pad is ideal?

Choose according to "thickness needs"

Regarding the thickness of yoga mats, the common yoga mats on the market have several thicknesses of 3.5 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm. The most basic suggestion is that beginners can use thicker yoga mats, such as 6 mm thick, to prevent sports injuries. After having a certain foundation and experience, you can switch to a yoga mat with a thickness of 3.5 mm to 5 mm. Of course, if you are very afraid of "pain", you can always choose a relatively thick yoga mat for practice.

Choose according to the "type of yoga" you are learning

If you practice yoga based on soft training, you will often encounter sitting on a mat. At this time, a thicker and softer yoga mat will make you more comfortable. But if you are practicing Power Yoga, Flow Yoga, or Ashtanga Yoga, which is a more dynamic type of yoga, then you need a thinner and harder mat. A yoga mat that is too soft is not easy to do. Some people who are more demanding will feel that too thick yoga mats hinder their contact with the ground, etc. In fact, the thickness of yoga mats mainly depends on personal preference.

If your movements are not so static, and you don’t sweat as much as running, they are somewhere in between. Which kind of mat should be used? I will answer "I would choose a thinner one." Thick cushions (above 5 mm) lose the feeling of contact with the ground, and will feel "distorted" when doing a lot of movements. In foreign countries, most yoga practitioners love to use thin mats. This is the reason. If you feel that your knees are uncomfortable when the thin cushion is doing some kneeling movements, you can put a towel under your knees.

Question 2

Yoga originated from India. In the beginning, did ancient Indians also use yoga mats?

No ancient Indians can answer this question, and I don’t know if any modern people have conducted conclusive textual research.

It is said that the first Indians who practiced yoga did not use yoga mats. They were sitting on the ground in the simplest place to communicate with body and mind, and between people and the universe. However, the practice of yoga by modern people is completely different from that of ancient Indians. The yoga mat has also become an indispensable accessory. Because yoga mats are made of special materials, unlike ordinary mats or carpets, they can prevent slippage and prevent injuries to the spine, ankles, hip bones, and knee joints. There is also a more mysterious saying: yoga mats can play an insulating role to prevent the energy accumulated in the body from being carried away by the earth during practice.