Fudge's thoughts on yoga mats

As the whole point of this blog is to help others learn from our experiences, Chesti and I thought that sharing some equipment tips might be useful.  So, for the first installment of Fudge’s Equipment Corner, I thought I’d talk about yoga mats.

First, I’d like to introduce another website from which we often find helpful information: Active Life DC.  Recently they had an interesting post about the 5 things to consider when buying yoga mats. 

CAVEAT: I have never used a high-end, expensive yoga mat.  Currently, I use a Gaiam 5mm mat.  Safeway has been handing out 20% off coupons to Sports Authority with my receipts recently, so I got the mat for a good deal.  Still, it is definitely one of the cheaper mats out there. 

(TMI warning) I sweat.  A lot.  Still, the Gaiam mat has served me fairly well.  I have not yet tried hot yoga, though knowing that is imminent I bought a yoga mat towel.  Haven’t tried out the towel yet.  I do slide a little on the Gaiam mat and often have to readjust my hands in downward dog.  I have used a variety of mats offered by studios though, and I have the same problem with those.

One of the things the Active Life DC folks bring up is the weight of the yoga mat.  I am learning that this can be important.  I have a hard time doing any moves or stretches that require me to be on my knee caps so I usually have to fold my mat (even the 5mm one).  Because I get a thicker mat, it weighs more.  And, since I’ve started doing yoga all over town, carting the mat around is something to consider.  In retrospect, it might have been a better idea for me to have gotten the thinner, lighter mat since I tend to double it up anyway.  Also, the standard size mats (3mm) are half the price of the thicker ones.  For standing poses, I’d be fine with no mat, but anything that requires me to be on one or both knees or ankles (like side plank), I’d need the double mat.

I guess that would be my biggest piece of advice.  If you’re going to double your mat up anyway, you probably don’t need a thicker mat.  This is especially important if you are going to haul the mat around town with you.