Congratulations on making that decision of purchasing yoga mat even if you are still a beginner in this healthy exercise lifestyle. Practicing yoga is a way of life; it is not just a fitness program. It is about keeping yourself in good physical shape and being fit because you want to prolong your life. But what type of exercise mat does a beginner in yoga use?
PVC Yoga Mats
PVC is short for Poly Vinyl Chloride. This type of material is thermoplastic which can be melted on a certain temperature and it hardens upon cooling down. The raw materials of PVC is made of oil and salt but there are debates on it being unsafe. A lot of yoga aficionados use the PVC because of its low price. If you have sweaty palms or feet, it is best to use yoga gloves or socks together with your PVC yoga mat since it does not absorb sweat.
Natural Rubber Yoga Mats
If you are not sensitive to latex, the natural rubber yoga mat may serve you best. It absorbs perspiration which makes it slip-free while you perform your moves. This may not be hygienic for some but what you can do is use a yoga towel in between your rubber slip free yoga mat and it’s perfect.
TPE Yoga Mats
You might have heard of tpe yoga mat. TPE stands for thermal plastic elastomer. This is an eco-friendly choice for an exercise mat because it is made of carbon. It has no PVC or rubber-like materials in it. This type of yoga mat may not be able to absorb moisture but the good thing about that is it inhibits growth of bacteria. Is it non-slip? Of course! It provides the necessary support while you are doing your poses.
Organic Cotton Yoga Mats
Some manufacturers of organic cotton mats take pride on the fact that their mats are filled with kapok. It is often used for restorative yoga. Restorative yoga is a type of yoga exercise wherein most positions are done lying down. The mat is thick for back support and the cover is pure cotton with a separate kapok cushion. An organic cotton yoga mat can be washed; air-dried and re-used as is.
If you are into backyard outings, this is a great camping mat because of its kapok cotton feature. It feels like foam.
Jute Yoga Mats
Can you imagine a mat made of vegetables? Well, jute is a vegetable so basically this mesh mat cares for the environment. It takes a little less than 4 years for a jute plant to mature with leaves used as natural fertilisers and the plant itself consumes carbon dioxide, cleaning the air. You can easily position yourself with your jute mat. It is super thin super comfortable to use at the same time. Jute is gaining popularity in the exercise mat industry.
Now that you have an idea on the different types of mats, which yoga mat do you prefer? Head straight to the Yoga Mat Store Online!