So you finally decided to quench your curiosity for yoga and have signed up for a yoga for beginners class at your nearby gym. Now what? Well, now the next step would be to make sure you have all the things you will need. This means yoga clothes such as pants or skirts, tops, accessories like socks or gloves (especially if you tend to sweat a lot), maybe even stretchable bands which come in handy for doing certain yoga poses, and of course, the yoga mat.
Don't Go For Cheap and Generic Yoga Mats
There are several things to consider if you really want to find the crème de la crème, so to speak, of yoga mats. You will find a lot of generic yoga mats out there being sold even in supermarkets. But if you're serious about learning and doing yoga for a significant period of time, we shouldn't have to tell you that it's wiser to invest in really good yoga mats. This is not just for practical purposes either, after all it wouldn't make sense to just keep buying cheap yoga mats just to throw them out when they're no longer functional. More importantly, it's a matter of safety as well.
Yoga Mats for Specific Types of Yoga
So if you had just signed up for yoga for beginners and are now on your way to shopping for everything you will need, yoga mats are among these things that you need to spend considerable time finding. For example, you should consider the type of yoga for beginners class you're taking when shopping for yoga mats.
If you're doing Hatha yoga for beginners, look into sticky yoga mats. This type of yoga is slow-paced but involves doing a lot of stretching, learning basic yoga poses, and meditation. If you signed up for an Ashtanga yoga for beginners class, a type of yoga that is more vigorous and fast-paced, then you should look into yoga mats that have a lot of padding or cushion (at least 4mm thick), are durable, and have a good grip on the floor.
Yoga Mats for Different Types of People
Yoga can be slow or fast-paced, and is recommended for both men and women, young and old. In fact, there are many yoga for beginners classes especially for kids. So if your young one is keen on learning how to do yoga too, you can get them the smaller sticky yoga mats with designs that kids will love. Environmentalists will also be glad to know that there are eco-Yoga mats that are environment-friendly because they are not made of PVC, a vinyl polymer which cannot be recycled.
If you are pregnant or expecting, we emphasize the need for well-padded and sticky yoga mats. The same goes for the elderly or those with sensitive or fragile joints. There are several brands that are well-known for the quality of yoga mats they sell and produce. If you want to make sure you get the best yoga mat for your sessions, you may also try having a talk with your class yogi before you start your classes and ask for their recommendations for the best yoga mats.
