Watch

Chapters (5)

Don’t buy a yoga mat before knowing these 4 things!

Charlie Follows · 1:01

In this practice

Key teachings

  • Importance of selecting the right yoga mat for personal practice
  • Understanding key features of a yoga mat: grip, cushion, length, and alignment aids
  • Making informed decisions when purchasing yoga equipment

Ideal for

  • Beginner yogis looking to purchase their first mat
  • Experienced practitioners seeking an upgrade or new mat
  • Anyone interested in optimizing their yoga equipment
  • Individuals with specific physical needs (e.g., sensitive knees)

Lesson

Steps

  • Evaluating yoga mat grip (e.g., avoiding shiny surfaces, preferring rubber)
  • Assessing appropriate mat cushioning for joint support (e.g., knees)
  • Considering mat length based on practitioner's height
  • Utilizing alignment markers on a mat for proper pose setup
  • Identifying personal needs for mat selection (e.g., sensitive knees, travel)

Benefits

  • Enhanced safety and stability during yoga practice
  • Improved comfort and support for joints
  • Better body alignment and pose execution
  • Increased confidence in equipment choices
  • More enjoyable and effective yoga sessions

Transcript

you want to buy a yoga mat but you're not sure what's good what to look out for here are my four top tips as a yoga teacher who's tried a lot of yoga mats first things first you want a really grippy mat a lot of mattes will claim to be grippy but they're not if it has a shiny surface it's likely that it's going to be really slippy so opt for a rubber mat two you want something with a bit of cushion if you're going to be spending a lot of time on your knees then you want to make sure that they're going to be supported if you have really sensitive knees go for something a bit thicker if you're going to be traveling you might want something a little on the thinner side next thing is length I am only five foot so it really doesn't matter every single mat is going to be big enough for me if you are on the taller side go for a longer mat the last thing that can be really helpful especially if you're a beginner you see all of these little dots these are for your alignment so that you can line your feet and your hands for some people this is really helpful for others they won't use it at all so if you know that you like to be able to line up with something go for something with these

Practice summary

Level
all levels
Duration
2 minutes
Equipment
None
Target areas
Equipment knowledgeDecision making skillsPreparation for yoga practice
Energy
calming

More practice