Selecting and Caring for a Zen Yoga Mat
Friday, October 19th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
One of the advantages of attending a yoga class is the limited amount of equipment needed to participate. Obviously, some loose, comfortable clothing is a must, followed by one of the many zen yoga mats on the market. Although there are plenty of zen yoga mats to choose from, it can still be a bewildering experience trying to make a final choice. Why is this? Well, you develop a relationship over time with your mat, much more so than with other kinds of fitness equipment. Let’s face it, you are going to be spending a lot of time together so it’s imperative that you choose a mat that feels and looks just right.
Types of Yoga Mats
There are many different types of yoga mats, in a variety of materials and colors. The one common element that you want to have with your mat is a stickiness factor that allows you to plant your poses safely on the terra firma. Many of the yoga mats today will stick to the floor once they have been moistened with water or sweat from all of your hard work. From there, you can select a mat that will work best for the type of yoga that you plan to do. For guidance in this aspect of selecting a mat, you can ask your yoga instructor or do your research on the Internet. The next step will be to try out a few yoga mats to see which ones feel the best to you. And although it may seem shallow to select a mat based on color, keep in mind that you will be spending a lot of time looking down at that surface, trying to focus your energy. It will be easier if it is a color that you find attractive.
Caring for your Zen Yoga Mat
Zen yoga mats need to be cleaned regularly and also broken in before use. Usually, a zen yoga mat will come with care instructions. Follow these instructions carefully if you wish to get a long life out of your mat. Pay particular attention to washing your zen yoga mat: avoid top loading washing machines as they tend to damage the mat by their spin action. To keep your mat ’sticky’, avoid placing it in the tumble dryer. The best solution is to hang it out to dry in the open air, but away from direct sunlight. If you must place the mat in the dryer, always use a low setting and kepp the drying time to under ten minutes.
Finally, choose a high quality zen yoga mat; don’t skimp on price or materials. Better quality mats can last for many years. Because you will be in contact with the mat a great deal, you must choose a color and material that you like
If you choose one of the high quality yoga mats and care for it properly, your mat can hold up for many years and many workouts. Choose a material and color that you like, and you will get plenty of good use out of your Zen yoga mat.
