- Roll-up, non-slip yoga mat
- Extremely light and portable
- Padded waffle grip
- 183 cm long and 61 cm wide
- Easy-clean design
- Folds easily for storage
Yoga Mat Buying Guide
Everything you need to know about buying a yoga mat
Yoga mats have come a long way since the original mat, which was made with a carpet backing. Today, yoga mats come in a wide range of materials and designs, and with so many yoga mats available it can be difficult to choose one, especially for beginners.
If you've just started practising yoga and are thinking about investing in your first yoga mat, this article will provide you with all the tips and advice you need. You can read the full guide or use the links in the list below to navigate to a specific topic.
YOGA MAT CONSIDERATIONS
Benefits of Owning Your Own Yoga Mat
When you're first starting out with yoga, having your own mat is a good idea. It can motivate and encourage you to practice at home, especially if you can designate a particular area like your gym or your own yoga studio. Having your own mat can also be more hygienic, and you can choose a mat that suits your specific needs in terms of comfort, weight, and body type. It's also nice to have a mat that you like because of the color and design.
With so many different yoga mats on the market, consisting of different materials, lengths, widths, and thicknesses, as a beginner, choosing a mat can be a surprisingly difficult decision. With that in mind, we recommend considering the following points before deciding which mat to purchase.
What surface will you be practising on?
One of the first things to consider before purchasing your first yoga mat is the surface you'll be practicing on. If you're buying a yoga mat to practice in at home, think about which room or rooms you'll be practicing in and whether the floor will be carpeted, wood or tiled. If you're taking your mat to your local yoga class, also think about the type of flooring you'll be practicing on - you'll need a slightly thicker mat if the class is in a sports hall rather than a purpose-built yoga studio.
Many people are now choosing to practice yoga outdoors. University research has shown that outdoor exercise, or "green exercise," can provide additional benefits to the same exercise done indoors. A meta-analysis, which looked at data from several studies, concluded that exercise done outdoors produces a greater increase in feelings of well-being and self-esteem.
If you decide to change things up a bit and take your yoga practice outdoors, a thicker yoga mat like the METIS 6mm Non-Slip Mat will provide grip and support without bunching or rippling as much as thinner mats.
What type of yoga will you be doing?
Another important factor to consider when choosing a yoga mat is the type of yoga you'll be practicing on it. Your preferences will likely be different if you practice power yoga or hot yoga, compared to, say, Kundalini or a gentle, restorative form of yoga.
You may also want to consider whether you'll be spending a lot of time in seated meditative poses on your yoga mat, or whether you'll be doing relaxation poses and routines like Yoga Nidra. If you're going to be doing a lot of static poses and positions, you may want to opt for a thicker, more cushioned yoga mat, which will provide more comfort when sitting or lying on it for long periods.
Other factors to consider when choosing a yoga mat
Once you've decided where and how you'll be practicing yoga, you'll need to consider other factors like your body shape, height, and the health of your joints. If you have any pre-existing conditions, such as a knee injury or arthritis, for example, you may want to opt for a thicker mat that will provide more cushioning for when you're doing asanas (yoga poses) like Child's Pose, Cat Pose, and Cow Pose, which involve kneeling or putting your weight on your knees.
YOGA MAT SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
How thick should a yoga mat be?
Yoga mats come in a variety of thicknesses. Thinner yoga mats are easier to transport and can be folded and stored more easily. Some yogis prefer thin yoga mats because they feel more connected to the earth or ground beneath them. However, most people will want a little extra cushioning, especially when doing kneeling poses like Ustrasana/Camel Pose. For this reason, you'll often see people folding up the ends of thin yoga mats for certain poses so they have extra cushioning for their knees.
Thick, high-density yoga mats (6mm or thicker) provide more cushioning than their thinner counterparts. These thicker mats are often touted as being best for people with sensitive or sore joints and also for beginners.
The METIS Non-Slip Yoga Mat is 6mm thick, so it provides plenty of cushioning and comfort for anyone who has difficulty putting weight on their knees and elbows during yoga classes.
Our Premium Yoga Mat is 5mm thick and offers great comfort for the vast majority of users, thanks to its thickness and the fact that it's made from natural rubber. Weighing in at just under 3kg, it's also light enough to carry to a yoga class and comes with a handy carrying strap.
Yoga Mat Grip
The level of grip that your chosen yoga mat will provide you with is also an important factor to consider. If you're going to be practising hot yoga, for example, you need to be able to grip the mat with your feet and hands when you're working up a sweat. The Net World Sports Premium Yoga Mat offers excellent grip thanks to the use of natural rubber and eco-friendly polyurethane. The materials and custom design provide a high level of grip on the top of the mat so that your feet and hands don't slip. The grip underneath the mat is also designed to be slip-resistant, even if moisture gets underneath. The METIS Yoga and Exercise Mat features a waffle design with ridges that provide excellent grip during your routines and classes.
Folding Yoga Mats
While most yoga mats are best stored when rolled up, folding yoga mats can be a great option if you're looking for something that's easy to store and transport.
Our three-position folding yoga mats are ideal for all types of exercise classes, including Pilates and bodyweight circuits. They're filled with PE cotton for extra shock absorption and comfort. The 6-foot-long mats also have woven handles that make them easy to carry to a class or store at home. Folding yoga mats are a great investment if you're looking for a mat that can be used for a variety of workouts and home exercise classes, and is easy to clean and store.
Yoga Mat Alignment Lines
Yoga mats come in many designs, but one important feature to look for is the alignment lines. Alignment lines or alignment marks usually outline the centre of the mat with a circle. Mats with alignment marks also tend to have "end lines" and another line running down the centre of the mat lengthwise.
Markings are beneficial even for experienced practitioners (so much so that during many retreats and teacher training courses, students are asked to mark similar lines with chalk on their mats to help guide their postures and poses correctly).
Alignment lines can also help beginners, as they can understand the many cues and adjustments a teacher may use. It is much easier for the student if a teacher can tell them to place their hand on a specific line or mark on the mat. Once you know how to use the markings yourself, you can also follow along and align yourself correctly without as much help from a teacher. This will also help you avoid injury, as it will distribute and balance your weight more accurately.
The position of your hands on the mat will depend on the length and size of your body and limbs. For example, in tabletop pose or cat or cow pose, you can use a teacher or mirror to make sure you're in the correct position, then make a mental note of your hand position in relation to the alignment lines.
The small circles on our premium yoga mats are typically where you would place your hands so they're shoulder-width apart. However, you may need to adjust this slightly depending on how wide your shoulders are. If you use the small circles at the top of the mat to measure your hand position, you can also use the small circles near the back of the mat to make sure the middle of your feet are aligned with the middle of your hands.
Alignment lines can also be a great tool when it comes to measuring your progress. You can make a mental note of your starting point/line and how far you can stretch in relation to a line or other lines or marks on the opposite side of the mat.
YOGA MAT MATERIALS
Natural rubber yoga mats
Rubber yoga mats are popular because they are eco-friendly and offer the ideal density – they are neither too hard nor too soft. Rubber is denser than materials like PVC, so rubber mats of the same thickness will provide more cushioning and be more comfortable against hard floors. Rubber is non-toxic and biodegradable. It is also extremely durable and offers excellent grip and contact with the floor.
If you are going to be working up a sweat or doing hot yoga, rubber mats are a great choice. Rubber provides a good amount of cushioning thanks to the density of the natural “bouncy” material, but unlike very thick, padded mats, it provides good contact with the floor, making balancing poses feel more natural and easier to perform. It is also an excellent material for standing poses as it is very unlikely to slide or shift even when body weight and pressure is applied to the corners of the mat.
Rubber is also firmer than most other mat materials, which again is great for standing and balancing poses as the mat is unlikely to shift or compress erratically under your feet. Stability on a yoga mat is vital as any slippage or movement dramatically increases the risk of injury. With a rubber yoga mat, you can get into and hold any pose on your feet, knees, elbows, or head and not have to worry about the mat moving or shifting.
Advantages of rubber yoga mats
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- Water-resistant
- Eco-friendly
- High traction level
- Durable
- Firm
- Ideal for balance and one-legged poses
PVC yoga mats
PVC is one of the most popular materials for making yoga mats. It is affordable, easy to clean, and very durable. PVC also offers excellent traction and can be used on most surfaces, from wooden floors to sandy beaches. It can even feel slightly sticky, which is what you want for superior grip.
PVC yoga mats are also very lightweight and easy to carry around. If you are a yoga instructor, this might be good to know if you need to carry 20+ yoga mats to each class. PVC offers excellent grip and instantly curves around your feet or hands when you put pressure on the mat.
This means that you are very unlikely to slip in any direction, especially when combined with the honeycomb traction design of the METIS Non-Slip Mats.
PVC mats are also very easy to roll up and store or transport, which can be an important feature if you practice yoga at home or are an instructor looking to transport multiple mats at the same time. Due to their affordability and high level of comfort and grip, PVC yoga mats are ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a mat that can be used for a variety of exercises and fitness classes. Strong, durable and water resistant, non-slip PVC mats are a great choice for beginners and advanced yoga practitioners or anyone looking to do floor exercises such as sit-ups and planks.
Advantages of PVC yoga mats
- Antibacterial
- Easy to clean
- Non-slip
- Economical
- Very durable
- Lightweight and easy to carry
PU Leather Yoga Mats
PU or polyurethane provides fantastic grip even when it is very hot or if the practitioner or mat is covered in sweat. PU also provides high-density cushioning for added comfort and is touted to be a material with the elasticity of rubber with a superior level of resilience. PU is also recyclable and does not absorb heat very easily, so it can be ideal for outdoor yoga in the sun or hot yoga.
PU does not absorb water, so it is easy to clean, and it is also 100% vegan. PU possesses antibacterial properties and is virtually slip-resistant, making it a great choice for hot yoga or vigorous forms of yoga such as Ashtanga. PU material is also extremely durable with high abrasion resistance; which makes it a very durable material, ideal for frequently used yoga mats.
Advantages of synthetic leather yoga mats
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- Recyclable
- Vegan friendly
- Slip resistant even when wet
- Flexible yet extremely durable
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use an exercise mat for yoga?
It's important that the mat you use for yoga is non-slip and of the right thickness. Many exercise mats are designed for stretching and yoga as well as bodyweight exercises. As long as the exercise mat is non-slip, it should be suitable for yoga.
How can I stop my yoga mat from slipping on the mat?
As long as a yoga mat has a non-slip backing, it should not slip on a mat. If for some reason you're still having trouble using your yoga mat on the mat, there are a number of solutions recommended by online yoga communities, such as using additional non-slip backing for mats and rugs, or even using sea salt.
How do I clean a yoga mat?
The first thing to keep in mind when cleaning your yoga mat is to avoid using soap, as it is slippery and can leave residue even when you thoroughly clean and dry your mat.
Many cleaning experts found online recommend using a mixture of one part distilled white vinegar and three parts water. Some people also say that you can use rubbing alcohol instead of distilled white vinegar if you don't have any on hand. If you're unsure, you can always try contacting the manufacturer or checking the label and instructions that usually come with yoga mats.You can also add a few drops of an essential oil like peppermint or tea tree to add an additional antibacterial element to the solution. Ideally, you'll want to use a spray bottle to apply the solution to your mat, but if you don't have one, make sure to mix the solution well before using it. It's important to make sure you're using a cloth or flannel that won't tear when you rub it against your yoga mat, and avoid using steel wool or other abrasive cleaning tools, as these are likely to damage your mat.
Many premium PU and rubber yoga mats require a lot more water and solution to clean, compared to some PVC mats that don't absorb water. Many yoga bloggers recommend making a cleaning spray with water, vinegar, and essential oils, such as lemon and lavender. However, some yoga mats may start to tear and erode when you clean them with essential oils, so it's a good idea to start with just one drop the first time you use an oil or spray containing an oil.
How do I carry a yoga mat on a bike?
If you want to commute to your yoga class and get some exercise along the way, riding a bike can be a great option. However, it is potentially dangerous to try to carry a yoga mat at the same time as riding a bike. However, if you insist on it, there are some ways to carry your yoga mat that are safer than just tucking it under your arm and riding a bike with one hand (definitely not something we would recommend).
Arguably the best way to carry a yoga mat on a bike is to use a rear bike rack and a bungee cord. Lay the yoga mat horizontally along the rack and tie it down firmly and securely with a bungee cord. Other ideas include using a PVC document holder or placing the mat securely in or on a backpack.
How to pack a yoga mat?
The best way to pack a yoga mat in a suitcase is to fold it. Instead of rolling it up like normal, unroll it until it's completely flat and then fold it in half. You'll need to fold it in half three or four times to fit it into an average suitcase or bag. This works best with thinner yoga mats - it can be a little tricky trying to fold a large rubber yoga mat! (You may want to try rolling it up instead or using a PVC yoga mat when you travel.)
CHOOSING WHICH YOGA MAT
At Net World Sports we have a huge range of yoga mats available to buy. We use a variety of different materials and designs so you can find a mat to suit different needs and budgets. All mats are of exceptional quality and offer excellent grip and comfort for yoga practice.
- Made with ecological polyurethane and natural rubber
- 183 cm long and 68 cm wide
- Includes asana alignment lines
- Includes strap to carry the yoga mat
- Non-slip surface
- Sustainable and non-toxic yoga mat
- Easy-clean synthetic leather
- PE cotton filling
- Woven carry handles
- Perfect for yoga and gym floor exercises
- 5mm unfolded thickness
- Tri-fold design for easy storage
- Anti-slip and eco-friendly TPE material
- 5mm double-layer design
- Optional carrying strap
- Hygienic and easy-to-clean surface
- Suitable for home and commercial use
- Ideal for yoga, pilates and floor gymnastics exercises
Finally, if you're looking for a complete yoga set, the METIS yoga set includes everything you need to get started. With a yoga mat, yoga belt, carrying strap and 2 yoga blocks, you have everything you need to take your yoga asanas to the next level.
As well as yoga mats, at Net World Sports we also stock a wide range of yoga mat equipment and accessories including yoga wheels, yoga blocks and yoga balls. Ideal for core stability and balance training, yoga wheels are used to release tension, aid flexibility and improve posture. Yoga balls can be used for a wide range of functional exercises including crunches and yoga poses including the upward facing and downward facing dog pose which can be performed using the ball to add a dynamic element of stability. Ideal for functional training and wellbeing, all of our yoga equipment is made from the highest quality materials.
Yoga is a great form of exercise that can be done at home, in the gym or in a class. It is fantastic for relieving stress, improving flexibility, bone density, balance and strength. Investing in a yoga mat is a smart move that will certainly improve your health and wellbeing. To view our full range of yoga mats and accessories, including yoga bands and straps, visit our yoga equipment page.
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