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***Basic Yoga Mat Selection Suggestions
By
Bhakti-Bheka, the Official Guide To Yoga |
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Why use a yoga mat? In India where Yoga originated, yogis used cotton rugs or nothing for their asana practice. The current use of mats in India is due to the influence of traveling Americans to India for yoga vacations and study. Yoga mats first arrived in the United States in the late 1970’s brought over from Germany. In America we use yoga mats because most of us have not started doing yoga at the age of 5 or 6 like many boys in India do and we like the help it gives us while doing our Asana practice. A yoga mat is supposed to help you have better traction in poses like downward facing dog or triangle pose so that you can focus on your alignment instead of on slipping. A good mat does not bunch when you turn your feet or slip on the surface it is placed on (like a wooden floor). If you need cushioning for bones or joints there are thick mats available but they should be very dense to give you stability in balance poses (and many are not dense).
Not all yoga mats are alike! Current marketing trends in America would have you believe that every crappy mat out there is “the best”. This is just not true. American corporations are used to lying to us and misrepresenting their products and unfortunately this mentality has crept into the yoga supply industry as well. Much of the industry is not really focused on the spiritual aspects of yoga but on making money. Bhakti-Bheka commits to truth and education in our marketing (see “about us” on www.bheka.com).
Lately the trend has been towards “eco” mats, which is very good. There is enormous variety in the eco mat selection and most of the eco mats are not truly 100% “eco friendly”. Again marketing would have you believe that every eco mat out there is a good choice. Not true.
How then, do you decide on a mat?
You should be reviewing certain facts when making your yoga mat selection:
1. How would you rate this mat on its non-slip performance? MOST mats for sale do not have good non-slip performance! This is a sad but true fact. Generally mats made in China are the worst, followed by America and then Taiwan, with Germany holding the trophy for the best non-slip mats on the market in non-eco mat styles. For eco mats there is a wide range of non-slip performance levels. The best non-slip performance is usually from latex, or “jute and PER” combo mats and “jute and latex” combo mats. Generally TPE and PER (by itself) mats have the worst non-slip performance. Bhakti-Bheka carries a Jute and PER eco mat that is dense, has a good non-slip surface and is said to be 100% biodegradable.
2. How long can I expect the mat to last? Cheaply made mats are often priced the same as higher quality ones. The cheaper made mats do not last as long. It is easy to do the math on this one. Many eco mats with latex in them have a lifespan of 1-2 years, and have lasting odor and for some people allergy issues. Most cheaper PVC mats have 1-3 years lifespan. Higher quality PVC mats like our Long Life and Transformer mats last 3-10 years or more.
3. Is the mat dense or is there air pumped into it to give it thickness? Generally the more air pumped into the mat making process, the sooner the mat will fall apart and the sooner it will end up in a landfill. The less actual cushioning you will have too, as you will sink into the mat instead of staying on top! Mats with a lot of air pumped into them do not weigh much relative to their thickness. Our Transformer mats are exceptionally dense (the 71” version weighs almost 8 lbs) and can be expected to last up to 10 years of personal use.
4. What is the mat made out of? Non-eco mats generally are made out of fabric (nylon, polyester or cotton) and PVC foam. Some have more chemicals than others. Eco mats are made out of a variety of ingredients including TPE plastic, PER polymer, plasticizers, natural jute or latex, and unspecified levels of chemicals as well.
5. Where is the mat made? This allows you to make a buying decision that will impact the environment and global economics in positive ways. Is it made in China where pollution and global warming issues are huge? Is it made in Taiwan, which is a step up from China? Is it made in Europe where environmental controls, living wages and generally good energy are put into the product? Is it made in the USA where again environmental controls and living wages come into play? Our Long Life line of mats are made in Germany and meet European Oko Tex 100 standards for environmental safety.
You can be politically correct when making your mat selection by considering the best fit of the choices for your needs (and supporting truth from businesses is always politically correct). How you choose to spend your dollars does matter in Yoga as in all aspects of your life.
by Marn Davis, Bhakti-Bheka staff (12/07).
Author's Bio
Bhakti-Bheka has been in business since 1996. The principal persons here practice yoga and use the products we distribute. Some of us have been doing yoga since the late 70’s. We develop and control specifications for many of our products. This means we do more than distribute or import; we set standards. We pay attention to “senior”, experienced and independent teachers when writing specs for products. We have meaningful relationships with teachers, studios and teacher trainers.
In recent times the YOGA industry has seen many arriving businesses and individuals using marketing hype in place of education, selling products that are mediocre or worse, having high prices relative to quality, and a willingness to manipulate in their marketing. WE COMMIT TO TRUTH AND EDUCATION in addition to quality and fair pricing of our products.
We want to distribute products that realistically deliver what they claim, and are not soon bound for the dump. We want to participate in creating “business yoga”/ “spiritual business”. We do believe our community can prosper, be spiritual, earth friendly and make a difference creating this new paradigm. Alignment matters as much in life as in our yoga or spiritual practice. See us at www.bheka.com.
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