Yoga - which mat: thick or thin?

Author

which mat: thick or thin?

2006-10-14, 9:33 pm

Hi all!

i started this great world of yoga few months ago, started Hatha and
now Iyengar.
I plan to buy a mat to practice home, and i was buying the thickest
math i could find.
But since i have flat feet, i already have problem in finding my
equilibrium and probably thick mat would be worse.

What do you suggest?

thanks a lot in advance

omjaroo

2006-10-14, 9:33 pm

l wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> i started this great world of yoga few months ago, started Hatha and
> now Iyengar.
> I plan to buy a mat to practice home, and i was buying the thickest
> math i could find.
> But since i have flat feet, i already have problem in finding my
> equilibrium and probably thick mat would be worse.
>
> What do you suggest?
>
> thanks a lot in advance

Hi,

And welcome to alt.yoga :-)

Here is my recommendation :-)

> http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/product/yogamats.html

> I bought one of these mats and I am delighted with it. I am
> in Southern California and it cost me $35 with shipping. I
> remember receiving it directly from India within a couple
> of days. I was absolutely amazed. I could hardly believe
> they could get it half way around the world in that time.
> The mat is hand woven. I use it over carpet so it stays put
> very nicely. Very soft, flexible and very comforatable
> material. It's color is a very soothing and beautiful pale
> green. I really, really like it. If you get one I'd
> appreciate it if you let me know how you like it.

Jared
o
^

Stu

2006-10-15, 2:29 am

On 2006-10-14 14:57:36 -0700, "omjaroo" <omjaroo@yahoo.com> said:

>
> Hi,
>
> And welcome to alt.yoga :-)
>
> Here is my recommendation :

You should talk to your teacher. The Iyengar teachers I have had have
always suggested very thin mats. The purpose of the sticky mat is not
to cushion jumps. The purpose is to give you some grip and avoid
slipping. Many Iyengar teachers prefer using a wood floor, and only
resort to the sticky mat if the student slips on the surface.

The mat I have been using since 1994 is 3 mm thick. Its basically the
same mat they use at the Iyengar Center here in Los Angeles.

When I do sitting or prone asanas I use a blanket on top of the mat.
--
~Stu

NBennett

2006-10-15, 2:29 am

i use a mandouka mat which is very thick, but not necessarily cushy. i
find it to be very supportive under my feet in balancing poses, but
also gives my knees a lot of protection in kneeling poses.
additional pluses - apparently it will last forever. i've used it daily
for almost 4 years and have not noticed any wear, i dont slide on the
surface but it isn't annoyingly sticky.
minuses - expensive (about $100), heavy (8lb), wont fit in regular mat
bags.
i generally leave this mat at home for my home practice and take an
ultra thin travel mat when i travel.

nancy

l wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> i started this great world of yoga few months ago, started Hatha and
> now Iyengar.
> I plan to buy a mat to practice home, and i was buying the thickest
> math i could find.
> But since i have flat feet, i already have problem in finding my
> equilibrium and probably thick mat would be worse.
>
> What do you suggest?
>
> thanks a lot in advance

Richard Corfield

2006-10-15, 8:26 am

On 2006-10-14, l <lcnews@email.it> wrote:
>
> i started this great world of yoga few months ago, started Hatha and
> now Iyengar.
> I plan to buy a mat to practice home, and i was buying the thickest
> math i could find.
> But since i have flat feet, i already have problem in finding my
> equilibrium and probably thick mat would be worse.
>
> What do you suggest?

I'm using a 4mm "Eco-mat" which is rubbery foam bonded onto a jute
(sacking) surface. You practice with the jute side up. It has provided
reasonable cushioning, though more may be needed for things like sitting
cross legged or prolonged kneeling. Blankets can help here. The mat
gives good grip on the floor, and is fairly resistant to distortion.

Thin does help for balances, though I used to just move onto the floor
for those. Now I can do them fine on the mat.

Cotton would be interesting, though there's the problem of making it
grip a varnished floor, which would mean carrying 2 mats.

- Richard

--
_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard Corfield <Richard.Corfield@gmail.com>
_/ _/ _/ _/
_/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street, .
_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ except in the Twilight Zone 3^

tech-yogi

2006-10-16, 8:27 am

Hi everyone,

I am using a Reebok mat, which is thin and light,
folds easily, and costs about USD 30 in india.

I have used cotton mats in my classes, but I have found
Reebok most convenient.

Except for Vajrasana for starters, who require to keep a rolled towel
under the ankles ( I am one after two years!).

You have to find your own mat, painful search but necessary, I can only
advise.

Wish you a happy journey.....nk

Richard Corfield wrote:
> On 2006-10-14, l <lcnews@email.it> wrote:
>
> I'm using a 4mm "Eco-mat" which is rubbery foam bonded onto a jute
> (sacking) surface. You practice with the jute side up. It has provided
> reasonable cushioning, though more may be needed for things like sitting
> cross legged or prolonged kneeling. Blankets can help here. The mat
> gives good grip on the floor, and is fairly resistant to distortion.
>
> Thin does help for balances, though I used to just move onto the floor
> for those. Now I can do them fine on the mat.
>
> Cotton would be interesting, though there's the problem of making it
> grip a varnished floor, which would mean carrying 2 mats.
>
> - Richard
>
> --
> _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard Corfield <Richard.Corfield@gmail.com>
> _/ _/ _/ _/
> _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street, .
> _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ except in the Twilight Zone 3^

Richard Corfield

2006-10-16, 4:28 pm

On 2006-10-16, tech-yogi <nkaggarwal2005@gmail.com> wrote:
> You have to find your own mat, painful search but necessary, I can only
> advise.

Yoga festivals can be quite good for this. Plenty of people selling
mats, happy to lay one out for you. My eco mat was a slightly second
hand ex-demo one so somewhat cheaper. I've added a lot more wear to it
than the demos did.

- Richard

--
_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard Corfield <Richard.Corfield@gmail.com>
_/ _/ _/ _/
_/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street, .
_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ except in the Twilight Zone 3^