Looking to buy a yoga mat? Keep these five tips in mind before investing in them

Yoga provides one with various physical mental health and wellbeing benefits it requires a tiny investment in equipment compared to other forms of exercise A yoga mat is one of the most versatile essentials you need to have especially in these challenging times where the predictability of gyms opening or closing is incalculable Practicing on a yoga mat allows one to properly perform different poses while remaining safe and free from unnecessary stresses such as slipping or experiencing pain from uncomfortable body supportWhether you are a hardcore yogic or someone about to embark on your fitness journey a yoga mat will help you elevate your performance and keeps pains and aches at bay Pallav Bihani founder of Boldfit shares some tips on how to select the best yoga mat for home workouts ThicknessThere are several yoga mats in the market with varying thicknesses You need to factor in comfort portability and safety before you narrow down on few products If you love the extra cushioning or are purchasing for senior citizens opt for mats with 1012 mm thickness While if you are someone who loves to connect with the ground while you move from one asana to another then a yoga mat with a standard thickness of 6mm is the ideal fit for you Opting for anything below the 106 mm thickness range wont provide you with the benefits of stability comfort and cushioning that you are factoring inSizeSize is one of the most important factors when looking out for a yoga mat 6 feet by 2 feet is the standard size in the market which is more than enough to perform all the asanas and exercises If you are tall or big staturewise you should opt for a larger mat Consider how much room and portability is also required before fixing the size of the yoga mat Portability is a crucial aspect of purchasing a yoga mat buying a large yoga mat that you cant carry around easily defeats the purpose On the flip side purchasing a small one will have your limbs touching the ground TextureThe texture of the yoga mat is quite essential for proper movements The yoga mats surface provides traction and prevents slipping everyone has different preferences some like their mats with manufactured texture while some prefer a smooth cushioned mat StickinessThis might be a surprising one but people who perform yoga regularly know the importance of stickiness in a mat A sticky yoga mat will keep you from sliding all over the place and help you maintain your alignment as you move from one pose to another as well as when you hold asanas Make sure you purchase a mat that provides just the right amount of stickiness for you MaterialLast but not least factor in the material when planning to purchase a yoga mat for your home workouts Most budget yoga mats under Rs 600 are made of recycled plastic such as EVA or PVC leaving a nasty odour and can cause skin allergies Although these are yoga mats they are not optimised for performance to perform an asana that may require your mat to hold your grip during the movement If performance is one of your concerning parameters then TPE material is the perfect match for you TPE yoga mats provide you the confidence and quality to perform your exercise while lasting for years without degrading in nature This is the ideal investment you can make in your fitness If late there are advancements and innovations around rubber as well as cork yoga mats these are pricey and they lack performance Though they are a boon for the environment these mats dont provide the bang of your buckAlso Read Five essential apps for practicing yoga at homeThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever