AYC Picks The BEST YOGA MATS
What are the best yoga mats for Ashtanga Yoga?
The best yoga mats? That's EASY ...
"The mats that are used!"
(ie. The one you take out of your closet.)
2 HELPFUL HINTS for CHOOSING a MAT:
1. Get something that lasts. If you are dedicated to your Ashtanga practice you are going to be on your mat 5-6 times a week. The cheap mats will get you started, but eventually you will want something that you won't need to throw out and that you can build your energy on. 2. Consider our environment. The attitude of ahimsa can be directed to the environment as well as to all our sentient friends. Natural fibers, materials and manufacturing are considerations in choosing your mat. Then simply GET ON THAT MAT & get started!
The rest is generally a matter of personal choice.
AYC PICKS the Best Yoga Mats for Ashtanga Yoga.
The Manduka Mat - The black mat... it's classic, and now available in many colors other than black. This mat might also be the best eco mat simply from the stand point of longevity. Manduka is simply the most durable yoga mat in existence.
The Jade Yoga Mat - Billed as the environmentally friendly mat this yoga mat is a great option if you don't want to pay the full price for the Manduka. They generally tend to be a little less expensive than the Manduka.
The Nike Yoga Mat - Can't really leave this one out of the list, simply because they are so popular. Likely made in China, and because of this they are super cheap. Different models ranging from $18 to $40 dollars. The throw away factor and the China connection put them at the bottom of the list, we are only mentioning them if you need something cheap to get started. Manduka and Jade are our choices.
Final Thoughts about Yoga Mats
We think it is important to reduce our environmental footprint, come on - it's yogic, so when you are buying a rubber mat there are several things you can do to help reduce the waste. Let's face it, rubber mats break down and get thrown out. Not to mention they make a mess all over the Yoga Studio. Don't contribute to the mess of the environment. So spend the money, get yourself a mat that lasts a long time. And remember you really don't need a mat to practice yoga.Don't let the absence of a yoga mat stop you from practicing.
Don't be fooled by the multitude of companies and their mass marketing campaigns to get you "branded" into their product lines. Find something you like and use it.
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