Top 10 checklist for choosing the ideal yoga props

More and more people are adopting the yoga lifestyle and are realising that yoga is more than a fitness regime. The practice of yoga has become easily accessible for everyone as there are many YouTube channels teaching the basics of yoga targeting beginners.

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner it is important to take up the practice of yoga with necessary guidance and precautions. While yoga can cure any medical and physical ailments, it is important to consult with a physician if the practitioner has any ailments. With modern yoga forms like aerial yoga, aqua yoga and other trends on the rise choosing the ideal yoga prop is as important as choosing the ideal yoga form for your practice. In this blog, let’s take a look at Top 10 checklists for choosing the ideal yoga prop.

Great grip – One of the most important factor in choosing the ideal yoga mat is to look for its grip. Though PVC mats are lightweight, its surface gets flaky and does not provide the grip during sweat. If you are a hot yoga practitioner, or if you tend to sweat a lot while practicing, you need to go for a mat that performs when wet. Some mats are specifically designed so that the grip improves the more you sweat.

A common problem most of the yoga practitioners undergo is not being able to perform asanas on surfaces that does not provide good grip and end with injuries. Using usual PVC mats ‘does not give the grip it requires to perform asanas like downward dog, triangle pose, etc. Choose the mat that provides great grip for all types of yoga, whether simple or aggressive yoga forms.

 

Non-flaky mats – Most of the PVC mats tend to get flaky after a point of time due to sweat and aggressive practice sessions. Look for a mat that is non-flaky and has properties that lasts longer. Mats that are made of cork and natural rubber do not get flaky and have longer durability and sustainability.

 

Odorless – To get the full benefits of yoga, it is important to have a fulfilled practice session. Practicing on a mat that emits bad odour not only gives the practitioner an unfulfilled practice but also produces harmful effects as these mats are made of chemical substances. PVC mats tend to give an odour after few sessions of practice giving the users a bad practice session. Mats and props made of eco-friendly resources such as natural rubber usually have the characteristic smell for the first few days which will eventually fade off with the use. So look for mats that are antimicrobial such as cork which remains odourless.

 

Texture – Textures for mats can either be by design like raised bumps or by the main feature of the mat – material used. Natural materials like jute cotton, natural rubber or cork usually have a unique texture. Texture of the mats determines how comfortable the mat feels to practice and also affect how much traction a mat provides.

Non-sticky properties – There are many biodegradable and eco-friendly mats available in the market that are not-sticky and has non-slippery surface. Mats that are made of rubber and jute does not give a sticky surface when there is sweat and yet provide great grip. 

Recyclable – Being a yogi, it is important to give back to mother earth that has blessed us with abundance of resources and rich minerals. As yogis the responsibility of preserving the environment vests on us. Using biodegradable mats does not pollute the environment and gets decomposed in the environment without leaving any trace of pollution. Next time when you purchase yoga props make sure you choose recyclable products.

Easy to clean – While choosing the ideal yoga mat it is important to go for mats that are comfortable, easy to clean

 

and maintain. When it comes to maintaining the mat, the tedious task is to clean and dry the mat. Though there are many easy to clean solutions available in the market, the usual PVC mats tend to get flaky, slippery and break. Using mats that are made of cork and natural rubber has anti-microbial features that are self-cleaning and makes it easy to clean with wet cloth or just water  and does not require any extra effort for maintenance.

Reversible – Having a reversible mat is like having two different mats. Most of the PVC mats are not reversible which makes the surface flaky and slippery after a session of practice. With JURU Mats it is easy to practice as the mats are reversible and the user can pick a surface of their choice based on the yoga type. JURU Mats are produced with surfaces that are suitable to practice on both sides, so the user can practice on the surface of his choice.

Free from chemicals – PVC mats are made of chemicals that are hazardous substances and pose health threats to practitioners in the longer run. A recent study states that chemicals used in furniture and gym mats could be making women infertile. Thus it is important to avoid mats that are made of chemical substances. Mats that are made of polyvinyl chloride contain substances that are hazardous and also emit odor that causes other side effects to the practitioner. Choosing eco-friendly and biodegradable products are not only safe for the human mind and body but also preserves the environment and are easy to dispose. While looking for eco-friendly yoga props it is important to note that not all props are made of natural rubber and cork; there are certain rubber mats in the market that are made of synthetic rubber or come with PVC or TPE surface on one side and are harmful. JURU’s eco-friendly props are made of premium quality european cork and Indian rubber that makes it the best quality eco-friendly mats in the market.  

Safe for environment– This is the most important factor for choosing the yoga prop. Like mentioned in the above points being a yogi it is important to go for yoga props that are safe for environment. With the rising environmental and global warming threat, it is important to look for products that does not pollute the environment. JURU mats are produced from the bark of trees and does not involve any production of hazardous materials while manufacturing. JURU props are eco-friendly props being manufactured from the barks of the tree without cutting down any trees.

 

Also Read: https://www.juruyoga.com/avoid-yoga-pvc-mats-during-practice/