How Are Yoga Mats Made

Yoga has been increasing popular through the years and has remained current by joining the mainstream gaming market such as Wii Fit on Nintendo. For many though, there is little consideration to how they are made or what they are made from despite many debates about the toxicity of some mats, meaning some have sought out other options.

What is it made of?

Originally yoga mats were made from PVC but due to the manufacturing process and chemicals used to make it ‘sticky’, it was soon found to contain a high level of toxicity. Those who are not fond of this fact (based on moral values as PVC will not degrade like the other eco friendly options) or who are allergic to latex opt for eco friendly mats made out of jute/natural cottons.

Why does the material matter?

If being eco friendly is important to you then the material of what things are made out of, is often a concern for you too but there’s more to it than the material. It is more about what the material means for use. PVC for example is known as the ultra sticky mat, which stops it from moving around as you use it and the better the traction the more control you have while using it.

Are there different textures?

You bet there are. Ultimately it depends on the level of comfort you need and that will sometimes be dictated by the material you use. Some of the textures are smooth, some have textured bumps and some of the natural materials such as cotton have a rougher texture. Coinciding with the textures are the flexibility factors too, for example a natural cotton mat will be stiffer and rough, so it will be less flexible and probably not as comfortable as a spongy PVC mat.

Thickness

Just to make it more complicated there are also different thicknesses you can buy. Again the thickness you buy may be due to your comfort tolerance however, yet again there are more things to consider. A thicker mat will ensure a better comfort lever, particularly to poses requiring more floor work but it won’t give you the sturdiness and connection with the ground. You may end up off centre and wobbly. A thinner mat won’t be as comfortable but it will give you the connection with the floor and as a result you will have a stronger core.

The best thing to do in this scenario is to explore your options and try as many different types as you can. Don’t rush out and buy the first one you find, shop around and make sure you get the one for you.