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Selecting a yoga mat is about as individual as choosing which workout to do. There is no “one right type” for everyone. In fact, choosing the right mat depends on many different factors such as the type of yoga or the specific level you are at. If you are just starting out in yoga for weight loss, you will need a different mat than someone else who has been practicing for decades in, say, Ashtanga yoga.

The biggest factor when choosing a mat is your personal level. If you are just starting out, a “sticky” mat, or a mat that doesn’t slip when you are practicing your poses, would be your best bet. The reason is that if you are still learning the poses, you don’t exactly have the coordination it takes to keep the mat still, which could be dangerous should you happen to fall. It really is for safety purposes. A great example of this type of mat can be found here. This mat is designed to keep you in poses without slipping around!

However, if you are at the “pro” level, relying on a sticky mat is not optimizing your workout. This is because it defeats the purpose of what yoga is really supposed to be–a balance between mind and body. Having a sticky mat when you know what you are doing does not help you to achieve that level of awareness where you let your body just “fall into the poses”. Having a mat that doesn’t stick to the floor will help you achieve greater balance of body, as well as your mind–which is the main purpose of yoga. Of course, you don’t want your mat to be slippery, but it needs to be about as naturally slippery as if you were to be outside on the natural earth. Blankets made for this purpose are great for you and can be found here.

The type of yoga also determines what type of yoga mat you select. If you tend to sweat alot during yoga, such as in Bikram or Ashtanga yoga, then you need a mat that will absorb your sweat. While a natural slipping is good in yoga, slipping because the mat is wet from sweat is another matter altogether. You want a mat that will act almost like a towel.

Another type of mat that can be helpful in yoga are the extra thick mats. These are for people who may have some need for extra cushioning, such as older people or people who are recovering from a major illness or surgery. Or even people who have arthritis, sore joints, or just like extra cushions.

Whatever you choose, be sure to get what is right for you and your personal level and abilities. If you have the right mat, you will be able to make your yoga be more effective…which is what you want, right?