Yoga mat
Yoga mats are specially fabricated mats used to prevent hands and feet slipping during
History
In ancient India
In ancient times, meditational
Seated in an easy posture, on a (deer or tiger) skin, placed on Kusha grass, worshipping
Ganapati with fruits and sweetmeats, placing the right palm on the left, holding the throat and head in the same line, the lips closed and firm, facing the east or the north, the eyes fixed on the tip of the nose, avoiding too much food or fasting, the Nâdis should be purified, without which the practice will be fruitless., chapter II
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The sageWatercolour, early 19th century
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AJogapradipika, 1830
Origin of the modern yoga mat
With yoga's introduction in the West, many practitioners used towels or cotton mats on wooden floors.[5] Feet tended to skid on these surfaces, requiring strength just to stand still in a pose like Trikonasana.[6] In 1982, while teaching yoga in
Types
Yoga mats vary in thickness, composition, surface texture, "stickiness" or grip, and weight, as well as price.
The first commercially produced "sticky"
Some yoga practices in Scandinavia use cotton futon mats.[18][19] They consist of a mattress, usually with pockets of cotton batting, sometimes with wool or polyester-cotton mixes, and a washable cover.[20][21] They give good cushioning and grip.[22][23] However, futons are much heavier than other mats, weighing as much as 4.7 kg.[18]
Yoga Journal asked five yoga professionals for their views on yoga mats. They varied widely in their brand preferences, some choosing the traditional "sticky" type, but they agreed that mats must not be slippery.[14]
A hessian mat reviewed by
Composition | Grip | Surface | Soft/firm | Weight | Durability | Cleanliness | Environmental impact | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Sticky" PVC (plastic) |
Good[12] | Smooth Slightly sticky[16] |
Softer*[16] | Light*[16] | Tend to crumble | Tend to get dirty[17] | High, not always recycled[12] | Lowest[12] |
Rubber (latex) |
Best[12][17] | Smooth | Firm*[16] | Heavy[12] | Excellent[16][24] | Easy to wipe clean[16] Light colours show dirt[24] |
Low if natural and suitably sourced#;[12] high if combined with non-recyclable plastics e.g. polyurethane[12] | High[12][24] |
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) | Good[13] | Smooth | Firm[13] | Very light[13] | Good | Tend to get dirty[17] | Sustainably made, recyclable[13] | Mid[13] |
Cork on rubber |
Good[17] Non-slip when wet[24] |
Smooth[12] | Very comfortable, firm but warm[12][17] | Heavier | Good | Mainly self-cleaning[12][17] | Low if suitably sourced#[12][17] | High[12] |
Hessian (Jute) on rubber |
Good[16] | Rough weave[12] Attractive texture[17] |
Very comfortable*[23][17] | Heavier[17] | Good[16] | Washable[25] | Low if suitably sourced#[12] | Mid[17] |
Hemp | Poor | Smooth weave | Firm[16] Softens with use[26] |
Light | Good, better than cotton[16] | Washable[16] | Low if suitably sourced# | Mid |
Cotton | Poor[23] | Smooth weave | Firm[23] | Light | Moderate, fibres wear out[16] | Washable[16] | Low if suitably sourced#[23] | Mid |
Futon cotton with lining (cotton, wool, or polyester) |
Good[22] | Smooth | Softer[22] | Very heavy[18] | Good | Washable cover[20] | Low if natural and suitably sourced# | High |
- * Comfort and weight depend on thickness; people choose thinner mats for portability, or thicker ones for comfort.[16]
- # Environmental impact of these products depends on how they are grown; impact will be low if they are grown with low usage of pesticides, or in the case of rubber, if from suitably certified forests.
In popular culture
The yoga mat has become the definitive symbol of modern yoga as exercise.[6] The journalist Ann Louise Bardach wrote in
See also
References
- ^ Jain, Andrea (14 August 2015). "Five myths about yoga". The Washington Post.
- OCLC 928480104.
- Bhagavadgita6.11: In a clean place he should set up a firm seat for himself, neither too high nor too low, with a cloth, a deerskin and kusha grass on top.
- ^ Swami Vivekananda. "The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Raja-Yoga/Appendix - References To Yoga. Volume 1, Raja-Yoga. Appendix: References to Yoga. Shvetâshvatara Upanishad Chapter II". Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ Cler, Cameron. "Before Mats Were Modern". Wanderlust. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ a b Hall, Colin. "Yoga Mats: Are They Really Necessary?". Yoga International. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ Pagés Ruiz, Fernando (5 April 2017). "The Sticky Business + History of Yoga Mats". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ Brooks, Janet Rae (5 November 2003). "Yoga-Supply House Fit for a Market; Utah-built company reflects strength of founder's vision". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ jbyrdyoga (4 October 2015). "Hugger Mugger Tapas Yoga Mat". Archived from the original on 27 April 2019.
- ^ Morrissy-Swan, Tomé (23 February 2021). "The best yoga mats of 2021 - tested by our experts". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Gaiam. Archivedfrom the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Pearce, Amie (2 July 2020). "8 best yoga mats for 2020". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
The attractive Aztec print design provides body alignment guides for easy positioning and you can just as easily use it for a HIIT session. It's expensive
- ^ a b c d e f Olewitz, Chloe (12 February 2021). "The 7 best yoga mats of 2021, including sweat-resistant, eco-friendly, and travel options". Business Insider. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
This mat comes in a variety of fun colors and prints
- ^ a b Anon (12 April 2017). "Test Your Mat Savvy: 5 Teachers' Favorite Yoga Mats". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Top 5 Best Travel Yoga Mats". Yoga Nomads. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Types of Yoga Mats". DoYouYoga. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Dodd, Liz (18 September 2019). "8 best yoga mats that are perfect for every pose". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07.
- ^ a b c "Yoga Futon Mat". Skandinavisk Yoga- og Meditationsskole. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Yoga mat a wool luxury". Haa Retreat Center. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Yogamadras" [Yoga Mattress] (in Danish). yogaudstyr.dk. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Økologisk yogamadrass standard (ull)" [Ecological Yoga Mattress Standard (wool)] (in Norwegian). Stillhet.no. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Yogamatten-Test: Das sind die besten Matten für Yoga-Übungen". Öko-Test Label. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Chemicals in Yoga Mats to Watch Out For". LeafScore. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d "My Top 3 Non-Slip Yoga Mats". Brett Larkin Yoga. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Eco Jute, Natural Rubber yoga Mat". Sukha Lounge. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Hemp Yoga Mat". Vitality Hemp. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Bardach, Ann Louise (2 October 2011). "How Yoga Won the West". The New York Times. p. SR4.
- Jain, Andrea R. (5 October 2011). "No, I Don't Owe My Yoga Mat to Vivekananda". Religion Dispatches.
- ^ Korpelainen, Noora-Helena (2019). "Sparks of Yoga: Reconsidering the Aesthetic in Modern Postural Yoga". Journal of Somaesthetics. 5 (1): 46–60.
External links
- Media related to Yoga mats at Wikimedia Commons