Fast Tip: The perfect yoga mat thickness depends upon your apply type, with thicker mats providing extra cushioning and thinner mats offering higher stability.
The huge selection of yoga mats nowadays is overwhelming. Yow will discover a yoga mat in each coloration and design and of various thicknesses and lengths. Whereas issues like colours and patterns are purely for aesthetic preferences, the thickness of a yoga mat can decide its usability.
Additional-thick yoga mats could also be nice for one yoga type but a hindrance to a different, and the identical is true for skinny mats. So that will help you select a yoga mat that’s best for you, we’re sharing the professionals and cons of various thicknesses, together with our favourite thick and skinny mats.
What Ought to Be The Ideally suited Thickness For A Yoga Mat?
One of the best yoga mat thickness will rely in your private wants. Thicker yoga mats give extra cushioning and are finest for restorative yoga types the place you maintain poses for longer. Nevertheless, thinner mats present extra stability and show you how to preserve steadiness. Thus, they’re higher for dynamic yoga types resembling vinyasa, Ashtanga, or sizzling yoga.
So what are the totally different thicknesses accessible? Most traditional yoga mats vary from 3 to five mm thick, whereas further thick yoga mats can from 6 to 10 mm. Journey yoga mats are the thinnest, simply 1 to 2 mm thick.
How To Select The Proper Yoga Mat Thickness
There is no such thing as a one good yoga mat. Each thick and skinny yoga mats have benefits and drawbacks, which is why many skilled yogis wish to have each thick and skinny ones. That method, they’ll interchange relying on the kind of yoga they’re doing and the setting they’re doing yoga in.
Alternatively, you could decide for the standard yoga mat that’s round 4 or 5 mm. Common yoga mats give sufficient cushioning to guard your joint well being with out being too cumbersome or lowering steadiness or stability.
Let’s discover the professionals and cons of thick and skinny mats.
Thick Yoga Mats Execs and Cons
- Present further cushioning
- Greatest for individuals with sore or delicate joints
- Give extra safety on your knee joints
- Best choice for utilizing on arduous flooring
- They are often giant and ponderous
- Laborious to move round
- Make balancing harder
- Sometimes heavier
Skinny Yoga Mats Execs and Cons
- Best choice for journey
- Take up much less area
- Give extra stability
- Higher for steadiness poses
- Sometimes lighter
- They are often painful for forearm and kneeling poses
- Lack of cushioning may cause sore joints
If you’re doing out of doors yoga, you could assume a thinner mat is finest as it’s lighter and simpler to hold round. Nevertheless, a skinny yoga mat could be uncomfortable or painful when training open air on a tough or uneven floor, resembling concrete or in a forest.
Greatest Thick Yoga Mats
Do you’re feeling a thicker yoga mat is finest for you? In that case, listed below are our three favourite thicker mats.
lululemon The Exercise Mat 6mm
lululemon The Exercise Mat 6mm
In case you do numerous dynamic yoga and, thus, require a grippy mat however don’t wish to compromise your joints, the lululemon Exercise Mat is arms down the best choice.
It’s 6mm thick, offering ample padding, but it has wonderful grip due to its raised textural design. This lets you transition shortly and effortlessly between standing poses with out shedding traction.
As a result of this thick yoga mat is designed for different exercises moreover yoga, it’s tremendous sturdy and can be utilized with footwear. Thus, it doubles up as a terrific health or pilates mat for yogis who love all types of motion.
The 2kg (4.4lbs) mat is constructed from 100% Recycled PVB and has a closed cell design that retains sweat and different moisture out. Furthermore, it’s stain-resistant and simple to wash with a humid fabric, so it can keep smelling recent even in probably the most strenuous sizzling yoga periods.
Gaiam’s 10mm (2/5 inch) mat is among the thickest yoga mats. Due to its thickness, it may be used for different health actions moreover yoga. Plus, it’s splendid in case you usually apply on a tough or uneven floor.
Regardless of its thickness, this mat is surprisingly light-weight, weighing simply 1.4 kg (3.1 kilos). Due to this fact, many yogis love utilizing it for out of doors practices. It additionally comes with a simple cinch strap, making it easy to safe and sling over your shoulder.
Though it’s an additional thick yoga mat, it offers first rate stability due to its dual-sided, textured ridges that assist enhance traction and scale back slippage. It’s constructed from Nitrile Butadiene rubber foam and has 9 coloration selections.
Manduka PRO Yoga Mat
The famend Manduka PRO is seen in yoga studios worldwide and liked by yogis all over the place. At 6mm thick, it has the best yoga mat thickness for house or studio use, defending probably the most delicate joints whereas giving superior stability.
The Manduka PRO yoga mat is high-performance and ultra-supportive. Additionally it is one of the crucial sturdy, thicker yoga mats, constructed to final a lifetime. As well as, Manduka PRO mats are crafted in Germany from licensed PVC and are free from dangerous substances.
It contains a closed-cell design to forestall moisture and micro organism from getting contained in the mat. This makes cleansing straightforward after your yoga apply as you merely wipe it with a humid fabric. This design additionally prevents 4 smells from occurring.
The draw back of the Manduka PRO is that it’s heavy, weighing 3.4kg (7.5 kilos). Thus, this isn’t a mat you’ll wish to carry from place to put.
Greatest Common Thickness Yoga Mats
Need a versatile yoga mat that can be utilized for a number of yoga types and environments? Contemplate one among these commonplace thickness mats.
lululemon The Mat 5mm
You may’t go flawed with the lululemon reversible 5mm “The Mat” for each cushioning and grip. Its pure rubber base offers eco-friendliness to the planet and extra cushioning on your physique. Utilizing it with the underside facet up is good for practices with numerous kneeling or seated poses.
In the meantime, the highest layer offers wonderful grip and moisture absorption, good for flowing by means of solar salutations and difficult standing and balancing poses. It’s additionally straightforward to wash with a humid fabric because it has antimicrobial therapies to forestall mould and mildew.
It weighs 2.38kg (5.24 lbs), so it’s mild sufficient to hold round whether or not you’re going to the native studio or out of doors yoga courses. Plus, with over 10 designs and colours, your subsequent mat will probably be high-quality and tremendous fashionable.
JadeYoga Concord(™) Yoga Mat
The Jade Concord mat is 4.7mm (3/16 inches) thick and offers the right mixture of grip and luxury. It’s constructed from pure open-cell rubber, which presents higher cushioning than artificial rubber mats, making it simpler to carry poses and preserve steadiness.
The Jade Concord mat is simply nearly as good for the planet as for you as it’s constructed from 100% plant-based pure supplies and has no PVC, phthalates, or heavy metals. As Jade additionally offers again by planting a tree for each yoga mat bought, this is among the finest eco-friendly mats.
The reasonably thick mat weighs 2kg and is available in 12 coloration choices. It’s extremely sturdy, and most yogis discover it lasts them a few years and withstands on a regular basis put on and tear. There are additionally three size choices; 68-inch, 71-inch, and extra-long 74-inch. All are 24 inches large.
Liforme Unique Yoga Mat
The Liforme 4.2mm rubber mat options the most effective yoga mat thickness for each sort of yoga. It offers sufficient consolation and help for restorative yoga. But, its ground-breaking “GripForMe” materials offers unparalleled grip and stability in vinyasa or Ashtanga yoga.
One other distinctive promoting level of this standard yoga mat is the “AlignForMe” system, which helps you discover foot placement and stop accidents. Additionally it is environmentally pleasant as its constructed from eco-polyurethane and rubber and is biodegradable.
As a pure rubber mat, it’s not tremendous mild, weighing 2.5 kilos (5.5 kilos). There are six colours to select from, all of which retain vibrancy even after a number of years of use.
Greatest Journey Yoga Mats
Are you on the lookout for a skinny mat that’s mild, doesn’t take up a lot area, and is straightforward to journey with? In that case, listed below are our high three journey mats.
lululemon The (Un) Mat
The lululemon Un Mat is tremendous light-weight and simple to journey with, permitting you to apply all over the place and anyplace. At simply 1.5 mm thickness, this barely there mat can be utilized on tender surfaces or as a topper for a thicker mat on arduous surfaces.
As a result of it weighs simply 1.05kg (2.32 lbs), it makes a really perfect yoga mat for frequent vacationers who don’t have a lot area or weight to spare of their baggage.
One other superior factor about this mat is that it’s reversible. So the underside offers extra cushioning whereas the highest is clean and grippy.
The bottom is constructed from sustainably sourced and FSC™-certified pure rubber with a textured grip splendid for low-sweat practices. In the meantime, the revolutionary high-grip high layer wicks up moisture, so it’s fab for sweaty practices. It additionally options an antimicrobial additive to forestall mould and mildew buildup.
JadeYoga – Voyager(™) Yoga Mat
The Jade Voyager yoga mat is a well-liked selection amongst yoga-loving digital nomads and touring yoga lecturers, because the mat folds as much as the dimensions of a yoga block.
It’s simply 1.6mm thick (1/16 inches) and weighs a featherlight 680 grams(1.5 kilos), making it one of many lightest yoga mats ever. Whether or not you add it to your checked baggage or carry-on, it can take up virtually no area or weight.
It’s not simply the dimensions that makes this mat a fab selection. It’s constructed from eco-friendly pure rubber with an open-cell design, considerably lowering slipping. Many yogis like to make use of it as a journey mat whereas away and a topper to their thicker mat at house.
Yoga Design Lab Journey Yoga Mat
This tremendous skinny mat by Yoga Design Lab is simply 1.5mm thick, serving as a 2-in-1 yoga mat and towel. It’s splendid for sweaty practices like Bikram yoga as its ultra-absorbent microfiber high layer offers superior sweat administration.
Curiously, as it’s made for sweaty practices, the sweatier you’re, the higher your grip. To extend stickiness, you’ll be able to moist your arms earlier than apply. Due to the yoga mat’s thickness, you’ll be able to machine wash it on a delicate cycle and hold it dry. Nevertheless, it’s best to hand-clean it with a fabric to protect its life.
The journey yoga mat includes a pure rubber base layer bonded to a recycled PET microfiber high layer made utilizing 15 plastic bottles. Thus, this can be a fab selection in case you’re on the lookout for a sustainable and eco-friendly journey mat.
The Affect of Yoga Mat Thickness on Joint Well being
An essential issue that’s usually disregarded when choosing a yoga mat is its influence on joint well being. Whereas we’ve got talked concerning the benefits and drawbacks of thick and skinny mats, let’s discover additional how the thickness of your mat can affect your joints.
Thicker Mats for Joint Assist
Thicker yoga mats, sometimes starting from 6 to 10 mm, present further cushioning. That is particularly useful for people with delicate or achy joints. When partaking in poses that exert stress in your knees, wrists or elbows, a thicker mat can provide the required padding to forestall discomfort and potential damage. For example, poses like Camel or Tabletop might really feel extra snug on a thicker mat, easing the pressure in your joints.
Thinner Mats for Stability and Equilibrium
Conversely, thinner mats, normally between 1 to five mm, supply much less cushioning however larger stability. This may be advantageous for dynamic yoga types that demand steadiness and accuracy, resembling Vinyasa or Ashtanga. A thinner mat allows you to sense the bottom beneath you, which may improve your steadiness and alignment. Nevertheless, in case you have joint issues, you could discover these mats much less snug for poses that necessitate extended stress in your joints.
Reaching the Excellent Equilibrium
In case you’re coping with joint points however choose a thinner mat for its stability, you might discover utilizing further gear like yoga knee pads or a yoga towel. These equipment can supply added help the place mandatory whereas sustaining the general firmness of your mat. Alternatively, you could contemplate choosing a mat of reasonable thickness, roughly 4 to five mm, putting a harmonious steadiness between cushioning and steadiness.
The thickness of your yoga mat performs an important position in safeguarding your joint well being. Thicker mats present enhanced safety for delicate joints, whereas thinner mats promote higher stability throughout balancing poses. Choose a mat that caters to your particular necessities to make sure a pleasing and safe yoga apply.
What About Yoga Towels?
A yoga towel topper is an excellent useful merchandise, whether or not it’s to wick up your sweat, scale back slipping, or add further thickness. They’re extremely light-weight and fold up tiny, making them a fab element on your journey yoga mat. Plus, in case you’re utilizing a skinny mat and want further cushioning on your knees, you’ll be able to fold the towel like a blanket for further padding.
Yoga towels are available just a few totally different sizes. Most towels particularly designed for yoga, like The Towel by lululemon, are made from microfibre material, so they’re quick-drying. It’s also possible to select between many fashionable patterns and a number of colours.
The Affect of Yoga Mat Thickness on Your Apply Setting
The thickness of your yoga mat can significantly influence your apply setting. When you’ve got an previous mat that isn’t thick sufficient, upgrading to a 1 inch thick yoga mat could make a world of distinction. Buyer evaluations on amazon.com rave about the advantages of utilizing an additional thick deluxe yoga mat.
The 1 inch thick excessive density foam gives a secure floor for all of your yoga poses and ensures that you’ve a snug apply. The non-slip floor of this thick train mat will even provide you with added stability throughout your apply, whether or not you’re doing yoga or pilates.
Comparability Between Indoor and Out of doors Yoga Classes
When choosing the suitable yoga mat thickness, take note of the placement the place you plan to apply. The setting, whether or not indoors or open air, can have a notable influence in your general consolation and efficiency.
Indoor Yoga Practices
In indoor settings, a typical mat thickness starting from 4 5 mm is mostly appropriate. Surfaces indoors resembling hardwood or carpet present a secure basis on your apply. Whereas thicker mats can supply further cushioning, they might compromise stability on softer surfaces like carpet. In case you apply on a tough flooring floor, choosing a thicker mat will help shield your joints with out sacrificing steadiness.
Out of doors Yoga Practices
Out of doors yoga periods include their very own set of challenges. Uneven surfaces resembling grass, sand or concrete require extra cushioning for help. A thicker mat with a thickness of round 6 10 mm can present the required consolation and help in out of doors settings. Nevertheless, thicker mats are typically bulkier and heavier, which can have an effect on portability. For normal out of doors practices, think about using a foldable mat that strikes a steadiness between thickness for consolation and ease of carrying.
Private Insights
Having skilled each indoor and out of doors yoga periods myself, I discover that utilizing a 4 mm mat indoors fits me properly on my hardwood flooring. It presents ample cushioning with out compromising my stability throughout poses. When training open air, I swap to a 6 mm mat which gives further padding important for uneven terrain regardless of its heavier weight. This equilibrium has improved my yoga routine, enabling me to relish yoga in several settings with ease.
Choosing the suitable mat thickness in accordance with the place you apply can improve your yoga session. Whether or not you’re indoors or open air, the right mat will show you how to keep snug and attentive.
Remaining Ideas On How Thick Ought to A Yoga Mat Be?
As you’ll be able to see, the best mat thickness completely depends upon your yoga apply. A thinner mat could also be finest in case you do numerous fast-paced, dynamic yoga that makes you sweat. Nevertheless, in case you’re a lover of yin yoga, you’ll possible discover a thicker yoga mat extra snug.
In case you’re after a brand new yoga mat, the mats featured on this information are all premium high quality and rated extremely by different yogis.
Pop quiz! 🧘🤔
Thicker yoga mats are all the time higher for all sorts of yoga.
Journey yoga mats are sometimes the thinnest sort of yoga mats.
A 6mm yoga mat is taken into account an additional thick yoga mat.
Thanks on your suggestions!
