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Whether you have been practicing yoga, or perhaps are just thinking about it, you will need the right yoga mat if you are to reap the full benefits of the art and receive the maximum benefit possible during your yoga class. Selecting a yoga mat isn't quite as easy as you may think though. There are many different yoga mats available today, and each will possess different advantages that will either lead you to love it or get frustrated during your yoga workout. Some yoga mats contain noxious chemicals that will distract and annoy you. While others may be made of low grade material and as a result only last a couple of months.

A good option for beginning yogies is to go for the standard sticky yoga mat that you will find in most yoga studios. However there are some disadvantages with these mats as well. These mats are very thin for one thing, and will not provide you with much cushioning that you will need. The mats may also contain harmful chemicals. You also may not like these mats if you consider yourself to be environmentally conscious. It is perfectly rational for a newcomer to yoga to purchase the cheapest mat available in case it turns out that you don't want to pursue yoga after all. A counter argument to this, however, is that using a cheap mat that makes you uncomfortable will influence your decision, probably in a negative way.

There are yoga mats that are 100% environmentally friendly. These mats are often made of jute or cork. These mats simply will not last long enough to suit your purposes. However if you are very concerned about the environment, and have money to change yoga mats often, then you may still find them to be perfectly acceptable mats. The main problem with these mats is the fact that they are made from porous materials which soak up sweat readily causing the mats to stain and retain odors. So cleaning these type of yoga mats effectively is not an easy task.

Yoga mats constructed of a fine rubber material may be the best choice for most yoga practitioners. These mats are a very sturdy and inexpensive as well as made of natural, environmentally friendly materials. There are some rubber mats on the market that are made of synthetic rubber. Mats like these you may wish to steer clear of as they may cause unhealthy side effects like those previously mentioned. Rubber mats may not be right for you if you are allergic to latex however, so keep this in mind.

One more possible solution, if you can't seem to find a yoga mat that meets your needs, is to try out a Pilates mat instead. Pilates yoga mats are not that different from regular yoga mats and both serve the same purpose: to make you as comfortable as possible while giving you the stable non slippery support you need. Pilates mats, you will find, are much thicker than standard yoga mats as Pilates requires you to spend more time on the floor. Just make sure that the Pilates mat you purchase was designed with a no-slip surface and you'll be fine.