The Bikram Yoga Mat

Though seemingly insignificant, yoga mats can have a huge effect on all different aspects throughout the yoga class session. Many people do not put in enough consideration while purchasing yoga mats, failing to realize that purchasing a specific Bikram yoga mat is a long term investment that should be well thought out and carefully chosen. Particularly in practicing Bikram Yoga, which will undoubtedly induce a considerable amount of sweating throughout the session, having the right Bikram yoga mat is essential in ensuring that you take full advantage of all the benefits that yoga has to offer. While shopping around and looking through various yoga mats, there are several factors to keep in mind that will prove to be an aspect that can completely change your training and practice. There is also a specially designed Bikram yoga mat that is available to meet the rigorous demands of Bikram Yoga, but a special Bikram yoga mat is not at all necessary to truly enjoy Bikram Yoga, or Hot Yoga. Yoga mats come in all different shapes, forms, and sizes and the average consumer can be quickly overwhelmed with the number of choices. Use the following guidelines to make purchasing your Bikram yoga mat a simpler task.

Yoga mats come in all different sizes for people of different heights and weights. The more popular, standard sized Bikram yoga mat is approximately about 68 inches, but there are smaller sized yoga mats available for the petite and even for children. On the other hand, there are also yoga mats that come bigger than the standard size, which can be useful for a number of things. A bigger Bikram yoga mat means less shifting around on the mat for a certain pose or stretch, but it also means a bigger mat to carry around to and from the studio. Nonetheless, many yoga mats come with a convenient case for easy mobility.

Another factor to look at while browsing through yoga mats is the thickness of the Bikram yoga mat. The mat should be thick enough to protect from any discomfort from a hard floor, but the Bikram yoga mat should not be too thick and cushiony, for this can cause instability in itself while performing a certain pose or stretch. The standard thickness of most yoga mats is about a quarter of an inch.

Perhaps one of the more important factors to consider while purchasing a Bikram yoga mat is the grip of the particular mat. It is quite dangerous for a yoga mat to be moving while you are performing certain yoga poses and a weak grip is an unnecessary risk and leaves you vulnerable to injury. At the same time however, a Bikram yoga mat with too much grip may become annoying while trying to shift into a different stretch.

Bikram Yoga is designed to make your body sweat, and an effective Bikram yoga mat will be designed with specific materials that can absorb the sweat so that the mat does not become wet and slippery. Yoga mats should also be easy to clean, and all of the cleaning information should be available on the packaging labels. Choose one that you feel would be the most convenient for you and your uses.