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If you're new to yoga or you've been at it for many years, you either need a mat right now, or you'll need a new one some time in the future. Maybe you started out with one of those colorful cheap mats, but found out it stunk to high heaven of chemicals? Or maybe you went the earth-friendly way and got a yoga mat made from jute. It didn't smell bad, but then it didn't last more than two months either. What's a yoga practitioner to do?

Standard Plastic Yoga mats

This is a common first-timer mistake, but it's the cheapest type of mat and therefore expected of the newbies. But it IS a mistake if you intend to keep doing yoga. If you're not sure, this type of mat may just turn you away from yoga altogether! first of all, it's very thin and doesn't provide much in the way of cushioning. Additionally it really smells of chemicals, and these chemicals are not conducive to good health! These types of mats are made from Phthalates. This chemical turns hard plastic soft and causes lung and kidney damage in rats. Don't leave this type of mat in your car, either. It will release this harmful chemical when it gets hot. And if you're concerned about the environment, these aren't for you, either. They are made using and environmentally dangerous process.

cork or Jute Yoga mats

cork and jute yoga mats are environmentally friendly, but they have drawbacks of their own. They are made from porous plants, and therefore absorb your sweat when you practice your yoga. This results in a matching smell to your well-exercised but un-showered body, and a weakening of the structure over time. Now, it won't fall apart like that "other brand" of paper towel on the commercial, but don't expect it to last very long if you practice yoga with any regularity.

rubber Yoga mats

This is the best type for the environmentally-conscious money saver. They are sturdy yet inexpensive. rubber is a replaceable resource, but be sure your mat isn't made of synthetic rubber. This is made from an environmentally unfriendly process, and is liable to have the same health detriments, although not as bad as the phthalate mats. Natural rubber mats could be a problem for you if you're allergic to latex, but they do make phthalate-free and latex-free mats for a bit more in cost. They are well-worth it rather than exercise on harmful chemicals or the rubber/latex that causes your allergies to flare up.

pilates Mats?

Can you use pilates mats for yoga? Sure, but watch for a few things: first of all, a pilates mat is much thicker than a typical yoga mats because you spend more time on the floor doing pilates than doing yoga. It's beneficial in saving knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, and spine from contact injuries. You may want to consider it to cushion an old injury to prevent further damage. Second, Pilates mats aren't necessarily made with non-slip surfaces. You need this for yoga, so be sure it has this feature. If you do both yoga and Pilates and want to use just one mat for both, definitely use a Pilates mat. Using a mat meant for yoga when doing Pilates could cause injuries.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga