10 Simple Questions to Ask Before Buying a Yoga Mat

Looking for a new yoga mat?

Here are 10 short and simple questions to ask yourself…

How much do I want to spend?
Do I really need a new yoga mat?
How thick of a mat do I want?
Do I really need a new yoga mat?
How much do I sweat?
Do I really need a new yoga mat?
Will I have to carry it a lot?
Do I really need a new yoga mat?
How important are health and environmental concerns to me?
Do I really need a new yoga mat?

I love yoga mats…so I ask these questions a lot…

[UPDATE 3 Feb 12: Just added a new mat to the collection–Lululemon’s “The Mat“–lovin’ it!…
…I told you I have a problem:)]

How to Clean a Yoga Mat (dailycupofyoga.com)
How to Roll Your Yoga Mat to Avoid That Annoying Curl (fitsugar.com)
6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying My First Yoga Mat (fitsugar.com)
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Yoga Mat (fitsugar.com)

5 comments

Linds says:

February 3, 2012 at 2:58 am

Nice! I like your playful emphasis on “do I really need a new yoga mat?”. A question I asked a lot until I accepted that my seemingly young 3 month-old gaiam mat just wasn’t cutting it anymore. Little chunks from the mat were piling onto the floor around me after every class. I felt like I should have been cleaning up after my embarrassing mess. Just splurged on a Manduka and hoping to not have to replace it for a while. 🙂

Reply
1. Brian says:
  
  February 10, 2012 at 12:55 pm
  
  @Linds–Glad you found a Manduka! I’m a huge fan and you definitely won’t have to worry about it falling apart…gotta love a lifetime guarantee 🙂
  
  Reply
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Anonymous says:

February 8, 2012 at 5:00 pm

I love Lululemon’s “The Mat” too! It is the only mat that keep my sweaty hands from slipping in downward facing dog. And somehow it stays sticky. And it’s padded without causing you you to loose stability in balancing poses. I got it last year and I stopped looking for mats!

Reply
1. Brian says:
  
  February 10, 2012 at 1:03 pm
  
  Thanks for saying hi! I’m using “The Mat” exclusively right now and have to agree that it’s a great yoga mat. It has a little bit different feeling than the Manduka mats I’m used to, but the difference isn’t a bad thing. Good padding, good stickiness even when wet, and it’s reversible–so you have two surfaces to work with. I just brought it with me on a trip I’m on and it fit perfectly in my suitcase. I need to practice on it a little more before a final verdict, but so far I’m impressed.
  
  Reply