Natural Yoga Mats: Are they right for you?

More and more yoga enthusiasts are dumping their old mats in favor of a natural yoga mat. But before you jump on the bandwagon, first learn about the pros and cons of natural yoga mats.

You probably spend a considerable amount of time in close proximity to your old-style rubber mat. Of all the exercise equipment you own, it’s probably the only piece that you regularly rub up against and smell. When you think about it, you’re inordinately intimate with that old mat.

Getting a new yoga mat is always an iffy proposition. You shudder to ask yourself:

• Will it smell like an explosion at a chemical plant?
• Will it roll up like a window shade every time I try to lay it out flat?
• Will I slip and slide like a drunken penguin on its slick new surface?

With a natural yoga mat, those concerns are moot. Be design, they do away with some of the limitations of an old-style rubber mat:

• They’re made of jute or hemp so they don’t outgas scary and obnoxious chemical smells.
• Their natural fibers don’t curl up like rubber.
• They’re not slippery, even when you are perspiring

However, natural yoga mats can take some getting used to:

• The comforting “cushion” effect that you have grown accustomed to is gone. These mats are firm, with little to no “give”.
• They can be hard on your knees, spinal processes, and the points of your hips.
• When used on uneven or rough surfaces, the underlying protuberances will poke through, making for an uncomfortable session.

How to learn more about yoga mats

Thomas from SkinnyBulkUp is happy to teach you about natural yoga mats along with an overview of “eco-friendly”, “natural”, “pilates”, and “general purpose” yoga and exercise mats.

Click through to exercise mats and find out what your choices are!

Remember: knowledge is power.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/natural-yoga-mats-are-they-right-for-you-1393186.html