All my favourite yoga things
Everything that you might want to buy to support your yoga practice is now available from the GuildfordYoga Shop and all the individual items are personally recommended by me.
Over the years, I’ve bought yoga clothing from almost every yoga brand available – some are excellent, they look good and feel comfortable to wear; some look good but are annoying when you practice; and some brands don’t seem to do anything well. My personal favourites are Prana and Asquith – have a look and decide for yourself.
There are thousands of yoga books and DVD’s available on the market, so I’ve recommended a few to help you get started and I’ll add further suggestions over the next few weeks.
Yoga equipment also varies tremendously in quality and price, so I’ve made a suggestion of where you should start looking. And here are some tips on what to look for when buying your yoga mat.
The Perfect Yoga Mat?
Finding the perfect yoga mat for you will be a trade-off. Think about the following criteria:
- Thickness – Too thin and you’ll feel uncomfortable when you are doing the supine poses and too thick and you’ll have problems with the standing balances. The older you are = the more cushioning you’ll need.
- Weight – Too heavy and it’ll be a drag to carry around, too light and it’ll probably be super thin and will offer no comfort. If you are travelling you’ll want a thin, light mat that rolls up neatly.
- Grip – Make sure that you won’t slip, many of the super cheap mats don’t offer a great deal of grip.
- Size – If you are over 6ft you should consider buying an extra long mat. Mats also vary in their width, check that the mat you are buying actually fits your yoga bag.
- Feel – Some mats feel soft to the touch, lie flat and roll nice and easily. These feel nice, but some people may prefer a more textured mat that offers better grip. Cheap mats often have a cardboard feel and don’t lie flat.
- Material – Some mats are made from natural rubber which is more eco-friendly (but heavier). PVC mats aren’t so eco-friendly and may have an unpleasant smell.
- Manufacturer – It is best to choose a mat made by a specialist yoga mat manufacturer as they have considered all the above criteria. Super cheap mats made by generalist sports companies don’t always offer the qualities you need.
- Price – Mats vary from as little as £5 to over £80. Buy a mid-range (£10-£35) mat unless you are totally sure what you want. If you are a committed yogi, buy two mid-range mats offering different qualities so that you can use a thicker, softer one for more gentle floor-based practices and a thinner, stickier mat for high energy standing practices.