7 Best Yoga Mat for Beginners 2020
There is a saying that practice makes a man perfect. It is therefore understandable that as a beginner you get the best yoga mat for beginners. Every expert was once a beginner and the same goes for yoga practice.
The more you practice, the better you get, and to do so, you need to have the right mat that will make you feel comfortable and safe. Yoga mats come in different sizes, thicknesses, and colors.
If are a beginner, you need to factor in some things when you are getting a yoga mat.
Best Yoga Mats for Beginners
Below are some of the top-rated yoga mats for beginners. whether you are slim or big, there is a yoga mat for everyone that will fit your body, style, and needs.
1. Yoga Accessories 1/4″ Thick High-Density Deluxe Yoga Mat
This Yoga Accessories extra thick deluxe yoga mat stands at 74″ long by 24″ wide with a thickness of 6mm and weighs just about 4 Ibs. There are a lot of different vibrant colors of this mat you can choose from to suit your style.
The mat is made of high-density materials that are free of latex and phthalate-free. It doesn’t contain any toxic material that will affect you in any way.
with its density, the mat is much denser than many yoga mats in the market and therefore provides you with the luxurious cushioning and the non-slip grip you need to when you are practicing your yoga. Perfect for home, studio, fitness clubs, and schools.
This thick yoga mat is designed to be durable and long-lasting. You don’t have to replace your mat every now and then because of wear and tear. It is one of the thickest yoga mats that supports your joints comfortably.
The mat is made with a unique combination of open and closed-cell material that provide you with the perfect mixture of sweat-absorbing grip and joint saving density.
It is recommended that for best support and grip, before you use your mat, first wash the mat to remove all residue from the manufacturing process. You can use a mat cleaner or mild detergent and hang it to air dry for 24 hours and failure to do this will result in injury or slippage.
2. Manduka PRO Yoga Mat
The Manduka Pro series is certified Standard 100 by OEKO- TEX. Manufactured with high-density materials which have a closed-cell surface to prevent moisture like sweat from seeping into the mat cushion.
The Manduka pro yoga mat has two sizes to select from a standard yoga mat and an extra-long yoga mat.
The standard mat is 71″ x 26″ and weighs 5 Ibs while the extra-long yoga mat weighs 9.5 Ibs and has a dimension of 85″ x 26″ with both having a thickness of 6 mm. The extra-long mat will be a great fit for tall and heavy people.
The Manduka pro mat has about five vibrant colors to choose from which makes you stand out wherever you are practicing your yoga from. plus the dense cushions are able to provide you with the needed joints protection and grip.
Not many yoga mats have lifetime warranties. However, with the Manduka Pro yoga mat, it comes with a lifetime warranty. This shows how much confidence Manduka has in their products. It is easy to clean this mat, just wipe it down after use or simply use mat cleaner to wash it.
3. Jade Yoga Fusion Mat
All Jade yoga mats are made with natural rubber and the provide some of the best yoga mats in the market with incredible grip and comfort. As such, Jade Yoga company as resolved to make the world a much better place. Through their partnership with Trees for the Future to plant a tree for every yoga mat the sold, they have planted over one million trees s far.
If you are into nature and want to support this noble cause, then you might want to consider getting a Jade Yoga mat.
The Jade Fusion yoga mats come in three different colors and two lengths: 68″ and 74″ with both having thickness and width of 5/16″ thick x 24″ wide and weighing 6.5 -7.1 Ibs. Depending on your height and weight, you will choose which size will fit you best.
The mat has an open-cell surface and extra-thick cushion that makes it suitable for yoga, pilates, core fitness practices, and cross-fit training.
These Jade mats are made in the USA and quality and assurance checks are in place.
4. Gaiam Yoga Mat
The Gaiam Yoga mat goes well with the Gaiam Yoga Studio Application which is downloadable via Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store, and Microsoft App Store.
With the App, you get access to over 25 hours of ready-made HD video classes and 280+ poses with easy-to-follow teacher commentary to help you achieve your yoga goals. Great for beginners and even experts.
The Gaiam extra thick premium print yoga mat is designed to be stable and has a non-slip surface to help you as a beginner practice with confidence.
With a lot of beautiful vibrant colors to choose from, you can always choose the best for yourself. The mats have a dimension of 68 inches L x 24 inches W x 6 millimeters Thick. For best results, Gaiam advises you to unroll and air out your mat for 2-3 days before use.
5. Aurorae Classic Yoga Mat
6. IUGA Pro Non-Slip Yoga Mat
7. Jade Harmony Yoga Mat
This Jade Harmony yoga mat comes in three dimensions and ten beautiful colors for you to choose from. There is a size for all body types; whether you are tall, small, or medium height, you get to choose which mat will work best for you.
The Jade Harmony mat is made of very high-quality material and it is a sustainable natural rubber with open-celled surface hat’s known to have extra grippyness without leaving sticky residue on your palms
The overall durability and style of this mat are outstanding. It comes in a number of very cool colors and, since its made from rubber, it’s extremely durable.
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Guide to Selecting the Yoga Mat for Beginner
Yoga is a great way to connect with your spirit, soul, body, and mind. It is also a great way to keep in shape as is a form of exercise. It is, therefore, necessary to have the right kind of yoga mat to practice on.
You need to select a mat that will provide you with enough cushion to support your bones and doesn’t cost you too much money. The unfortunate thing is that there is no one yoga mat that fits all. Yoga mats come in different sizes and thicknesses.
However, there are some factors you need to consider when you are selecting a yoga mat for yourself especially as a beginner.
Size
The size of your yoga mat is important because, depending on your height and body shape where you are a slim or heavyweight individual, you will need to get a yoga mat with a dimension that will fit your body type.
There are yoga mats of different sizes for all sorts of body shapes in the market today. Whether you are a slim person or a big person, you will get one that will fit you.
Now that you have considered your size and the size of the mat, let’s look at the next factor which is the thickness of the mat.
Thickness
The thickness of the material of the mat should be considered as well as the density of the material. A softer mat with at least 1/2 inch or more thickness is believed t provide the ultimate cushioning for your joints.
However, it good to always ensure that mat isn’t too soft such that the foam is very soft and gets indent and stretchy, therefore, interfering with your balance when you are posing.
Find a good balance between density and thickness which will give you the best experience. Dense yoga mats don’t indent as much as the softer ones.
Material and Grip
Mats with proper grip are especially very good for those with sweaty hands and feet. Maybe if you are not the sweaty type of person, you might want a light-textured yoga mat, or even for a yoga tower will do the job.
If you are unsure about which one to choose, always go for light texture, sticky surface, and medium-density material. This way, you will have a good balance of thickness, grip, and material.
With regard to the material of the yoga mat, there are different materials that yoga mats are made from. Some of the popular materials are rubber, cork, dense foam, and some eco-friendly materials. Some of the best yoga mats I know are made of rubber and the work very well.
Style
Have you got a unique yoga style?. If so, I don’t have to show you the mat that will fit your style as you already know it yourself and it is unique to everyone.
With the many yoga mats n the market, you can always get a mat the fits your style without spending a fortune on it.
Durability
The durability of the mat is something to consider as well. You don’t want a mat made with some cheap material that gets damage even now and then and have to be replaced.
You can get a high-quality mat that won’t break your bank account. The cheap plastic and foam mats tend to work for a few months and then begin to wear and tear and create holes in where you usually place your hands and feet.
Eco-friendly, biodegradable mats actually tend to last longer as they are made from dense materials that will only break down if subjected to excessive heat, sunlight, and pressure. They take time before they break down.
Plus, these kinds of mats are environmentally friendly and won’t cause any harm.
Number of Times You Yoga in a Week
How often do you yoga a week?. This will help you decide whether to go for a more durable mat or any yoga mat. If you plan to practice at least 3x a week, then get a durable high-quality yoga mat to last you longer.
But if it is just once in a while when you just want to release some stress, then any mat that can support your joints decently will do for you.
Final Words
When you are a yogi beginner it can be hard to choose which yoga mat will be the best fit for you. This is mostly because you don’t have experience using these mats.
That is why after realizing this problem that many people especially friends complain about, I decided to compile this guide on some of the top-rated yoga mats for beginners to help you out.
All the mats above are of high quality and are known brands. If you have enough money to invest in a high-quality yoga mat that is also comfortable, then my number pick is the Manduka PRO yoga mat. This mat is a premium brand and will last you for years plus it has a lifetime warranty.
