Cushion Yourself from Injury with a Yoga Mat

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Walking through your local department store you can’t help but notice a lot of yoga-related items on display. Maybe you should sign-up for one of those yoga classes the community center always advertises. Yoga after all is supposed to be kind on the body, unlike those huff-n-puff aerobic classes at the gym that you quit after only 2 sessions right? A few minutes later and you have a few yoga books, CD’s, and videos in your cart and now find yourself in the sporting goods section when you spy a “yoga mat”.

Why would anyone need a mat for yoga you ask? Yoga involves many exercises that consist of stretching the body. Most of these stretches start from standing, sitting, or lying- down positions, and it is a good practice to use a yoga mat when doing these exercises. In fact, a mat should be used any time that floor exercises are done, whether they are as part of yoga routine or any other exercise routine. A yoga mat provides a “cushion” between you and the pressure that the hard surface of a floor creates. The ‘cushioning’ of a yoga mat underneath you as you move through various yoga stretches “safeguards” such sensitive areas as the neck, spine, and tailbone from serious strain and injury. A yoga mat also “absorbs” the impact of exercises which reduces the risks of sprains and injuries to muscles and joints.

You don’t have to buy an exercise mat that is specifically marketed for use as a: “yoga mat”. Most any exercise mat can be used for yoga exercises provided that it offers some ‘cushioning’ between your body and the floor’s surface. Investing in a yoga mat is worth considering for several reasons. A basic yoga mat can be found for as little as $29.99 or less. Yoga mats today are available in a wide range of colors, textures, thicknesses, and lengths. Many of these yoga mats also include illustrated drawings, and directions imprinted on the mat itself that shows you clearly how to perform various yoga exercises. You can then refer to your yoga mat as a guide as you move through your yoga exercises to ensure that you are doing them the ‘right’ way. Sometimes a yoga mat may be included as a ‘bonus’ with the purchase of a yoga video or a set of yoga CD’s. Why not get yourself more than one yoga mat so you have one to use at home and one to use at the gym or to take with you when you travel?

Finding a yoga mat isn’t difficult at all these days. Many places all carry selections of yoga and other exercise mats. Most sporting good stores also offer customers several choices in exercise mats, including yoga mats. Holistic and other specialty stores often have a few yoga mats in inventory as well. The internet is an excellent tool for finding the best deals on yoga mats and other yoga products such as a yoga bag, books, videos, CD’s, workout clothing and more. For more information in yoga and yoga ideas check out www.YogaPlunge.com.