The need for yoga mats was non-existent before the 1800’s, as yoga consisted of only seated asanas and deep breathing practices. As asanas began to evolve into standing and balancing postures, there was a need for a more comfortable and stable surface. That’s when the yoga mat was born! The yoga mat has undergone many different stages of development over the years. There are many considerations to make before purchasing a yoga mat, like its quality (will it hold up over time and the wear and tear?), grip (for those slippery hot yoga sessions), and cushion. Luckily, the BMAT Strong Yoga Mat checks all of those boxes and here’s why:
Grip:
Have you ever felt your palms slipping during a downward dog flow? We have all probably been there. A yoga mat with the right amount of grip is at the top of everyone’s list. If a yoga mat does not provide the right amount of grip (especially during those hot yoga classes), it could be dangerous and possibly lead to injury. The grip of your mat determines your stability in postures, and it also helps to keep your body aligned (which makes for a safe practice!). To increase grip on yoga mats, some yoga practitioners have placed towels onto their mats to enhance the grip of their mats. I’ve personally done this in the past, but I only found it to be distracting to keep having to adjust my towel as I moved in an out of different asanas. Using a towel to increase grip also can take away from your practice as you become concerned with continuously fixing it to ensure it is safe to continue with your practice. With the BMAT Strong yoga mat, you don’t need to experiment with towels to increase grip, because this yoga mat is 100% rubber making it a non-slip surface. As a hot yoga instructor, I have to say this mat has never disappointed me as I’ve always been able to demonstrate yoga flows and proper alignment for my students without any slippage!
Cushion:
Your joints are probably not having a lot of fun after spending one minute in Ustrasana (Camel’s pose), or Mandukasana (Frog Pose), or even Anjaneyasana (Crescent Lunge). These postures are just a few examples of asanas that place emphasis on support through the knee joints. If you’re using a not so sufficiently cushioned yoga mat, these postures can quickly become uncomfortable, which can affect your alignment and thus hindering your ability to fully surrender yourself into the pose and reaping its benefits. The BMAT Strong yoga mat can rescue your joints from this discomfort, since its thickness is 6mm. Even though I am aware that other yoga mats may have the same measurement of thickness, I think the compact and sturdy feel of this mat really accentuates its comfortable cushioning.
Eco-friendly
If you are an eco-conscious yogi then this mat is definitely for you! In the past, yoga mats were made with PVC (a toxic plastic) in efforts to increase their durability and “quality.” This material was chosen because PVC is known to last a very long time since it is a material primarily used to make underground pipes. PVC, however, has been found not only to be harmful for our health (a known carcinogen), but negatively impacts our environment as well. Unfortunately, yoga mats made with this harmful material cannot be properly disposed of because they are non-recyclable, and when they end up in landfills, they start to leak toxins over time. These toxins filter back through the food chain, which accumulate in animals’ fat, resulting in humans consuming PVC through the food we eat (we’re all connected guys!). Luckily for us eco-conscious yogis, the BMAT Strong yoga mat (or I should say all BMAT Yoga mats), are 100% rubber, and they are constructed with no harmful materials, thus making them OEKO-TEX certified!
If you’re in the market for a new yoga mat and you are ready to make an investment, the BMAT Strong yoga mat is one to strongly consider. It is a high performing mat, which helps to make your yoga practice a safe and enjoyable one. As the saying goes: we need to root down in order to rise up.