From Couch to Yogi: Benefits of Yoga (Plus, Yoga Mat Buying and Caring Tips)

If you take a minute to think about your daily routine, you will figure out that you spend a lot of time sitting down. You sit down to have breakfast, sit down (in the car, bus, or train,) on the way to work, sit down at work all day, sit down on the way back home, eat dinner sitting down, and then finish your day sitting on the couch to watch TV or surf the net. And frankly, that is quite a passive life which, eventually, can result in some serious health issues.

Yoga is one of the simplest forms of exercise you can do to fight sedentarism and improve your health, mind, and body. A consistent practice offers all kinds of physical and mental health benefits, which, when put together, contribute to better overall health. This explains why so many people find yoga so addictive.

Everyone can Practice Yoga

Yoga classes are generally open to people of all generations and fitness levels. Visit a yoga studio or a local gym and you will see young teens, middle-aged moms, older gentlemen, athletes, and even fitness buffs and bodybuilders practicing yoga. Everyone can feel included and accepted. Furthermore, with yoga, you can choose a style that best fits your lifestyle. For example, you can choose to practice power yoga, hot yoga, relaxation yoga, prenatal yoga, etc. You can also practice yoga at home – have a private session while watching a movie, or at a gym or studio. With yoga, there is a great variety of options that can suit different goals and needs.

Yoga Improves Overall Health and Wellness

Being so much more than a simple workout, yoga is also a lifestyle. Practicing yoga allows you to find tranquillity in this chaotic world. Yoga’s deep breathing and meditation practices help foster an inner shift from to-do lists, relationships struggles, financial concerns, kids and spouse’s needs to something bigger than the issues you have. By helping relieve stress and declutter the mind, yoga also helps you to become more focused.

Strength Training and Flexibility

Yoga’s focus on flexibility and strength training is an amazing benefit to your body. The postures have been developed to strengthen the body from the inside out, so you don’t just look good, but feel good as well. Each of the yoga poses has as purpose to reinforce the muscles around the spine, which is the core from which everything else functions. When the spine is working properly, posture is improved, thus alleviating shoulder, back, and neck pain. The digestive system is another part of the body that also benefits from yoga. When combined with a healthy diet, the stretching in yoga can help relieve irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and acid reflux.

Just like with most hobbies, practicing yoga also requires commitment. Hence, one of the most important things in yoga is practicing. And when practicing, having the proper gear can set you up for success. You actually need very little to get started, like a yoga mat and comfortable clothes. When buying a yoga mat, you should consider some other factors besides colour and patterns. Aside from being easy on the eyes, your yoga mat should also help you maintain your balance, be comfortable, portable, and easy to store. You might also want it to be environmentally friendly. Therefore, you need to consider how the mat is made, how thick it is, what material it’s made of and its surface’s texture.

The thickness of your yoga mat plays an important role in how comfortable it is. If you get a mat that is too thin, your knees may get banged up during crescent lunge poses. Too thick mats, on the other hand, can make it harder for you to feel a strong connection to the floor, making you more wobbly in the tree pose, for example. For more cushioning, consider getting a mat that is about 6.30mm thick. For an easy-to-pack and carry-on mat, look for a yoga mat in the 4.20mm range.

The material the mat is made of determines its texture, stickiness, how much it yields to pressure and how it wears over time. Standard yoga mats are generally made of PVC, also known as vinyl. The more eco-friendly options are made of jute, recycled rubber, and organic cotton. If you are allergic to latex, you will want to avoid yoga mats made of natural rubber.

Last but not least, texture. It is important because it’s what dictates how much traction the mat provides – it affects how much you’d slip and slide on the mat. Texture can be either dictated by the materials or man-made. Man-made texture includes patterns of raised bumps – a material that has an organic roughness to it is jute. Although PVC mats are lightly textured, they still have a softer feel.

After using your yoga mat for a while, you’ll need to clean it. But how do you do that? Check your mat for instructions first. If there aren’t any, here are some tips for safely cleaning your yoga mat:

• Hand wash it with soap and water – Wet a washcloth with soapy water (avoid oil-based soap) and wipe down the yoga mat before using it for the first time, as well as once a week if you use the mat regularly.
• Apply an essential oil mat spray mix – Using a mat spray that contains essential oils is a great way to clean, disinfect, and add a nice scent to your yoga mat. Scents that you may want to consider are orange, lemon, and eucalyptus for energy, or mint and lavender for a more relaxing smell.

• Water and vinegar for a quick clean – make a 50/50 mixture of water and apple cider vinegar to wipe down your yoga mat. Allow it to air dry outside in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated room.

Many gyms and yoga studios have yoga mats that you can borrow for the class. But for sanitary purposes, I don’t recommend using them. Although scientists haven’t proven that unclean yoga mats can cause foot fungus, a lot of dermatologists and podiatrists are making the connection. So, getting your own yoga mat is the best way to ensure a clean and safe yoga practice.