A Brief Introduction of The Yoga Mat Material
Most of the yoga mats look the same in appearance, but there is a huge material difference. A yoga mat is the essential yoga gear for yoga-practicing, which affects your comfort and feeling in the practice. Some materials are more eco-friendly, some are more durable. Therefore, you should know more about the yoga mat material before starting the yoga journey.
What is a yoga mat made of?
The first step to choose the right yoga mat is to know its material. The texture, stickiness, cushioning, eco-friendliness, and longevity should be taken into consideration when you select a yoga mat.
The thickness should be the priority. Too thin or too thick won’t be good for your practice. Your joints would be easily hurt if the yoga mat is too thin. On the contrary, if there is too much padding, it is hard to keep balance when you are practicing.
The pointy texture would harm your skin. The PVC mats are moderate in stickiness and thickness at an affordable price. But sometimes it would cause allergies to some people. And the PVC is not biodegradable and not planet-friendly.
Now let’s run into more yoga mat material in detail.
PVC yoga mat
Made of resin powder and plastic hybrids with polymers of chemical rubber, the PVC yoga mat is usually at a very low price in the market with lower quality. PVC yoga mat has thick cushioning to provide more grip. What’s more, it is easy to clean. However, this kind of yoga mat is not good for the skin due to its chemical material.
Plastic elastomer yoga mat
The plastic elastomer yoga mat is free from toxic materials such as PVC or latex. It is a man-made eco-friendly material at an affordable price. This kind of material is perfect for those who are allergic and have a breathing problem. If you use this kind of yoga mat, you need to prevent the direct sunlight when you store it, otherwise, the service life would be shortened. This kind of material is not so sweat-absorbent, which causes less comfort and less safety when you have a lot of sweat during practice.
Natural Rubber Yoga Mats
A natural rubber yoga mat is made of natural rubber from the rubber trees. It is a renewable and eco-friendly resource without EVA or other synthetic rubbers. It features antimicrobial properties that are perfect for our skin and health. A natural rubber yoga mat is super durable made of natural rubber. This material is hard to dry after getting wet and is heavier than the normal yoga mat. They are perfect for those who are allergic to latex or PVC.
TPE yoga mat
TPE ( thermoplastic elastomers) yoga mats are made of thermic and elastic polymers. TPE is a great replacement material for PVC because it causes less pollution during production. TPE doesn’t contain any PVC and latex and it is so easy to clean.
NBR Yoga Mat
NBR is a kind of synthetic rubber. It is widely used and popular in yoga mats due to its excellent insulation and cushioning. NBR material is not eco-friendly during the process and will produce toxic substances.
Jute yoga mat
Jute is a natural plant fiber. Its production and use are just less than cotton. One side of this yoga mat is made of jute, another side is often made of PER or PVC. PER causes less pollution to the environment than PVC.
Cork Yoga Mat
Cork, a reproducible material, is a natural material from the oak tree. There is no harm to the trees when it is extracted. The two sides of this yoga mat are made of different materials. TPE is usually used for the bottom layer.
EVA yoga mat
EVA means Ethylene-vinyl acetate, a lightweight synthetic material. EVA yoga mat is super water-absorbent and so easy to clean. There would be some terrible odor in the EVA yoga mat.
TPE, PVC, or ribber yoga mats are increasingly used among yogis. You just need to choose one of the types that fit you. No type is perfect for everyone.
