Archive for May, 2009
Cotton Yoga Mats: Which Cotton Mat is Best for Yoga Practice?
I am not a particular fan of cotton yoga mats but I know that a lot of people really like them. The thing that is best about cotton yoga mats is that it provides a lot more padding than your standard Yoga mat material. Below are the most popular cotton mats for Yoga.
Hugger Mugger Cotton Yoga Mat - The is one of the more expensive mats made of cotton but it has some really nice features. Its padding is almost 2 inches in height – the most padding you can find in any type of yoga mat. The Hugger Mugger Cotton Mat is only available through Amazon Here. It is just under $110.
MindBodyBliss Natural Cotton Large Yoga Mat - This one is probably the biggest Yoga Mat money can buy. It is made of all natural cotton and spans 72×36 inches making it the largest yoga mat available. I like this particular one because it is half the price as the Hugger Mugger yet offers just about the same quality. Although, it is not as thick as the HM. It is currently on sale for $10 off at Amazon through this link.
Yoga Cotton Waffle Mat - Here is a good bargin brand cotton mat. While not as big as the others, still a very cost effective solution. Pretty decent quality too from what I have read. Check it out here.
Why I dis-like Cotton Yoga Mats
There is only one thing I hate about this fabric – while it does provide excellent grip and traction, it tends to collect sweat like no other. This thing will reek if you don’t wash it weekly. They can get really nasty, really fast depending on your style of Yoga – Especially if you practice hot yoga.
Yogitoes Skidless Premium Mat Size Yoga Towel: If You Sweat a Lot In Yoga Class, Get This!
For those of you that sweat a lot during Yoga class, I highly suggest you get one of Yogitoes skidless yoga mat towels. The other day I tried a Bikram Yoga class to see if I liked the style. One thing I noticed different from my current Yoga studio is that all the ‘experts’ had towels over their mats. At first, I thought it was just one of those trend things that people like to buy to show off – like “hey look at what I’m using – this is what all the pros use so therefore I’m a pro!”
After the class was over, I understood why they all had yoga towels! Midway through class I noticed that my yoga mat was starting to pool sweat like crazy. I also started slipping all over the place after a good amount built up on it – making it almost impossible to keep up with the rest of the class.
If you are looking for a really good Yoga towel, I suggest you buy a Yogitoes. It is currently on sale at amazon here.
Yogitoes Skidless Full Size Yoga Mat Towel: The Perfect Solution!
About half of them had the Yogitoes brand so naturally I just had to have one(ok so i’m a little trendy). But seriously, this particular Yoga towel is the best because of the amount of extra grip it provides – check out the specs:
- 100 percent silicone eco nubs grip the mat or carpet.
- Premium mat-size yoga towel for slip prevention and sweat absorption.
- Keeps your hands and feet from slipping mid position.
- Measures 24 x 68 inches – will cover most yoga mats.
- Can buy it in many different colors including: blue, green, orange, purple, red, sand, white, stone, earth, fire, gold, and many more. For a full list of colors, check out the amazon page here.
Only one negative thing about this towel
Not everything is perfect – I noticed that after a few washes the color really starts to bleed out while washing. Because of that, I suggest you get a light colored towel – white won’t bleed obviously.
Manduka BlackMatPRO Review: The Mat of All Yoga Mats!
For those of you that don’t know already, Manduka is one of the most well known companies that produce high quality Yoga Mats. They got where they are by providing highly durable Yoga mats that totally eclipse other mats in quality and size. While these mats are the best ones you can get for Yoga practice, they come at a price. The Manduka BlackMatPro is the most expensive mat on the market, however it is worth every penny. If you are looking for a great deal on this mat, it is on sale at Amazon here.
Manduka BlackMat PRO Review
- Superior durability and lifetime.
- Extremely comfortable especially on your spine, hips, knees, and elbows.
- Really slip resistant, although not sticky.
- 71 inches long; 26 inches wide; 1/4 inch thick – Don’t think you will find a mat any bigger than this.
For those of you into power Yoga, this mat is definitely a good choice. When I joined my power Yoga classes, I noticed that my regular yoga mats really couldn’t stand up to the wear and tear during extensive practice. I would go through a cheaper mat in just a couple months time. I bought this Manduka off a suggestion from my teacher. He was totally right because this thing is going 6 months so far and still in great condition.
What I also like about this mat is that it really sticks to the floor. On my regular mats, normal power Yoga moves would cause the mat bunch up and would require me to bend down and straighten it out while everyone kept working out. The BlackMatPRO solved this problem.
Another reason why I am reviewing this product is because a lot of other people seem to really like it as well. Here is one review:
“I have been practicing yoga for almost 3 years now. I feel that the Black Mat Pro is the best investment I have made on Yoga related stuff so far. It is comfortable and stable for any type of floor work. Also great for standing and inversions asansa”
The only negative thing I can say about this mat is that it is a little on the heavy side because of the extra padding. I am not too concerned about it being heavy because I don’t whine about little girly things like that, however I have seen a lot of reviews from people saying it is a little annoying to tote around all the time.
If you are interested in buying this mat, it is currently on sale at Amazon here.
Yoga Stretching Exercises to Help with Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a common ailment. Most often it is brought on by weak or stressed muscles in the back, as well as in the stomach and sides. The obliques (side muscles) wrap around from the spine to the pelvic girdle to provide support for the entire core of the body. All of these muscles work together to do a very difficult job. Keep you upright. The best way to keep this area of the body free from pain is to develop a good, healthy workout schedule. When it comes to strengthening and relaxing muscles nothing is better than Yoga.
Why Yoga?
Yoga is the perfect lower back exercise—in fact Yoga is the perfect exercise period. It not only builds up the muscles with slow, concentrated movements, it stretches the muscles. Muscles often spasm because they bunch up and tighten. Yoga pulls them out and loosens them up.
The Best Yoga Exercises for Lower Back Pain
The Corpse: This very simple exercise is pure relaxation for your lower back. Lay flat on the floor. Do not substitute a soft surface like a bed for this exercise. Place your hands at your sides and breathe deeply to relax the lower back muscles. If this position causes too much pain in your lower back at the beginning, bend the knees and place the bottom of your feet on the floor to ease the tension in your back further.
The Cat: This exercise stretches all of the muscles of the pelvic girdle and the lower back. Get on your hands and knees with your back straight and your head in line with your back, looking down at the floor. Inhale and slowly push your back up toward the ceiling while tucking your head and your tailbone downward until you are looking between your arms. Exhale and slowly return to the original position. Repeat this ten times.
The Fish: Lie on your back and bend your knees placing the bottom of your feet on the floor by your hips. Place your hands at your side, palms down and keep your chin up with the back of your head on the floor. Inhale and push your buttocks up slowly toward the ceiling as far as you can with your feet, hands and head remaining in the original position. Exhale and slowly lower your buttocks to the floor. Repeat 10 times.
These are just a few of the marvelous Yoga exercises you can do to improve your core condition, relax your back, and get rid of back pain. Once the pain is gone continue with your Yoga workouts to prevent future lower back problems.
Wholesale yoga mats – resell these mats at your school and turn a good profit.
At my Power Yoga class, our instructor makes a killing off reselling wholesale yoga mats. What he does is by rolls of these mats, cut them to size and resells them for twice, sometimes three times, the original cost. When we have a new student sign up or one that comes in interested, the first thing he does is push the Yoga mats right off the bat.
He isn’t annoying with it though which is why I think his yoga mats sell so well. Yes, students will find better deals online or can buy a single mat for cheaper than what he offers. However, this doesn’t stop people from buying them by any means. I would say that 50% of the students in my class all use the yoga mats they bought of my teacher which he got wholesale.
You can buy some really nice Yoga Mats online at wholesale price – Check these ones out:
4mm Thick Yoga Mats - You can buy this whole pack of 24 Yoga mats for about $330. These are actually high quality mats which you could easily price at $35 each and make plenty of sales from.
Environmentally Friendly ECO/TPE Yoga Mats – These are more expensive but they tailor to a special niche of people – people who are trying to be ‘green’. For some reason there are a ton of these people interested in Yoga. They comes in a 24 pack and cost $600 and are available in blue, black, and orange. However, since these a special yoga mats, you could easily charge $50 for one and still turn a decent profit.
GOGO Premium 6mm Thick High Density Sticky Yoga Mat - These mats are particularly popular because of their stickiness. Makes them great for power yoga. A good choice for certain types of Yoga that require really sticky mats.
Think about this – a new student comes in, signs up for a month worth of classes and buys a yoga mat as well. Even if this person never comes back again after that month(seems like a lot of people don’t come back), he has just made an extra $20-$30 dollars off this person. This can add up especially when you get 1 new interested customer a day.
Natural and Eco-friendly Yoga Mat Reviews. The best mats for Yoga.
Hello All,
Today I am reviewing the top natural and eco-friendly Yoga mats on the market. While I am not a fan of eco-friendly mats, I know a lot of Yoga practitioners are obsessed with natural products. I figured I may as well list the most favorite Yoga mats available since a lot of my readers are undoubtedly looking for some. The following list are the most popular eco friendly mats:
Manduka eKO 71-Inch Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat
The most durable eco-friendly mat available which is why people like this one. It also has superior grip and cushioning than competitive mats. This mat is a little bit more expensive than the rest. It comes in blue, red, black, purple, or orange. You can buy it here from Amazon.
Jade Professional Yoga MatI see a lot of people with these mats at my school. This Jade Yoga Mat is PVC free, no latex, and is 100% biodegradable. It is available in brown, black, purple, blue, black, olive, red, and orange. You can get this for about $55 on Amazon here.
While not as popular as the above 2 organic yoga mats, people still rate this one well at 4.5 out of 5 stars. People like this one because it is completely natural rubber and is also really sticky for when you start to get sweaty. Harmony Mats come in pink, blue, black, and olive green. These run for about the same price as the Jade Professional, and can be bought here.
These conclude the most popular natural yoga mats on the market. While there are many many more different companies who make eco yoga mats, the above 3 are the ones that people like the most.
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