How to choose the thickness of the yoga mat is an important factor: if it is too thin your knee could hurt doing the Crescent Moon pose or if it is too thick you may not feel very firm doing the Tree pose.
When buying your yoga mat and as a general rule, there are four main groups into which yoga mats are divided according to thickness:
Yoga mats of 6 mm or more
4 or 5 mm yoga mats
1 or 2mm travel yoga mats
Now we are going to go into more detail about the advantages, disadvantages and our star suggestions available in our store so that once you have read this article, you will be very clear about what thickness you need for your mat and buy the perfect yoga mat for you.
Pros and cons of a 6mm or larger yoga mat
Mats larger than 6mm tend to be soft so they give your joints and bones a lot of padding. If you have any injuries, discomfort or tenderness in, for example, your knees, neck or hips, a thick yoga mat will give you all the cushioning and comfort you need to perform the poses.
On the other hand, a thick mat does not necessarily mean that it will be soft. There are some that are thick but dense and you may like that as your hands and feet don't sink into the material but at the same time the mat protects you from the hardness of the ground. Of course, this type of thick and dense mat is usually heavy, so if the idea is to transport it from here to there, it may not be the best option.
If you like to practice dynamic types of yoga such as Ashtanga or Vinyasa in which agility and fluidity between movements is key, a soft and thick mat may not be for you.
Instead, a thick yoga mat It will be perfect for anyone with sensitive joints or who practices Yin Yoga or other types of more restorative practices as the poses are more passive and sustained.
Another reason to choose a thick, cushioned yoga mat is during pregnancy yoga and Pilates practice.
Our recommendation:
Mat for Yoga and Pilates Ganges 6 mm
Soft to the touch, soft, with an irresistible price and available in five beautiful colours, the Ganges mat is the perfect thick mat for those seeking maximum cushioning.
Pros and cons of a 4 or 5mm yoga mat
Yoga mats of this thickness are the most common as they offer sufficient cushioning to protect your joints and avoid annoying pressure in certain postures.
By sinking less into the mat, you will also feel much more stable and firm when doing postures that require balance.
In addition, a 4 or 5 mm yoga mat It is lighter and cheaper than a thick mat.
Our recommendations:
YogaYe Pro Mat 4,5mm
Non-slip, durable and good quality. It is the mat that studies and yoga teachers have recommended for many years for its high performance.
It is also eco-friendly and its quality/price ratio is unmatched.
YogaYe Eco Mat 4 mm
The ecological option but also economical. High quality, soft touch and very good grip. Recommended for intense types of yoga.
Pros and cons of a travel yoga mat (1 or 2 mm)
Its very name indicates its advantage par excellence and that is to be able to travel with it.A travel yoga mat it is so light that you can transport it without any problem and it is also so flexible that you can fold it to fit in your luggage.
The downside of the travel mat is that it can be too thin. Your joints will not be protected and you will have very minimal cushioning when moving and leaning on the mat during your yoga session.
In this sense, the travel mat will be ideal for the yogi who moves from here to there and always wants to have the option of practicing yoga wherever he is as well as for the yogi who wants to feel the natural hardness of where he steps.
Our recommendation:
Jade Voyager Ultra Light Travel Mat 1,6 mm
It can be rolled up or folded and easily stored in bags, backpacks or suitcases. Made of natural rubber, it offers the best grip on the market with the lowest weight.
How to choose the thickness of your yoga mat It will depend, in the end, on what you want it to bring you and what is important to you based on the type of yoga you usually practice as well as your physical disposition. For example, there are those who prefer to feel the hardness of the ground and its contact; or there are those who practice a more passive and deep type of yoga so they want more padding; or there are those who do fast and very active sequences and will benefit from a thinner yoga mat.
