A yoga mat is the most important item when beginning your journey in yoga. While this may seem like an easy choice, as you will soon come to realise, there are a variety of options to choose from.
When selecting the right yoga mat for you, looking at the base material is always an important factor. This is because the base is what prevents your mat from slipping in the middle of your practice, in addition to providing comfort for your joints.
So why choose a Rubber Yoga Mat?
Eco-Friendly
Natural rubber is harvested in a sustainable manner directly from trees, without the need to cut the tree down. Additionally, once you are finished with your rubber mat, it is recyclable! The old rubber gets chopped into landscaping mulch, playground surfacing or used as rubber crumb for athletic fields and other applications. It also doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals like PVC or plastic found in many other yoga mats.
Therefore, rubber mats are one of the best eco-friendly mats on the market!
Good Grip
The crisscross texture found under the Rekindi natural rubber mats allow for great grip, as they lock onto the ground surface. This prevents the risk of you slipping and sliding during your yoga practice. The top layer of the rubber mats also allow for excellent grip, even during the sweatiest of workouts! Therefore, if you regularly practice hot yoga, a rubber mat would be your best option.
Waterproof
Natural rubber is waterproof and antimicrobial. Therefore, allowing the cleaning process to be very easy and prevents the build-up of mould growth!
Thick Material
The natural rubber mats provide enough cushioning to help reduce fatigue and foot injury. The softer, slip resistant rubber in Rekindi Mats provides both comfort and padding to ensures you’re your joints and bones are not impacted.
Great Quality
Rubber generally has a very long life cycle, in addition to being elastic. Therefore, they are a great quality mat to purchase.
Disadvantages
Rubber does tend to be heavier and more expensive than other materials. This makes it difficult to carry long distances. So if you are planning to go backpacking, trying a hemp or light cork mat may be your best option. Additionally, if you are allergic to latex material, you may get an allergic reaction from some of the rubber yoga mats.
Final Thoughts?
Natural rubber yoga mats are considered to be superior quality and last a lifetime. They have excellent grip and are comfortable for your joints. The heavy weight allows the mat to roll out nicely, preventing the edges to fold up. Although it is a bit of an investment, being waterproof, antimicrobial and excellent quality makes it worth it in the long run.