Why it’s important: The thickness of your yoga mat has a lot to do with how comfortable it is - too thin, what is yoga and your knee may get banged up during crescent lunge. Why it’s important: The texture of your yoga mat dictates how much traction it provides. Texture can be either man-made (a pattern of raised bumps, for example) or dictated by the materials - jute yoga mats have an organic roughness to them, while PVC yoga mats, though slightly textured, have a softer feel. Basic buying guidelines: If you’re looking for a yoga mat that prevents slipping and you’d like to avoid PVC mats (the traditional sticky yoga mats), look for a rubber, jute, or cotton yoga mat that has a raised, tactile pattern. You can get a yoga mat that's eco-friendly, has a thickness that meets your needs for comfort and portability, and has a texture (such as a raised geometric pattern) that prevents slippage. If you’re a Princess-and-the-Pea type, any bumpy texture will likely aggravate you in savasana. As he was cringing and I was laughing, three-quarters of the class came up to him with huge smiles and said, "Oh, you’re new!

Even if you’re not striving to be like Mr. Poirot, the Belgian private detective from an Agatha Christie novel, who doesn’t need a more neutral mind? By practising hot yoga, you can focus your mind on certain poses and forget about your stressors. Once the mind and emotions have been truly seen, heard, welcomed and connected with, they too become increasingly subtle. In fact, I felt welcomed by my fellow teacher trainees and facilitators. And if that’s the case, as a yoga professional, being an RYT (registered yoga teacher) would be a valuable thing. No matter what the stores tell you, that’s the best yoga mat for you! While most Pilates classes incorporate equipment that’s used to challenge the body to ‘turn on’ and control muscles and body positioning in unstable environments," says Sara Grout, master trainer and Pilates instructor at Club Pilates in the Denver area. The best way to learn yoga postures safely and effectively is to learn from an experienced yoga instructor. If smoothness is of prime importance to you, a PVC yoga mat is the way to go.

Why it’s important: A sticky yoga mat keeps you from sliding all over the place and helps you maintain your alignment as you move from one pose to another, as well as when you hold poses for several seconds. Many yoga poses require you to bear your body weight in new and often challenging ways, including balancing on one leg or supporting yourself with your arms. The poses you'll do might be seated, standing or lying down, Moonaz says. It’s usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. It’s not just about the similarities between the practices - it’s also about the benefits. The teachings, practices and beliefs of Sahaja Yoga are mainly Hindu-based, with a predominance of elements from mystical traditions, as well as local customs of India. And if you relish stickiness but are curious about the newer, more earth-friendly options, test drive a few before you buy. It provides physical barriers to sliding (whereas stickiness relies on suction). We in the west basically wouldn’t have any idea or access to Kundalini yoga if it weren’t for Yogi Bhajan. The idea is to stretch up more rather than stretching backward.

Intellectually, whatever we say about it, at the most it will make you curious to know more about it or inspire you to walk the path of Yoga. These practices are much harder to teach as they are a personal journey and different for everyone, because of this in most ‘yoga classes’ the focus will mostly be on breath work and movements. The tradeoff is that thick yoga mats (some as thick as 1/4 inch) can make it harder for you to feel a strong connection to the floor, making you more wobbly in Tree Pose, for example. These yoga mats may also include natural materials, such as jute or organic cotton. Options: Earth-friendly yoga mats are typically made from natural or recycled rubber. Options: PVC yoga mats have the highest sticky factor. Options: A standard yoga mat is about 1/8 inch thick, while the thickest are about 1/4 inch.