Asking people who do a lot of #yoga

I have an old mat and it’s ok. Sometimes I think it lacks padding for floor poses.
Some people swear by Manduka mats but they’re a. Expensive b. Heavy, so I am not sure if I’m willing to invest in an expensive and much heavier mat if the padding is not going to improve so much.

The weight is the biggest issue for me. I hate heavy mats.

Asking people who do a lot of #yoga

I have an old mat and it’s ok. Sometimes I think it lacks padding for floor poses.
Some people swear by Manduka mats but they’re a. Expensive b. Heavy, so I am not sure if I’m willing to invest in an expensive and much heavier mat if the padding is not going to improve so much.

The weight is the biggest issue for me. I hate heavy mats.

@renata could you put a folded blanket *under* the mat, I wonder? (At home, I mean). If this is something you need to carry to a studio … yeah, no. .

@renata Are you able get other, smaller props for floor poses?

I've most recently done classes with a teacher who is very much specialized in adaptations-needed yoga and she arms every class with extra padding. In some cases, just cut-up squares of her own old yoga mats, to be stacked up under a crunchy knee or a forehead that needs a bit more squish to hit the floor.

Some ppl bring stuff like these: https://stretch.dance/products/yoga-support-jelly-pads

@johannab The studio I go to doesn’t have any props like that, and I would have to carry them on my bag. I usually add a towel and fold it for extra cushioning, but ideally would like a mat that is just a little thicker. Mine is an old Gaiam.

It’s mostly for when I have to do things with my knee on the floor, that has always bothered me. My knees are delicate.

@renata yeah, having all possible props on-hand does add to the haulage problem. My yoga bag got a bit bigger over the years, I have a heavier cork mat plus a folds-like-a-towel "travel' mat but they're definitely more baggage.

Gaiam (and others) make several thicknesses above the standard 4-5mm which don't add too much weight but they're bulkier and don't fit a basic mat bag.

@johannab The studio I go to doesn’t have any props like that, and I would have to carry them on my bag. I usually add a towel and fold it for extra cushioning, but ideally would like a mat that is just a little thicker. Mine is an old Gaiam.

It’s mostly for when I have to do things with my knee on the floor, that has always bothered me. My knees are delicate.

@renata What about just wearing knee pads? Might look weird but who cares? They're small and easy to transport.
I don't do yoga, but at the start of my aerial classes when we sometimes go through yoga poses to warm up, I don't bother with a mat and just wear my knee pads for all the kneeling things

Asking people who do a lot of #yoga

I have an old mat and it’s ok. Sometimes I think it lacks padding for floor poses.
Some people swear by Manduka mats but they’re a. Expensive b. Heavy, so I am not sure if I’m willing to invest in an expensive and much heavier mat if the padding is not going to improve so much.

The weight is the biggest issue for me. I hate heavy mats.

@renata I use a camping sleeping mat that we used for bike camping and short trips. @TAV may remember what they're actually called. I like the thickness. I don't think it's particularly heavy.

@WTL @renata evazote mat

@TAV @WTL That is great advice, thank you!

@renata @TAV All part of the service. …and my knees prefer the evazote mat by a long shot.

@WTL @TAV I paid more attention to my mat today and I came to the conclusion it’s basically a pancake now, and I don’t even remember how long ago I bought it.

It’s also not only the knees. I also feel my hipbones and coccyx. So basically every bone that touches the floor.

New mat will be bought. Not a $300 mat.