Like most yoga enthusiasts, you probably try and buy different mats over time. Certain mats become your favorites and eventually wear out, while others just sit around taking up valuable storage space. If you have a used yoga mat you think you’re not likely to use again, it might be time to re-purpose or recycle it.
With so many ideas and options to either donate, recycle or reuse your unwanted mat, there’s no reason to throw Continue reading
Whether or not you do yoga religiously, The Yoga Bible is a useful book to have. No, The Yoga Bible has nothing to do with religion. It’s a handy reference guide to the many yoga poses and how to perform them. 
The “Yoga Bible” is a bit different than Hatha Yoga Illustrated which I also recently reviewed. The Yoga Bible is more condensed and compact. Yet it’s still quite comprehensive at Continue reading
Yoga is good for you, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agrees! In fact, in order to inspire a healthy lifestyle and educate the general public about the numerous benefits of yoga, in 2008 the HHS officially designated the month of September as National Yoga Month:
As part of the National Yoga Month Awareness Campaign, the National Yoga Foundation is offering a free week of yoga for you at one of 2,200 participating yoga studios in the US! Continue reading
Did you know you can sneak in yoga at work with some simple office yoga poses? I was at my Mom’s place the other day and I found this smart little book she had lying around called “Office Yoga, Simple Stretches for Busy People”. This is a book I wish I’d thought of writing myself!
“Office Yoga” is almost pocket size. It’s 4 3/4 inches by 6 1/4 inches, and 96 pages. It’s small enough to keep on your desk or in your bag, yet big enough to Continue reading
Say you want to start practicing yoga but you’re concerned that you might not be able to keep up or perform the poses correctly. Well, there’s a pretty easy solution to that. Get yourself a beginner’s guide to yoga.
It can be a little intimidating trying a new yoga class, especially if you think everyone but you knows what they are doing. For the record, that’s not always Continue reading
The first few times I practiced yoga, I was at home using my own yoga mat. I felt like I could use a little guidance, so I thought taking a class might be a good idea. I found an online deal that offered me a bunch of classes locally for cheap, and went to my first class. I brought my mat with me, but when I got home I realized cleaning it after every class was going to be more hassle than I wanted to deal with. I had the idea that if I had a towel instead of a mat I could just wash it with my laundry, hassle free. So I bought myself a YogaRat towel.
I did a bunch of shopping before I picked the YogaRat. There really are a lot of yoga towels out there to choose from. I ended up liking Continue reading
As I mentioned in part 1 of my review of Mandy Ingber’s “Yogalosophy 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover”, not only is this book a complete workout guide, it also encourages a positive way of thinking and being.
In part 2 of my review, I’ll focus more on the philosophical perspectives of Ingber’s Yogalosophy. I feel that the mindfulness aspects Continue reading
After having recently completed Richard Hittleman’s Yoga 28 day plan, I thought it would be good to compliment it with a more contemporary program. So I’m giving Mandy Ingber’s Yogalosophy 28 Day Mind-Body Makeover a try.
Like the Hittleman plan, Ingber’s program is more than just a 28 day exercise guide. It’s a way of Continue reading
The cost of yoga mats can vary quite a bit. The price is usually related to the materials, the quality of craftsmanship, and country of manufacture. But there are a number of inexpensive yoga mats out there that just might suit your needs.
Our guide below allows you to compare the features of some of the most popular affordable mats out there. Beneath the guide you’ll find in-depth descriptions and additional photos of the best sellers. Click on any column header to sort the table, for example by cost, thickness, or material:
| Mat | Size | Cost | Weight | Colors | Material | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sivan NBR Yoga Mat | 1/2" thick 72"x24" | $19.99 | 1.8 pounds | 7 options | Foam. | 4.5 |
ProSource Premium 1/2-Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat With Carrying Straps | 1/2" thick 71"x24" | $18.99 | 2.5 pounds | 8 options | Foam. | 4.3 |
ProSource Premium 1/4-Inch Yoga Mat With Carrying Straps | 1/4" thick 68"x24" | $16.99 | 3.0 pounds | 7 options | Foam. | 4.2 |
Spoga High Density Yoga Mat with Carrying Straps | 1/2" thick 71"x24" | $19.99 | 2.1 pounds | 6 options | Foam. | 4.4 |
YogaAccessories 1/4" Yoga Mat | 1/4" thick 74"x24" | $17.99 | 3.3 pounds | 26 options | Unknown material. Phthalate free inks and dyes. Free of latex and heavy metals. | 4.2 |
Yes4All 1/2-Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat w/ Carry Strap | 1/2" thick 68"x24" | $20.05 | 2.2 pounds | Black, blue, green or purple | Foam. | 4.2 |
Yoga Monster Mat by Bean Products | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $24.95 | 3.5 pounds | 18 options | PER. Free of toxic phthalates, dioxins and furans, phenal, or heavy metals. SGS approved. | 3.8 |
Gaiam Solid Yoga Mats (3mm) | 1/8" thick 68"x24" | $19.99 | 2.0 pounds | 8 options | PVC. Free of phthalates and other toxins. | 4.0 |
Bixle 1/2" Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap | 1/2" thick 72"x24" | $22.95 | 2.3 pounds | 7 options | Foam. | 4.3 |
YogaHola Super Soft Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat w/ Carry Cord | 1/8" thick 70"x24" | $13.95 | 2.5 pounds | 5 options | Foam. | 3.6 |
Da Vinci Yoga Mat with Carry Strap, 1/4" Inch | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $18.99 | 2.8 pounds | 12 options | PVC. Free of phthalates. | 4.0 |
Da Vinci 2-Tone Yoga Mat with Carry Strap | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $16.99 | 3.0 pounds | 8 different 2-tone options | PVC. Free of phthalates. | 4.0 |
Milliard 1/4" Yoga Mat | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $17.21 | NA | 10 options | Unknown material. | 4.3 |
Valeo Yoga Mat Blue | less than 1/4" thick 68"x24" | $12.50 | 1.9 pounds | Blue | Unknown | 3.0 |
YogaDirect 1/4" Sticky Yoga Mat | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $23.27 | NA | 12 options | PVC | 4.2 |
BalanceFrom GoYoga Mat with Carrying Strap | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $24.95 | 2.5 pounds | 9 options | Unknown. PVC free, phthalates free, latex free. | 4.1 |
The 7 columns in the guide are:
One popular brand of inexpensive yoga mats is YogaAccessories. The average price for a YogaAccessories mat is about $20, depending upon color. They have over 20 colors to choose from.
Even though they’re inexpensive yoga mats, they boast some appealing Continue reading
***BIG NEWS: Richard Hittleman’s classic TV series “Yoga For Health” Has been released on DVD! Check it out at www.richardhittleman.com ***
In part one of my review of Richard Hittleman’s Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan, I covered the first two weeks of the plan. I gave an overview of how the book’s daily routines are presented. For part two, I’ll go over how Hittleman ramps it up a notch. I’ll also sum up a few of his “thoughts for the day”, which are his daily discussions on the many ways Hatha Yoga can benefit the mind and body.
Regarding the exercise portion of the plan, Hittleman takes it up a level for the remaining two weeks. Day 15 starts off with these words, “Today marks the beginning Continue reading