A yoga mat is one of the essential pieces of workout equipment, and thickness is the most important thing to consider when looking for yours. Buying a mat of the right thickness can make or break your fitness routine, and here are a few things you should consider when looking for yours.
Comfort
Standard yoga mats are usually around 1/8 inch thick, but you can find thicker models at about 1/4 inch. Thicker mats will give you better support and won’t lead to discomfort in your knees, wrists, and ankles, but they have several downsides that probably never crossed your mind.
Portability
One of the worst things about thick yoga mats is that they tend to be heavy, as well. This won’t be an issue if you’re working out at home, but you probably won’t feel too happy about taking your heavy mat to the gym every day—or even worst, traveling with it.
Connection to the Floor
Another downside of thick yoga mats is that they don’t give you a strong connection to the floor as thin ones. This can be a problem with certain yoga poses, but it won’t bother you as much if you’re mostly performing exercises that require the strong back support that thick mats provide.
