So, I’ve been meaning to get into yoga for a while now, you know, for the flexibility, the mindfulness, all that good stuff. First thing I figured I needed was a decent mat. Didn’t want to be slipping and sliding all over the place, right? Figured it was a necessary item.
I started looking around online, just browsing, you know. There are tons of them out there, seriously! Different colors, different thicknesses, some with crazy patterns. It was a little overwhelming, to be honest.
Made by women, made by men
I kept seeing all these “yoga mats for women” and I thought, “Wait a minute, is there really a difference?” I mean, a mat’s a mat, isn’t it? A flat surface that should provide grip and maybe be comfy, yeah? Then, I started seeing “yoga mats for men” and it got me thinking even more. Is there something about a man’s body that needs a different kind of mat? Or what?
I did a little more digging, read some articles, some reviews. Some people talked about men being bigger or heavier, needing more support. Others mentioned grip, saying that men sweat more. I just don’t know. Honestly, it all seemed a little bit…well, like marketing to me.
So, I decided to ignore all the “for men” and “for women” labels. I just focused on finding a mat that seemed like it would work for me, a regular dude who wants to try yoga. I looked for something with good reviews, something that wasn’t too thin but also not super bulky. And something that wouldn’t have me looking like I just fell in a pool every time I did a downward dog.
My choice
I ended up getting one that was just called a “yoga mat.” No gender mentioned. It’s a nice dark blue color, pretty thick, and it has these little alignment lines on it that are supposed to help you with your poses.
I’ve used it a few times now, and you know what? It works just fine. I haven’t slipped, I feel supported, and it’s comfortable enough. I did some simple exercise using it and it was cool.
My takeaway from this whole experience is this: don’t get too caught up in the labels. Find a mat that feels good to you, that fits your needs, and that you like the look of. Whether it’s “for men” or “for women” or for a purple unicorn, it doesn’t really matter. What I felt was important was just the basic function of the mat. Just get on the mat and start practicing, that’s the important part.
I’ll keep you all updated on my yoga journey. Maybe next time, I’ll talk about how I almost pulled a hamstring trying to do a warrior pose. But hey, at least I didn’t slip on my mat!
- Find a good quality yoga mat.
- Try it out a few times.
- You are good to go!
