So, the other day I decided to give this whole “water yoga mat” thing a try. I’d seen some stuff online about people using yoga mats in the pool for workouts and it looked pretty interesting, and honestly, I was just looking for a new way to spice up my usual routine.
First off, I had to get the right kind of mat. After reading a bunch of reviews, I went with the Manduka PROlite. People online kept saying it’s supposed to last forever, and it seemed like a good balance of grip, portability, and comfort. I didn’t want to be slipping all over the place in the pool. Plus, I figured a mat that’s about 1/8-inch thick would be perfect, not too bulky but still comfy enough.
- Getting Started
I blew up the mat, which was easy enough. It was sunny that day, so I also threw on a hat and some sunscreen. I carefully positioned the inflated mat on the water’s surface. Stepping onto it was a bit wobbly at first, but I got the hang of it. I started with some simple stretches, just to get a feel for the balance. It’s definitely different from doing yoga on solid ground!
- The Workout
Once I felt a bit more stable, I tried some basic poses like downward dog and warrior. It was way harder than I expected! The instability of the water really engages your core, and I could feel muscles working that I didn’t even know I had. It felt more challenging than usual. I did appreciate that the mat’s grip lived up to the hype. Even when it got wet, I didn’t feel like I was going to slide off. I did notice some people talking about TPE mats being eco-friendly, but others saying PVC mats were cheaper. I’m glad I didn’t cheap out because the grip was really important.
- Cooling Down
After about 30 minutes, I was pretty tired. I ended with some easy stretches, lying on my back and just floating for a bit. It was super relaxing, listening to the water lapping around me. Getting off the mat was a bit of a challenge, but I managed without falling in.
- Drying and Storage
I pulled the mat out of the water, gave it a quick rinse with the hose, and let it dry in the sun. It dried pretty fast. Then, I deflated it, rolled it up, and tucked it away in my garage. It didn’t take up much space at all.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I’d say using a yoga mat in the water is a pretty cool way to work out. It’s tough, but in a good way. I can see why people like it. It’s not just a workout for your body, but also for your balance and concentration. And, it’s kind of fun to try something different. I’ll definitely be doing this again. Maybe next time I’ll even try some more advanced poses, I saw some folks online doing headstands, but that might take a while for me!
