Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get a new yoga mat for ages. My old one was, well, let’s just say it had seen better days. It was thin, slippery, and honestly, a little embarrassing to unroll in class. So, I finally decided to do it right and actually figure out what size mat I needed. I started this whole thing by grabbing my measuring tape – you know, the one I usually use for random DIY projects around the house.
First, I measured my height. I’m about 5’6″ (which is about 66 inches, I think). I figured I needed a mat that was at least that long, so I wouldn’t be hanging off the end during Savasana. That was my starting point.
Then, I got down on the floor and did a few of my go-to poses, like Downward Dog and Warrior II. I wanted to see how much space I actually took up when I was stretching out. I had my partner mark the furthest points of my hands and feet with some, uh, strategically placed socks. We then measured the distance between those sock markers.
Figuring Out the Width
Next up was the width. I’m not the widest person, but I do like a bit of extra room to move around, especially when I’m trying out new poses. I did a few more poses, like Triangle Pose and some wider-legged stretches, and again, we marked the edges with socks and measured. This gave me a pretty good idea of the minimum width I’d be comfortable with.
Thickness Matters, Too!
I also thought about thickness. My old mat was super thin, and my knees would always hurt during poses like Camel. So, I knew I wanted something with a bit more cushioning. I did the “knee test”: just getting on my hands and knees in my living room on different surfaces (carpet, hardwood floor) and seeing what it felt like.
Putting It All Together
- Length: At least my height (66 inches) – maybe a bit longer for extra space.
- Width: Enough to comfortably do my widest poses (based on my sock measurements!).
- Thickness: Definitely thicker than my old mat – something that would protect my knees.
After all that measuring and posing, I felt way more confident about choosing a mat. I realized it wasn’t just about picking a random mat off the shelf; there’s a bit more to it! Now, the hunt is on for the PERFECT mat. I will go to the store and, according to my record, I can buy a new one. I’ll keep you posted on what I find!
