Choosing the Right Yoga Mat for Class and Home

You may have noticed that we have a HUGE selection of different kinds of Yoga Mats at YogaDirect.com. With so many choices, it may be hard to choose a Yoga Mat that fits all of your criteria, including price range, what classes you are going to use the mat for, and much more! Here's a few helpful tips that will assist in your Yoga Mat buying decision-making:

On our Yoga Mats page, you'll see 4 different categories of Yoga Mats. In this blog, I will break down the sections for you to help you choose the best mat!

If you are looking for a basic Yoga Mat, check out our Classic Yoga Mat section. This section contains our lowest-priced Yoga Mats in many different styles, colors, and thicknesses.

If you're new to yoga and unsure how devoted you'll be to downward dog a month from now, consider the Classic Yoga Mats. They are a popular and affordable choice among yogis at every level - a great value for the budget-conscious novice. If you're an instructor, these discount yoga mats are a low-cost way to stock your studio.

Advanced yogis or those with sensitive elbows and knees will appreciate the added comfort of our quarter-inch yoga mats, which are twice as thick as average yoga mats.


Classic Yoga Mats

For frequent travelers who prefer to practice in their hotel rooms, pick something that's thin and light. Our Travel and Air Yoga Mats will free you of a heavy, bulky load. (Don't forget a bag to tote your mat around.)

If you'd prefer a more "high tech" Yoga Mat, then check out our Premium Yoga Mat section. The Yoga Mats here are cost a bit more, but it is because the mats are made out of special materials like Micro-Fiber or cotton.

Bikram and other hot yoga followers may prefer the Microban Yoga Mats that repel bacteria and fungus, or the Arama Microfiber Yoga Mats, which are four times more absorbent than cotton. We also offer Microfiber Towels that you can place over standard mats.


Premium Yoga Mats

If you are looking for a Yoga Mat that is a different size, shape, or appearance than a regular Yoga Mat, take a look at our Specialized Yoga Mat section. This section contains round mats, square mats, long mats, short mats, and more!



Specialized Yoga Mats

Finally, the last section on our Yoga Mats page is for Kids! Our fun Children's Yoga Mats come in a variety of different colors and designs and are the perfect size for kids, so they can feel special when they practice Yoga!


Children's Yoga Mats

We guarantee you'll find the perfect fit at an excellent price! If you ever need any assistance in purchasing a Yoga Mat from YogaDirect.com or any of our other high quality products, do not hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-331-8233. Namaste!

Microban Protected Yoga Mats are here! Say goodbye to bacteria!

I am really excited about our new Microban Yoga Mats!!! Keeping yoga mats clean and sanitary is always a big concern in yoga studios...especially if you are renting a mat. But with the new Microban Yoga Mats, you don't have to worry about your yoga mat being spoiled ever again!

Read our latest press release about them below...or get your own mat by clicking here: Microban Protected Yoga Mats from YogaDirect.com

YogaDirect Launches New Yoga Mats with Microban® Zinc Antimicrobial Technology

Hartford, CT, June 5, 2009 --- YogaDirect.com, the largest direct importer and manufacturer of quality yoga equipment in the United States, is pleased to announce their partnership agreement with Microban International, Ltd. The new line of Yoga Mats from YogaDirect feature a Microban® zinc based antimicrobial technology that helps to protect mats against bacteria and fungus that can cause stains and odors.

On an unprotected mat, bacteria and fungus can quickly multiply and grow. Microban antimicrobial protection works continuously keeping YogaDirect mats cleaner between cleanings. Microban zinc-based antimicrobial technology is infused into YogaDirect mats during the manufacturing process, providing 24/7 antimicrobial protection that won’t wash off or wear away for the lifetime of the yoga mat.

Microban antimicrobial technologies are currently being used by over 150 leading companies around the globe, and the new Yoga Mat with Microban protection is another addition to the growing list of over 750 products now available with Microban protection.

“We are very pleased to partner with Microban to bring to market the first line of Yoga Mats featuring Microban antimicrobial protection. The new mats bring a new and important cleanliness benefit to the yoga mat market that both consumers and gym owners will appreciate,” says YogaDirect’s President and CEO, Steve Wampold.

Microban International, Ltd. is a global technology and marketing company dedicated to enhancing high quality consumer, industrial and medical products with branded built-in protection from microbes. Microban International licenses the Microban® global brand name, sells custom-engineered compounds, and provides a range of services, including regulatory and marketing support. The Microban® brand promises continuous and durable antimicrobial product protection, built-in during manufacture to not wear out for the useful life of the product. Microban International is headquartered in North Carolina with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information on Microban, please contact (704) 875-0806 or visit www.microban.com.

YogaDirect.com is the largest direct importer and manufacturer of quality yoga equipment in the United States. Since launching in 1999, YogaDirect has taken great pride in its’ outstanding customer service, 100% satisfaction money back guarantee policy, low prices, and high quality. For more information, please contact Emily Nichols at 1-800-331-8233 or visit www.YogaDirect.com.

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Why Did I Ever Stop Doing Yoga???

I cannot believe it has been almost a year since I have stepped into a Yoga studio! I went to a Beginner Kripalu class on Monday with a bunch of co-workers here at YogaDirect and halfway through class I started feeling REALLY strong. Why did I ever stop going? I know I have been very busy with dancing (Soma Dance Company is leaving for their residency in Oklahoma on Sunday!!!), but the Yoga Class made me feel so good that I decided I need to find the time to include it into my weekly routine.

While the Kripalu class was a good class to take to get me back into the swing of things, I am still a big fan of Bikram Yoga, so as soon as I come home from Oklahoma, I am signing up for classes in Farmington. One of my co-workers, Emily goes to Bikram every Monday so I am going to go with her :)

At YogaDirect, we've been brainstorming about new types of Yoga Mats. One of the great new mats we will be offering is the Microban Yoga Mat. We are really excited about these mats because they are not only antimicrobial and anti-fungal, but they also resist bacteria, making the mats last longer. Microban is a safe, green way to make products safer for use because it reduces the spread of illnesses. Those mats should be in later this week!

Another mat idea we have is 6ft x 6ft square yoga mat. This mat is perfect for home use because it allows you to designate a special area in your home just for Yoga, so your practice area is more comfortable. The square mat lets you go from pose to pose without worrying about stepping off the mat! My favorite part about the mat is what we are calling it - The Maendy Mat! I will edit this post before the end of the day to add the link to the pages for the Microban Mats, but we are pre-selling our Maendy Mat - Click Here to purchase your own, and it will be shipped June 15th!

The Biggest Loser - At YogaDirect.com

All the employees here at YogaDirect.com (where I work) decided to start a Biggest Loser competition! Since summer is coming and bathing suit weather is on its way, we all decided it was a fun way we could all help each other get in shape. There's 14 of us, and we are separated into 2 teams. Whichever team loses the greatest percentage of body weight by the end of 9 weeks will win a prize! I will keep you posted on our progress :)

Another exciting happening at YogaDirect.com is we are getting new Microban Yoga Mats! These mats are the best mats to use if you are a heavy Yoga practitioner, as they repel harmful bacteria that lingers in normal mats. I'll let you all know when those mats arrive - how exciting!

I have a swollen foot...and a show to perform in tomorrow!

For the past 2 months I have been rehearsing with Soma Dance Company 5 times a week for our "Soma in Solo" Concert at the Wadsworth Athaneum on April 25th (tomorrow!), and it has really been stressing out my body. Soma Dance Company is mostly a modern dance company, but we also incorporate martial arts and athletic lifts and partnering. I feel I am strong enough to perform, but I also feel that my body is trying to tell em I have had enough. With my intense rehearsal schedule I haven't had any time to include Yoga into my routine, which would probably help me stretch out my aching muscles. And while I do some Yoga as warm-ups for dance, I haven't done just a full class...and I REALLY need to!

Unfortunately, about 3 weeks ago the ball of my left foot started hurting me. I thought it was just a stone bruise because it felt tolerable and I feel like I had hurt myself this way before. I looked it up on the internet and read that stone bruises take about 2 weeks to heal and there's really nothing you can do about them until they go away on their own. So I waited, and last week it felt like it had healed! However, two days ago, the pain came back and the swelling increased. I started icing it every day, but yesterday at rehearsal the pain was so bad I could hardly walk! I am really nervous I have done more than just bruised it, but our "Soma in Solo" performance is tomorrow and I will just have to suck it up. Of course after the show I am going to get my foot X-rayed. I have never broken anything in my body before and have always been really careful...but perhaps I am just getting too old :)

Earth Day was on Wednesday! At YogaDirect.com, we celebrated with a special sale. In fact this weekend only we are having ANOTHER sale. If you spend over $100, you will receive a free gift! We also added a TON of new Thera-Band® items to our stock, like Mats, Balls, Exercise Bands, and more.