Yoga is considered one of the more healthier lifestyle choices people make at various stages of their lives. Whenever you decide to bring yoga into your lives and train yourself to become a true “yogi” doesn’t matter- whether it is your New Year’s resolution this year, or you’re doing it for health purposes, remember that there is a certain bodily demand when it comes to yoga.

Now, when it comes to picking the right yoga mat and a yoga mat bag, most people think it is pretty much a no-brainer. You surf online, look for the cheapest option available, and hit “buy now”. Believe it or not there are a few things to keep in mind before buying a yoga mat and its bag, which shall be covered in this article. Further, learn how you can find the best yoga mat and its yoga mat bag for less!

1. Finding the Right Size

Size matters! When you’re considering buying a mat for yourself, remember to consider the length of the mat. There are many sizes available, ranging from 60 to 75 inches. If you’re a tall person who likes to spread out while doing yoga, get a bigger size. Whatever be your choice, remember to give your average yoga workout a consideration- do not pick a random number. Choosing the right size for your yoga mat bag is where most people stumble. Since you know the size of your mat, make sure that the mat bag is a little bigger than your ,, so as to accommodate the full size of your mat. If you want to stuff your mat towel and workout clothes in it, get a bigger size.

2. Consider Durability

Whenever you wish to buy anything, consider the materials they are primarily comprised of. This can help you evaluate an approximate durability factor for the product. Your yoga mat and bag would be subject to a certain amount of wear and tear, depending on how much you practice yoga throughout the week. Further, if you carry it to work directly after your workout, or simply stash it away in your closet, materials tend to wear out with time. A good tip for durability is considering the thickness of the mat: if it is 1/8th of an inch, this should promise a fair amount of durability for your mat. When it comes to your yoga mat bag, remember to get something that is sturdy and durable, also. It must be sturdy enough to hold your yoga mat in place without having it slip out.

3. Environment-Friendly

Yoga has become such a popular practice of late that there are way too many companies producing yoga mats and yoga mat bags. While this may seem like a good thing from afar, from up close, you’ll find that many of them are made of PVCs that contain harmful materials, not just for the environment, but for you. Pregnant women, especially, should consider getting yoga mats and yoga mat bags that are made of environmentally-friendly materials. You’ll be sweating a fair deal on your mat, and hence, you are being exposed to toxic fumes (no matter how subtle) unknowingly. When it comes to yoga mats, make sure they are made of natural or organic latex. As for yoga mat bags, go for something made out of cotton- this further prevents your bag from becoming overly heavy, is easily washable, and relatively cheaper in the market (unless it’s 100% cotton).

4. Do Not Compromise On Quality

Now even though one of the incentives of this article is to help find you a yoga mat with its bag for less, keep in mind that quality should always be your #1 priority. For a yoga mat, check its grip and traction. Since yoga involves a fair amount of balancing your body weight on your hands and legs, you require these two properties in a yoga mat. When it comes to your yoga mat bag, make sure that it is of equal high quality to accompany your mat: after all, they go hand in hand, don’t they?

5. Value For Money Yoga Mat + Bag

Lastly, remember that getting a value-for-money deal on your yoga mat and bag is not impossible. This also doesn’t mean you go looking for yoga mats and bags in thrift stores, either. There are many companies today that sell good quality yoga mats and bags made of environmentally-friendly materials at no additional cost- you’ll just have to look a little, whether online or at a local mall.