Whether you’re buying a yoga mat for your first or hundredth yoga class, there are several things to consider. First and foremost, be certain you’re buying a yoga mat, and not a Pilates mat. The Pilates mat tends to be much thicker. For some, depending upon how much time you spend doing floor poses, it may be a better choice. If you’re doing a lot of standing poses, buying a yoga mat will serve you better than choosing a Pilates type.

If you’re new to yoga, you might consider buying a yoga mat that is inexpensive. Such standard sticky mats are made of synthetic materials, and may cost anywhere from $10-25 US Dollars (USD). You can easily buy a yoga mat of this type in a variety of stores like Wal-Mart® or Target®.

The next step up is buying a yoga mat made of natural materials, and mid-price range mats of jute or cork are usually the next choice. If you’re environmentally conscious about what you purchase, you may want to choose one of these two. Cost is about $40 USD for Jute mats from famous yoga suppliers like the company Gaiam. Cork yoga mats may be difficult to find, and they do tend to degrade quickly. They’re not recommended since they don’t last long, deplete an already depleted supply of cork in the world, and tend to be expensive.

Jute mats can be lovely to use, and many like the way they feel. They provide good friction and they are found in a variety of colors. You will note that the average jute mat tends to get a bit smelly after a while and should be cleaned fairly regularly.

For many people, the only choice material when buying a yoga mat is rubber. These are comparable in price to jute mats, usually costing about $40 USD. If you work out in crowded yoga classes, rubber may not be the best choice. Crowded classes may mean the occasional touching of mats, or people touching your mat, and rubber is a latex substance, which for some can provoke significant and life threatening allergies. If you have a latex allergy you should definitely avoid a rubber mat, and if your mat is touching other people’s mats, it may be more responsible to work with a jute mat.

All yoga mats require cleaning to keep them in good shape. The inexpensive starter mats, though they are called sticky, may not be so sticky in the beginning. If you have a front-loading washing machine, and your mat states it can be washed in one, this is the easiest way to wash a yoga mat. Hang it dry instead of drying it in the dryer. Alternately, you can first condition a new mat with a vinegar and water solution and a soft brush. Some people suggest using Windex® to remove spots, but if you are going for health here, the chemicals in this cleaner are not a good choice.

When you are buying a yoga mat made of jute or latex, principal means of periodic cleaning is to soak the mat in a bathtub about a third full with cold water, and then use a sponge to scrub away dirt. You can also spray down a mat with extracts of tea tree, which help to naturally clean and disinfect the mat. There are many yoga mat wipes on the market, which you may prefer for occasional cleanings. Note the jute mat will probably require the most frequent cleanings since it tends to pick up the most odor from frequent workouts.