Yoga has been practised all around the world for thousands of years. Its regular practise rewards us with greater health and vitality and a perfect balance between mind, body and spirit. It brings true happiness, and makes you feel better from within. The breathing exercise and meditation helps you tune in, shape up and feel great all at the same time. Yoga is a cure to many ailments but it needs to be performed with care to avoid injuring oneself. Many times accidents occur while doing yoga exercises. Yoga mats should be used to avoid such circumstances as they provide cushioning and traction. These days’ markets are flooded with a variety of yoga mats. You find them in different colours, shapes and sizes. They are available in different materials also.

Some of the commonly available yoga mats are:

· Cotton yoga mats – these are mats made of cotton. They are thick and soft and give excellent support to your body while doing yoga. They are completely natural and have beautiful colour and texture.

· Eco friendly mats - These eco friendly yoga mats are made of PER i.e. Polymer Environmental Raisin. They are non-toxic, latex free, ecological and healthy. They are available in a wide range of colours.

· Tapas mats –these are stable and provide a non-slip surface. They give insulation from the cool floors.

· Rubber mats – these mats are made of natural rubber and are thin and easily movable. They provide good cushioning and resilience.

· Jute mats – these are latex free mats made of jute. They are made by meshing jute fibre with PER plastic.

· PVC mats – as the name suggests they are made of Poly Vinyl Chloride. They have a non-slip surface and are easy to maintain.

· Woven fabric mat – these are mats made of woven fabric which is thickly textured.

· Yoga towel mats – they are made of soft towel material, are easily washable and soak your sweat when you are doing yoga exercises.

For yoga to be give you benefit, one needs constant practise and correct technique. Yoga when not done in the right way can cause damage to joints and tissues. Yoga requires stretching and breathing exercises. To be benefited from it and to prevent injury to you, it should be done correctly. It should be done in a peaceful place with comfortable surroundings. Yoga mats provide a comfortable place for regular yoga practise.

Yoga mats of several different types of materials are available in the market. Out of these cotton mats are certainly among the bests. For hundreds of years a cotton yoga mat has been the choice of yogis who practise yoga and meditation.

There are many advantages of a cotton mat over the mats of other materials. The cotton yoga mats are extra thick and give a soft feel of cotton .It gives extra cushion and support for the joint and body. It is good for the knees and ankles as it prevents injury during exercise by providing extra padding.