Yoga mats, also called sticky mats, are portable because they are lightweight. Portable yoga mats are usually made of polyurethane, rubber or PVC, are non-toxic, and eco-friendly. This means that you can roll them up, reuse them, and store them anywhere you like. For example, you can store them in a backpack or your car. Portable sticky mats are suitable for traveling as well as home practice.
If you practice yoga on a carpet, you need to keep it clean. The problem is that no matter how diligent you are, there is no way to stop it from collecting dust or carpet fibers after frequent use.
Yoga mats differ in terms of thickness and texture. It is best to choose one that is suitable for your body type, type of yoga, and level of expertise. Finally, ergonomic yoga mats make a lot of difference. If you have back pain, you should choose a yoga mat with thick cushioning. It absorbs the shocks and lets you enjoy your yoga practice without straining your back or joints.
Our bottom line is that if you can afford a yoga mat and have the room for it, then use it rather than just practicing on a carpet.
Can You Do Yoga On Carpet?
Carpets are a relatively cheap and easy way to provide a soft, cushy floor surface under your yoga mat.
But the cushiness of carpets can also be a major problem for yogis.
Different people may have different opinions. A yogi performing a warrior II pose may find the lack of traction from a carpet to be a plus. On the other hand, when a yogi is attempting advanced poses, the lack of traction on carpet can be a challenge.
How do you decide between the comfort of carpet and the grip that you get from a yoga mat?
If you are a beginning yogi, then the comfort and softness of carpet can be an advantage. Beginners don’t know that the human body is a beautifully flexible piece of soft rubber. They are challenged and surprised to discover what their bodies can do.
As your body and mind become trained by yoga, you’ll benefit from the traction that a mat offers. Specifically, a mat is more likely to keep your knees and feet in alignment, and from slipping during poses such as warrior. On carpet, your knees and feet can slip just enough to make a pose feel awkward or give you a twinge of pain.
Mat-carpet combination
If you have a carpeted room, you could try doing all your yoga poses on the carpet (with possibly a mat for ground poses). Yoga towels can be used to wipe off sweat during exercise or used as a mat since they are more suitable for floors. That is, unless you are extremely fit.
Obviously, the benefits of having a yoga mat on a carpet surface is that they are usually thicker (than yoga towels), and are more comfortable to the feet as you do your stretches.
If you opt for doing yoga on a carpet, there are a few things to remember:
Always adjust your agility level to the carpet’s texture
The surfaces on which you prefer to perform your yoga poses can have huge variation. Some carpets can be very rough to your bare feet, while some can even be slippery and a few (like deep pile carpets) can even be too soft that they disrupt the balance of your poses. If you are very fit and agile then this won’t be a problem for you but if you are just starting to learn to do yoga, then you will be better off starting on a yoga mat until you get some experience with the different kinds of carpets that you may encounter.
1. BalanceFrom Go Yoga All Purpose Extra-Thick Mat
Environmentally friendly
As long as you use the mat correctly, placing it on top of a carpet or other surface, the mat will be easier to clean and will last longer which is good for the environment.
Cost
The mat will take a few weeks to break-in, but you may find that the savings more than make up for it in the long run. If you consider the mat a worthwhile investment, it will last a long time, and very likely outlast the carpet beneath it.
Comfort
The mat is thick enough to cushion the body while still providing flexibility.
The Negatives
Slippery: Your yoga positions will remain stable, but it can be slippery while experiencing sweating during a session.
Uneven weight distribution: If the mat is loose or not tightened, your yoga positions can become imbalanced.
Much quieter: One of the most common reasons for choosing a mat is the noise incurred by dropping weights or setting creaky floorboards. This mat will keep your practice light and quiet.
More consistent weight distribution: You will have a much easier time staying "centered" when you are on a mat.
2. Clever Yoga Yoga Mat Non Slip
The Clever Yoga Yoga Mat is unique because it is non-slip and fitted to different shapes and sizes. It comes in ten different colors.
It has a contoured texture that molds and adapts to the body, providing support and alignment. It has a non-slip surface that ensures you won’t have to worry about your mat slipping out from under you.
The Clever Yoga Mat can be used for all types of yoga, is made from TPE. It is also an ideal choice for Bikram yoga.
This mat is sweat resistant, can be kept in the washing machine, and offers plenty of cushioning to protect your knees and joints.
Yoga On Carpet Can Be Beneficial
When people consider doing yoga on carpet, they typically consider the comfort of the carpet less so than just the simplicity of the exercise. If you have a rug that is not too big, soft, and smooth you may be able to do some yoga poses on it without hurting your carpet.
The problem is that once you sweat or shoot moisture from your body, some rugs will have a very long drying period. Many people who do yoga on carpet have regular carpet at home. Some people even have carpet in their gym.
If your carpet is too rough or hard, it's not suitable for yoga.
For the best carpet experience, look for soft carpets in which you can give your back a rest when you practice deep stretches.
Which Is Better? Pros and Cons Of Doing Yoga On Carpet
There are both pros and cons to practicing yoga on carpet. Some people prefer to do yoga on carpet because it's comfortable and easy. Others think that yoga on carpet is not as ideal in comparison to other surfaces, such as yoga mats.
Here's a list of things to consider before making a decision:
Practicing yoga on carpet is less slippery than carpeting in general. A towel or mat is still advisable for safety and hygienic purposes. You can use other objects instead, such as folded laundry up against the wall.
Yoga on carpet does not offer the same traction as a yoga mat. Feel free to perform yoga poses with lots of twisting involved.
While doing yoga on carpet can make you feel relaxed, there are some cons to practicing yoga on carpet. You won't be able to get as deep in your asanas to stretch your body as much as you would on a yoga mat.
Practicing yoga on carpet will take a lot of effort on your part to stay focused and not become distracted by the texture of the carpet. You can use a towel or mat around your body to help with this.
Take a look at the positive aspects too, though. They may be enough to help you make your decision in favor of yoga on carpet or you may come to the conclusion that down the road, you'll upgrade to a yoga mat.
Conclusion:
The activities you can engage in without having to worry about the surface that you might fall on are an essential part of being a yogi. If you can do the poses in your living room and not worry about the quality of the carpet on a day when you are sort of tired and a bit sore, it is a big plus.
But. When you choose to practice on the floor or on your living room rug, you should be aware that it is probably not going to live up to the label 'yoga mat' and while you might not hurt yourself, you are not likely to find any benefits from padding.
All in all, when choosing to practice yoga on the floor or on the carpet, opt for the room that serves you best at the time. Apartment-dwellers should not think they have to let yoga slip just because they can't happen to find any carpeting in their apartment. A yoga mat is the best and most traditional choice anyways. If you love it, some research and added effort could lead to a room that is more than just a bedroom for you and your kid and a carpet to do floor work on.