Do You Really Need an Ashtanga Yoga Mat?

Clark has been practicing yoga for quite some timeyou're going to be moving a lot faster from pose to
and he also takes kick boxing and karate. So you canpose so it's important that you have your feet planted
tell he's pretty serious about his workouts and he'sfirmly on the floor so you can maintain your balance.
definitely someone you'd want on your side in a fight.An Ashtanga yoga mat has a non-slip surface to help
Clark's decided that it's time to move up a level or twoyou keep you feet right where they belong - firmly on
in difficulty and he's interested in Ashtanga yoga. Butthe mat.
being the macho type that he is, he wonders - is itIn most types of yoga you concentrate on breathing
really necessary to get at yoga mat? After all, it's notand relaxing and the exercises are geared to help
like he's never set foot in a gym.improve your flexibility and circulation. At the end of a
• Protection - An Ashtanga yoga workout is quiteworkout you'll feel calm and peaceful and your mind
a bit more strenuous than the standard yoga classeswill feel clearer and more focused.
Clark is used to. The movements are moreAshtanga yoga is quite different - it's energetic and
concentrated yet the transition from one pose toathletic - definitely not for the beginner. The poses help
another is quite fast. An Ashtanga yoga mat is slightlyteach strength and endurance. You'll work every
thicker than a standard mat to help absorb some ofmuscle group in your body and it's extremely
the impact and protect joints and muscles.invigorating.
• Non-skid surface - Because you're moving at aAshtanga yoga also requires a good bit of practice to
faster pace and working out even harder you're alsomove from level to level - which means it's not as
going to sweat a lot more. An Ashtanga mat has aeasy as it looks. It's entirely up to you whether you
non-skid surface to keep it from slipping and sliding outshould get an Ashtanga yoga mat or not, but exactly
from under you on the floor.how macho are you going to look if you wind up on
• Non-slip surface - All of that sweat has to endyour duff in the middle of your first class?
up somewhere and it's usually right on your mat. And