| You've all seen the movies with some big macho guy | | | | little bit of padding provided when using a yoga mat |
| practicing yoga positions or Tai Kwan Do or some | | | | helps cushion the impact and protect your knees and |
| other ancient art in his bare feet, with no shirt while he's | | | | back. |
| standing on a bed of gravel. My friend Rob has, too. | | | | Safety for everyone - Can you imagine how |
| Rob just started taking beginner yoga classes and he | | | | slippery that gym or studio floor would be if everyone |
| has a question even I couldn't answer - even though | | | | was sweating to the oldies without a mat to soak it |
| I've been taking yoga for years. Why do you need a | | | | up? Can you say "Slip sliding away"? |
| yoga mat anyway? Those tough guys on TV never | | | | Safety for you - A yoga mat generally has a |
| use one and you're certainly just as macho as they | | | | non-slip surface on the bottom that prevents the mat |
| are. Probably more so since you don't need someone | | | | from getting away from you and sliding around on the |
| to sort your M&Ms for you before you can eat them. | | | | floor. It also has a non-slip surface on the top that help |
| Sanitation - One of the main reasons you need a | | | | YOU stay on the mat - especially when it's wet. |
| yoga mat is for sanitation purposes. Can you imagine | | | | You're free to either use a mat or not use one when |
| what would be hanging out on the floor at the gym or | | | | you're practicing yoga in your own home. And many |
| yoga studio if no one used a mat? You'd have the | | | | people prefer to feel nothing but the ground - however |
| combined sweat from dozens of bodies every day | | | | gravelly it might be - beneath their feet. If you're one of |
| just building up and waiting for a chance to over | | | | those macho types then by all means, skip the mat. |
| power you with some sort of deadly disease. | | | | However, most gyms and yoga studios require that |
| Cushion - While yoga is essentially a low impact | | | | you use one for sanitary and safety reasons. It's for |
| activity, especially when compared with aerobics or | | | | your own protection so if you want to be a macho |
| karate, there's still some risk to muscles and joints. The | | | | guy you'll have to do it outside the gym. |