Should I Use a Mat Towel When Practicing Yoga?

If you are one of the many folks that your palms andmat after each yoga practice, even if you use a Yoga
soles of your feet get sweaty during your Yogatowel, as that well help to maintain a hygienic
practice and end up sliding all over the mat, causingenvironment.
you to lose traction with the mat, a Yoga towel couldYoga mat towels come in may different colors and
be of great benefit to you. The towel of course doesweights and are available from a number of different
not stop you sweating, but it does absorb the sweatbrands. I personally like the ones with the silicon dots
and provides a surface that gives you more of a grip,underneath as that really does stop the towel from
and that prevents you from slipping. This not onlymoving on the mat.
makes your Yoga practice more comfortable, it alsoOnce you decide to invest in a Yoga mat towel, the
makes it much safer. It really is essential for eitherfollowing is very important:
Bikram yoga, or fast-paced Astanga style powerFirst of all, the towel should be washed at least twice
yoga.before you use it. As always wash colors separately,
An additional reason to use a Yoga mat towel,do not use bleach and tumble dry on low heat.
whether you are sweating or not during your yogaSecondly, the ideal place to put your Yoga towel is on
practice, is that the mat towel acts as a hygienic layer,your mat, but you can also use the towel by itself on a
almost a barrier between you and the mat itself. This issoft surface such as a carpeted floor.
especially important if you are using a community matFinally: Place silicon dot side down on top of your yoga
as the towel will provide extra protection from possiblemat. You can now enjoy your Yoga session without
skin infections. In any case, you should wipe down theslipping and sliding all over the mat!