The Mat
Around two years ago I purchased a new mat. This is the third mat I have owned. The first mat was a gift from my daughter which I wore a hole through within a year. So I decided to buy a mat that I see lots of Ashtangis use – it’s guaranteed for life and the marketing says you can pass it on to the next generation which you probably can. I like it and used it for around five years – occasionally I still use it.
If you’re like me and this may sound weird but I treat my mat with respect. I’m on it most days and it feels like a favourite pair of jeans or t-shirt. I love to get on it. I would assume that most yogis have some sort of affection, if I can use that word, for their mat.
This also may sound weird but when I was assisting with my teacher I have to, obviously, walk on other peoples mats. But when I’m practicing I make it a point not to step on other mats. It’s probably silly but when I have to go to the bathroom during practice I would take a path that I would not step on someone else’s mat. Or I’d step over if I had no clear path to the door. Yea I know I’m a whacko.
My first mat was thin and light and as a newbie my ass would get sore. This is partially because I lost 30 lbs, some of which cushioned my sitz bones. So I purchased a rug to put over the thin mat while doing seated asanas. This helped but as I said; I eventually wore a hole through this mat and had to buy a new one. Hence the guaranteed for life mat I mentioned.
This second mat was and is great – I still use it especially outdoors. It’s thick, heavy, blue (favourite colour), and protects my sitz. With this mat I eventually gave up using the rug. But I realized that a mat with extra grip was necessary. My hands and feet have reduced sensation and in certain asanas my feet or hands would slip.
So I googled best mat for grip and found my current mat. This mat is lighter, more pliable (not necessarily a good thing), and provides enough cushion for my butt. It has a coating on it that enables the grip I was looking for. The manufacturer recommends not using this mat outdoors as it can affect the coating. That’s one of the reasons I still use my blue mat outdoors.
One of the things I have learned about mats is how it feels to my hands and feet, grip is paramount to me. With reduced sensation; grip enables a sensation of connecting to my mat. It makes a big difference for me.
For example in downward dog my hands and feet are connected and are pushing and rotating into the mat. If my hands and feet slip then this asana is not connecting to all the muscles for this asana to be fully effective. The grip is all important so my hands or feet don’t move. The action of trying to rotate hands and feet activate other muscles in the body. When these actions are happening it feels like I’m connected through muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia from my hands all the way to the bottom of my feet. It’s a sensation of strength and grounding. It’s an awesome feeling.
Grip is good but it can also be bad. The first time I used this mat on the very first jump back I almost ripped the bejesus out of my ligaments, tendons, and muscles. My Achilles screamed at me. When I landed I could feel it all the way up the back of my leg. All my previous mats allowed my feet to slide a little when they landed – not this mat. The second my feet landed they stopped and all that motion came to an abrupt stop putting all that pressure on those areas.
And the other day I was doing my practice and I did a jump through which I do many times each practice. However on this occasion I let my left leg drop a little too early and it touched my grippy mat. My forward motion or inertia was immediately stopped and I fell on top of my feet. I was contorted and my ass landed on top of my crossed feet and I sprained my left big toe and broke the toe next to it.
I won’t be practicing for at least a couple maybe four weeks. It’s surprising how one toe can affect so much.
Lessons are taught in all kinds of ways and I particularly did not like this way. It’s a lesson well learned but I still respect my mat… even more so now.
Sticky mat sticky mat
Why are you doing that
Sticky mat sticky mat
It’s not your fault
(I couldn’t resist)
My mat and I are still Friends – ha.
Be safe