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Sticky mats

Question:

So a sticky mat isn’t absolutely necessary?

It depends on your carpet! Try it w/o a mat and see what happens. I don’t get good traction on my carpet, so the sticky mat w/ cotton rug are necessary.

Response:

Can sticky mats be used on carpeting?

Yes. It can give you a better surface than your carpet. I’m one of those people who slide all over a sticky mat, so I use a cotton Mysore mat on top of my sticky mat. You can use a towel too, but the cotton mat stays in place better.

Response:

So a sticky mat isn’t absolutely necessary? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes, it will help from sliding such in downward dog (especially on top of a carpet). In other poses however where you may want a sliding motion to occur, it might get in the way. Good luck. Can sticky mats be used on carpeting? I am new to yoga and want to start practicing at home. Thanks. Sarah

Response:

So a sticky mat isn’t absolutely necessary?

Exactly. Many people prefer not to do asanas on a sticky mat for many reasons. One reason is that many people do not like the sticky mat (synthetic) material (they prefer tight and thick woven cotton). For some like me, a thick wool or cotton rug is mostly preferred. Other times I may prefer to work on a hard wood floor directly. It depends on the asana and the effect that your system at the time desires. I started yoga at a time where wood floor studios and Iyengar studios were non-existent (in the West) so my practice was either on a carpet (indoors) or outside on a blanket over thick grass. I got used to that. Also I love carpets because it gives me a lot of room for spontaneous play — I am not limited to a rectangle but am free to move in any direction at anytime as the breath may moves me. As you can gather, my practiced is inner directed –and cultivates the innate natural and spontaneous wisdom and powers. Ashtanga yogis (as taught by Jois) need traction also, but also sweat alot and some sticky mats slip more easily than others, but a tightly woven cotton rug is often put over their mats in many poses to avoid that. However, the sticky mat is light weight and good for traction, such as in downward dog where the feet may unwantedly slide in the opposite direction than the hands, but in such poses as upavista konasana you want the feet and legs to slide out from the buttocks and even the sitbones spread while a mat often creates resistance. There are many poses in which resistance between joints is lessened by utilizing the sliding effects from a carpet or rug. A mat also helps to protect the body when practicing other poses on a wood floor (for that I like a thick mat or carpet). Traditionally, yoga asanas were done on thick grass (often  matted) called kusha grass (very cushi :-) , on carpets, rugs, blankets, deer, or tiger skin. Hari Om

Response:

Can sticky mats be used on carpeting? I am new to yoga and want to start practicing at home. Thanks. Sarah

sarah, yes, sticky mats are fine on carpeting. mike

Response:

Hi Sarah Yes.  It will keep your feet from sliding.   If you’re sweating, put a towel over the mat.  Otherwise, it’s not necessary to have a towel.  You may find some poses are better with the mat and some without.  Try it and see! Amy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can sticky mats be used on carpeting? I am new to yoga and want to start practicing at home. Thanks. Sarah

Response:

Can sticky mats be used on carpeting? I am new to yoga and want to start practicing at home. Thanks. Sarah

Response:

Yes, it will help from sliding such in downward dog (especially on top of a carpet). In other poses however where you may want a sliding motion to occur, it might get in the way. Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can sticky mats be used on carpeting? I am new to yoga and want to start practicing at home. Thanks. Sarah

Response:

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