Yoga mats are essential for a practical yoga session yet not irreplaceable. You can find several alternative options in your home or nearby if your yoga mat is unavailable to you at this moment. Here, we will talk about those alternatives.
The primary function of yoga mats is to grip your legs and cushioning for your body so you don’t hurt yourself. Therefore, a number of things that can offer you these functions can be used as yoga mat replacements. For example, beach towels, carpets, woven blankets, bath mats, mattresses and beds, and grippy socks can be good alternatives for yoga mats.
If you are more of an outdoor person, you can practice yoga on grass lawns, beach sands, or even on rocks without using a yoga mat. Some people also consider wooden floors as an ideal surface for doing yoga. Here we will discuss them in detail.
Yoga Mat Alternatives: What to Use When You Don’t Have a Yoga Mat
Beach Towels
Towels are multipurpose tools. They offer enough friction and cushioning that you can use them for practicing yoga. Additionally, beach towels are the perfect size for a yoga mat alternative.
You can lay a few towels on top of one another to generate a firm yet comfortable base. The padding may need a bit of experiment to find the right thickness of the padding.
You can easily find beach towels near you. They are easy and comfortable to use as yoga mats. These are one of the best yoga mat alternatives you can get.
Carpets
Carpets give you enough padding to use as a yoga mat. What is more convenient is that you may not have to open it and roll it up every day.
Carpets offer heat control to a good extent and sometimes may offer better friction to help you with your balance. However, some carpets may offer too much friction, making you suffer from carpet burn.
During winter, carpets can be your best friend to help you keep exercising and preserve your shape.
Woven Blankets
If you have some extra blankets and plenty of time in your hand, you can go for woven blankets to use as a replacement for your yoga mat. Take a few of your blankets and fold them into a rectangular shape. Then wove them together to use them as yoga mats effectively.
However, do not rely on this option too much. Woven blankets are excellent options for cushioning your knees and the body. However, it may not give you much grip to control your balance. So if you are a beginner, it may be a good option for you. However, do not use this alternative if you do advanced yoga poses.
Bath Mats
Bath mats allow you to walk on wet floors with better grip and reduced chance of accidents. These mats stick to the floor and absorb moisture. Thus, you can get enough friction to grip the surface and sustain your balance.
Bath mats also give your feet a cozy feeling. However, it may not give you enough cushioning, and you can hurt your knees. However, if you do most of your yoga poses standing up, bath mats can be an excellent replacement for yoga mats.
Mattresses and Beds
If the circumstances don’t allow you to leave your bed, you can simply use your bed and mattress as your yoga mat replacement. However, your mattress needs to give you good backbone support to be used as a yoga mat replacement.
If most of your yoga poses need to be done while sitting down or lying, beds and mattresses can suit you better and help you with your pose. You may find better balance on your bed, and it can help you strengthen your core. However, make sure your bed is sturdy enough to support your poses.
Grippy Socks
Most yoga poses require a firm position of the feet, and yoga mats provide your feet with that grip. However, if your yoga mat is unavailable to you, you can bring out your grippy socks to get a firm grip.
If you are planning to do your yoga poses on marble, tile, or hardwood floors, putting on a pair of grippy socks can help you with your efficient yoga session.
Natural Outdoor Materials
Several natural materials can be used as a replacement for yoga mats.
Firstly, you can use the green grassy cushion of your lawn to perform your yoga poses. It gives you a natural sense, connects you with nature, and benefits your mind and body. However, the grass length can factor a lot in this manner. If the grass is too short, you can acquire mud from the ground. Too long, and it can get tangled and hurt your heel.
You can go to your nearby beach for yoga to get more blended with nature. The warm sand, sea breeze, and pristine marine waves can elevate your whole workout session. You can go for a dip in the sea after workouts to cool yourself as well.
Some people also prefer rock surfaces to get their yoga pose done. Natural rock surfaces may give you enough grip to preserve your balance. However, don’t choose too smooth or wet rock surfaces as they can cause sudden accidents.
Wooden Floors
If you don’t want to have extra paddings for your yoga poses, you can choose a wooden floor for your yoga routine. This is perfect if your yoga poses consist of flowing and standing poses. It helps you with great balance and a stable surface to control your balance.
You can go barefoot to have a better grip on the floor. However, if your yoga poses consist of kneeling positions, you can hurt your knees on this surface.
Bottom Line
Any material that is not slippery and gives you the right amount of cushioning can be used as a yoga mat replacement. However, too much cushioning can affect your posture and balance. So, keep the safety issues in mind while using replacements for yoga mats.
If you are practicing advanced yoga poses, makeshift yoga mats may not suit you. In such cases, get your yoga mat as soon as possible.
