A Guide to Yoga Practice With Carpeted Floors
with or without a mat
The yoga mat has become the quintessential symbol of yoga, and it is the one ubiquitous possession of a yogi.
Yet, the yoga mat, as we know it today, is a relatively recent phenomenon.
What if you have a carpeted floor – do you still need a yoga mat?
This is the question we address in this article, which is essentially your guide to a yoga practice when you have carpeted floors.
We also talk about if you really need a mat, how to do yoga when you have carpets but not a mat, if it is even possible to use a yoga mat on a carpet, and how to choose one.
Do you need a yoga mat if you have carpeted floors?
You do not need a yoga mat if the floor is carpeted. A carpet can provide a cushion for the joints to avoid any pain, prevent the hands and feet from slipping, and provide a stable surface to practice on.
However, there are pros and cons to using the carpet instead of a yoga mat for your practice.
Carpets can be thin and give you less grip than a yoga mat. Learning to balance can take a bit of time.
Practicing directly on a carpet is more suitable for those with some experience in yoga as they have better balance and can avoid the risk of slipping.
Because yoga also involves sweat, practicing without a mat or a towel on the carpet means that all sweat goes onto the carpet.
A carpet is also not the cleanest of surfaces, attracting dust and hair from the environment.
Unless you are cleaning the carpet regularly, which can be a task in itself, it can be unhygienic to do yoga on it directly.
What are some things to take into consideration when practicing on a carpet,
Let’s find out…
How to do yoga when you have carpet and no yoga mat
If your yoga practice is on a carpeted floor instead of a mat, here are some tips that you can follow to ensure a safe and empowered practice:
1. Use a yoga towel
When you are doing yoga on a carpet, a common concern is about the lying-down poses because carpets usually attract sweat, dust, and hair, and you might not want to lie down on that surface.
An easy solution is to use a yoga towel.
It enables you to do the standing poses directly on the mat.
For sitting down and lying down poses, you can spread out the towel and practice on it.
2. Wear full clothes
This is an alternative to using a yoga towel.
If you do not have access to one, wearing full leggings and a long-sleeved shirt can protect most of your body from coming into contact with the surface.
3. Take the support of a wall
When doing standing poses, if you feel that the carpet does not provide as much grip as you would need, it is ok to take the support of a wall.
You can also take the help of a wall in poses like a downward-facing dog and create a variation to achieve the same results of lengthening the spine.
4. Modify your practice
Depending upon the grip that your carpet provides, feel free to modify your practice so that you can find the right balance.
Also, take note of how thick the carpet is. If it is thin, doing poses that put weight on the joints, knees, and elbows specifically can feel painful.
If that is the case, avoid these poses or use some padding underneath to protect your joints from potential pain and discomfort.
If you feel avoiding certain poses cuts down the duration of your practice, one alternative is to hold the asanas that you can do a bit longer.
5. Do a sitting down version of Savasana
Savasana or Corpse pose is how we relax after our yoga practice.
It is an integral and imperative part of the practice and should not be missed, even if you are doing yoga on a carpet that you would not like to lie down on.
A possible solution is to do sitting Savasana.
You can use a chair, some blankets, or a pillow for your Savasana.
Though not as appealing as the real version, it will benefit the body by profoundly relaxing it after your yoga practice.
Can you use a yoga mat on the carpet?
You can use a yoga mat on a carpet, though it is not necessary to use one. If you wish to use a yoga mat, it is crucial to make sure that it does not slip over the carpet, as that can cause injuries.
If you have a mat that slips on the carpet, one option is to use a rug underneath to provide a coarse surface for the mat to fix.
The other option is to find a mat that is specifically meant for use on a carpet. Let’s take a closer look.
Do you need a yoga mat specifically for carpet floors?
Yoga mats that create a good grip avoiding slippage and creating a firm and fixed surface for you to practice are ideal for carpeted floors.
Commonly used yoga mats are made from synthetic and PVC/vinyl, respectively, which is known for moving around when on top of a carpeted floor.
Here are some factors on which you can judge your yoga mat when using it on a carpet:
Strong Grip
An excellent way to judge a yoga mat that will not slip on the carpet is to look at its underside and assess it for its grip.
If it has tiny grooves, it will most likely fix itself on the carpet and not slide around.
Denser Material
Rather than going for a thin-looking mat, choose something firmer, denser, and stiffer.
This translates to opting for a natural material like rubber or cork instead of the more scattered PVC.
Mat thickness
The last factor to consider is the mats’ thickness.
If the mat is too thin, it will have a tendency to sink into the carpet, thereby not providing enough support.
You need something thicker that can take your weight and not sink into the floor, thereby providing the essential support to your body.
What is the best yoga mat thickness for carpet?
The ideal yoga mat thickness for carpet use is around 6 millimeters. Though suitable for hard surfaces, Slimmer mats might slide and bunch up when used on carpeted floors.
Top 3 best yoga mats to use on carpet
Yoga mats come in all shapes and sizes. Over time, we usually tend to develop a preference for a certain kind of mat, whether it be about the thickness, material, or texture.
But when choosing a mat to use on your carpet, you need something suitable for the purpose.
Here are our top 3 picks if you are looking for yoga mats to use on a carpet.
Manduka Pro Yoga Mat
This mat provides ultra-dense cushioning for the joints and back and is uniquely formulated so that its grip improves with every use.
It is non-slip and provides greater stability, even on surfaces like carpets. And, it is also eco-friendly, non-toxic, and 100% latex-free.
IUGA Yoga Mat
This is a great mat when it comes to affordability, functionality, and carpet friendliness.
It has double-sided non-slip surfaces, which makes it ideal for carpet use, and a particular pattern on the underside, which prevents it from sliding and helps you from slipping.
It is 6mm thick and lightweight, which makes it perfect for lying on and be carried along.
Heathyoga Eco-Friendly Non-SlipbeingmakingYoga Mat
This mat comes with an in-built alignment system.
These are alignment lines that help you focus and adjust your hands and feet to the accurate position and keep your body properly aligned.
Its 6mm thickness offers the most comfortable experience.
The double-sided non-slip texture structure design provides optimal grip and excellent cushioning.
It is eco-friendly – no latex, no PVC, no heavy metal.
Conclusion
To use a mat or not to use a mat is not the critical question.
Creating a practice independent of the constraints you might be facing and instead adapting to them is the key to the matter.
For the rest of us mortals, this is a great video to watch that talks about using a yoga mat on a carpet.