The Best Yogi Essentials Yoga Mats for Bikram/Hot Yoga: PU Rubber and Cork
Bikram or Hot Yoga is an intense yoga style that is practiced in a heated room of around 40°C, where your body is fully challenged. Due to the high temperatures and the intense nature of the practice, you produce a lot of sweat, so grip, stability and moisture resistance of your yoga mat are essential. A good yoga mat for Bikram/Hot Yoga should not only be non-slip, but also durable and comfortable to practice on for long periods of time. At Yogi Essentials we offer two high-quality options that are perfect for this intense yoga style: PU rubber and cork. In this blog we discuss the benefits of these materials and how they can support your Bikram/Hot Yoga practice.
What is Bikram/Hot Yoga and why is a good mat important?
Bikram Yoga consists of a set series of 26 poses and two breathing exercises, performed in a heated room. The high temperature stimulates sweating, which helps detox your body, but also makes it more challenging to maintain grip during the poses. You need a yoga mat that won’t slip, even when wet with sweat, and that has enough cushioning to support your joints.
At Yogi Essentials we have two types of yoga mats that are particularly suited to Bikram/Hot Yoga: PU rubber and cork. Both materials offer excellent grip, moisture resistance and durability to help you move safely and comfortably through your sessions.
Benefits of PU Rubber and Cork Yoga Mats for Bikram/Hot Yoga
1. PU Rubber Yoga Mats: Maximum Grip and Moisture Resistance
PU (Polyurethane) rubber yoga mats are perfect for intense yoga styles such as Bikram/Hot Yoga, where grip and moisture resistance are paramount. These mats provide unparalleled stability, even during the sweatiest sessions, helping you stay firmly in every pose.
Benefits of PU Rubber Yoga Mats:
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Superior grip, even in wet conditions: PU rubber mats provide exceptional grip, even when the mat is wet with sweat. This is crucial for Bikram/Hot Yoga, where you produce a lot of sweat and need a mat that prevents you from slipping during challenging poses.
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Firm Support: PU rubber mats provide a firm yet comfortable surface that supports your joints well, especially during intensive poses such as warrior poses and balance poses.
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Durable: These mats are resistant to wear and tear, even with frequent use in extreme conditions such as heat and humidity. They retain their shape and performance, making them ideal for intense sessions.
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Professional Quality: PU rubber mats are often used in yoga studios because of their long-lasting durability and unmatched performance.
2. Cork Yoga Mats: Natural, Antibacterial and Grip-Enhancing
Cork is a natural material that is ideal for Bikram/Hot Yoga due to its unique moisture-resistant and non-slip properties. Cork mats have the property of becoming more slippery as they become damp, making them perfect for intense yoga sessions in a warm environment.
Benefits of Cork Yoga Mats:
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Better grip when wet: Cork becomes grippier as it gets damp, giving you more grip during intense, sweaty sessions. This makes cork mats ideal for Bikram/Hot Yoga, where you don’t want to lose your grip while you’re posing.
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Antibacterial: Cork has natural antibacterial properties, meaning your mat will stay hygienic even after intense, sweaty sessions. This helps keep odors and bacteria at bay.
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Environmentally friendly: Cork is a renewable and biodegradable material, making a cork yoga mat a sustainable and conscious choice.
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Firm Cushioning: Cork mats offer a good balance of firmness and comfort, helping to protect your joints during poses like downward dog and plank positions.
Which Mat Is Right For You?
Choosing the right yoga mat for Bikram/Hot Yoga depends on your personal preferences and needs. Here are some considerations to help you make the best choice:
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Grip and moisture resistance: If you are looking for maximum grip, even during sweaty sessions, a PU rubber mat is the best choice. This mat offers the best anti-slip properties, even when the mat is soaked. Cork is also a great choice if you want a natural material that becomes grippier the more you sweat.
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Natural materials: If sustainability and the use of natural materials are important to you, a cork mat is an excellent option. Cork provides natural grip, is antibacterial and environmentally friendly.
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Durability: Both mats are extremely durable, but PU rubber is particularly suitable for intensive daily use in warm, humid conditions. Cork is also very durable and offers the added benefit of natural antibacterial properties.
Conclusion
A good yoga mat can make a world of difference during your Bikram/Hot Yoga practice. At Yogi Essentials we offer a selection of PU rubber and cork yoga mats that are perfectly suited to the unique challenges of this intense yoga style. PU rubber mats offer superior grip and durability, while cork mats offer natural traction and antibacterial properties, essential for yoga sessions in hot, humid environments.
No matter which mat you choose, at Yogi Essentials you will find the perfect yoga mat to support and enhance your Bikram/Hot Yoga practice. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced yogi, our mats will help you move safely, stably and comfortably through your intense yoga sessions.
