What To Do If Your Mat Doesn't Provide Enough Padding
Yoga and pain- we hope these two words are not synonymous for you! If you do feel pain during any part of your practice, it’s good to let your instructor know right away. Most mats are about 1/8 inch or 3mm thick, and sometimes with added pressure or sensitivity in the area, it can almost feel like we are directly on the floor.
If you get pain when your knee is down on your mat (or both knees)- don’t fret! There are several things you can do to help get immediate relief while still being able to practice! Follow these tips to get the extra padding you need during your asana practice!
What to do if your knee hurts during yoga practice:
Fold your mat over 1 or 2 times to double or triple the amount of padding it provides. You can fold the mat from the top or from the side so there is less need to adjust where you are on your mat.
Use a folded Yoga Blanket or Towel under the area you are feeling pain. Some studios provide yoga blankets that student can use for this type of adjustment or to cover themselves up during Shavasana. It’s always a good idea to bring your own towel to a class, even if it’s a small one.
If you don’t have a yoga blanket or towel, you can use a piece of your own clothing, folded up as many times as needed to place under the area you feel pain. Socks can definitely be used as well. We always recommend layering up at a yoga class to help regulate body temperature and the layers come in handy in times like this!
If there are free mats provided and more to go around, double up! Place the studio’s mat down and lay yours on top. You’ll get more cushion that way and still be able to use your own mat! Don’t rely on this though, as another student may need it as their only mat.
If none of these are providing the relief you need or you find it annoying to consistently use extra props, then you might need a new mat. A mat is the single most important thing in your yoga practice and it may be time that you invest in one that is thicker with more padding for your direct needs. See our list of yoga mat reviews here!
One thing to further mention is that if you are still not getting relief, you may want to discuss your issue with a qualified health practitioner like a Doctor, Physical Therapist or Yoga Therapist to get properly assessed and treated. There could be an imbalance elsewhere in your body that is causing that pain, especially if it’s one sided.
We hope these tips will make a significant different to your next practice!
xx
Yoga Alignment Team
