Do you need a yoga mat?

I’ve been doing my morning yoga at the studio sometimes lately as I leave home early to get here and it means I beat a bit of traffic. 

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Carpet vs. Yoga Mat

At home typically I do my practice on the carpet. My studio mat is grippier and in turn makes my practice feel different - much easier.
 
I stick to the mat more, my feet and hands don’t move as much, it feels different and some of the postures are easier to do, requiring less effort from me. This is nice in one way but...

My mat is doing some of the work by sticking to me. My core isn’t as engaged in downward facing dog. My arms don't need to do as much work. My legs are less engaged and my hips can relax more in postures.

 
Take away the mat and what happens?

Take away the mat and the difference can be felt throughout the whole front of the body. Sometimes students grip the sides of the mat to hold them in downward facing dog to help prevent slipping hands. This is another way to help the mat do more of the work until over time, the body is strong enough to hold you in position.

Gradually the body will become stronger, the awareness of effort and ease will increase but without the mat, this has to happen sooner, and some postures feel harder or are not yet achievable. 

The mat helps you find ease in the pose but there is a debate to be had about how much support to take and how much taking things step by stepb with less external support is the right approach. 
 

What do you need most?

There isn't a right answer, it depends on what you need and what will help you the most. 

My teacher used to say that the mat helps you do poses that perhaps you aren’t ready for. The preparatory poses and techniques that precede some of the stronger postures should be accomplished first to ensure that the strength, stability and awareness are well established.

The ‘vinyasa krama’ of your yoga includes all the steps that need to be taken along the way, in the appropriate sequential order. Short cuts towards more difficult or complicated poses or techniques might mean that the lessons and developments available along the way are skipped.

It could be helpful in some circumstances, but could also be counter productive if they encourage you to miss the foundations of practice and along with that, the understanding and insights that step-by-step practice affords. 


What you might gain

Food for thought, especially if you are considering buying a stickier mat as your hands are slipping. Enjoy all the steps, learn from them, perhaps don't skip over them to get to the fun stuff - who knows what you could be missing out on.

Gain understandings, strength, stability and benefit from what you can do and what you can't yet do. There are insights along the way that are invaluable.