The most important item for your yoga pose is a yoga mat. To add to the life of the mat, a way to protect a mat is to always put it in a safe place like a yoga bag.
First of all, the reason why yoga mat is such an essential item to your exercise is because it will keep you stabilized your yoga poses. Good yoga mats will fit to the floor perfectly with out any wrinkles on the front face of the mat. It will be able to help you to smoothly slide your lower body, stabilize your arms, or comfortably maintain a Standing Pose without slippage.
Secondly, take into consideration that the thickness of the mat might help you. Are you concerned about a chronicle physical pain or a knee pain? A thick mat should give you enough cushion to better protect any recent or recurring pain. However, before starting anything, it is always best to consult with your yoga teacher who can give you better guidance.
To lengthen the life of a yoga mat, it is best to keep it secured and clean by always storing it in a yoga mat bag and to wipe it down every now and then. During your practice, you will surely pick up filth and hairs from the practicing room. A simple way to clean your mat is to use a recycled rag with a mild soap to rinse your regularly used mat.
