Mats – they are one of the most important pieces of equipment when practicing yoga. It is a must that you have the most comfortable, most inviting, and most colorful mats in your yoga studio.
Also, you need to take proper care of this equipment to ensure its long-term use. Yoga business owners know that this equipment can make or break the experience of your students.
However, one of the most common problems faced by yoga studio owners is how they are going to fit all their mats. The yoga studio is supposed to be a place where one can experience calm and tranquility.
That is an impossible feat if your studio is cluttered with your yoga mats and other equipment. The solution for this is to arrange your mats in a way that it could add another personality to your business space.
The preceding paragraphs are some of the ideas on how to best store yoga mats. This article also includes a primer on yoga mats like its importance in practicing yoga and the different kinds available in the market.
Yoga Mat Storage Ideas
Space is an important aspect in a yoga studio. There must be a balance between maintaining a zen environment and designing it in a way that you can still run a business like other businesses do. In short, there is still a need for office space, a reception area, and storage space on top of having the right amount of space for your classes.
Yoga Mat Cabinets
This kind of storage solution is the most traditional and most reliable. Cabinets are the best storage as it keeps your yoga mats out of sight and protected from elements that could break it. Yoga studios should be a place where people can get out of their stressful and toxic lives.
So your space should be organized and clean to inspire them to connect with their inner self. A cabinet allows you to hide all your equipment including those mats away from the eyes of your students.
Aside from helping keep your space clean, cabinets can also allow you to use your yoga mats longer. Given that most cabinets are made of either wood or steel, they are the best protection from other elements that could contribute to the easy deterioration of your mats.
Yoga Mat Display rack
Your yoga studio’s wall can be a storage space for yoga mats. It can be done by installing racks on your wall so that each rolled yoga mat is placed right on your wall. If your yoga studio lacks space, this solution fits perfectly.
You no longer need to allot extra space for cabinets or take up space that could be used as a space to conduct classes. Additionally, it does not only provide to you a place to nicely put all you mats together, but it adds another design element to your space.
Imagine your yoga mats, in different colors and texture, nicely organized on your wall. It can easily attract the attention of anyone who catches a glimpse of your yoga space.
Yoga Mat Baskets
This solution is for yoga studios looking for another design element that also doubles as a storage. Baskets are great for storing not only your yoga mats, but also other equipment used in your classes.
They are easily accessible. Students after class or during a break can just throw in their mats or other stuff into the basket. If case they need it again, they, themselves, can take it from the basket without the need for your staff to assist them. Rattan baskets or those wired ones are readily available in stores.
At times, they are available in different sizes and colors. These baskets can add another personality to your yoga studio without sacrificing much on space.
Multi-purpose furniture
Furniture has moved on from just being single use to be multi-functional. Given that more people are living in small spaces, it is not a surprising trend. Multi-purpose furniture allows you to take advantage of the limited space you have and do all the things you need done.
If your yoga studio is small then multi-purpose furniture can double as a storage space for yoga mats and other equipment used by yogis in their classes. This makes the couch in your reception area, not only a furniture where you can welcome your students, but also a space you can utilize to store valuable items used in the business.
You can even use plants in your yoga studio to help make the place brighter and more inviting.
PVC Storage for Yoga Mats
PVC is perhaps the most economic solution and creative way to store your yoga mats. It will allow you to customize your space in your own liking. It can also see you spend less as you can choose on what type of PVC should be used for storing your mats. Using this kind of storage solution would only require you to buy several pieces of PVC, cut them into a length capable of covering a rolled yoga mat, and then using your creativity to either hang them up in your studio’s wall, in a little corner of your space, or have a dedicated rack that holds all of the yoga mats protected by the PVC.
Uses of the Yoga Mat
Before we dig deep on the best practices when storing yoga mats, it is a must to understand how they are used. A proper knowledge of the use of yoga mats will enable you to be wary of folding or just leaving it in an empty space in your yoga studio.
A yogi once said that the yoga mat is more than an equipment used in the practice of yoga. Rather, it represents the space where the practitioner can escape his reality and be embraced by a stress-free and laid-back life. Yoga mats were introduced by yogi Angela Farmer. She designed it to make her yoga practice easier as she was suffering from excessive sweating of the hands and feet. Nowadays, people are using yoga mats exactly for the same reason as Farmer. These mats make it easier for anyone to easily do poses without exerting too much effort to remain stable. People who have practiced yoga on bare ground would agree with me that it takes much strength and effort to keep a pose.
Different Kinds of Yoga Mats
After having an idea of the importance of yoga mats in practicing yoga, you must familiarize yourself with the different kinds of yoga mats available in the market. It is an important aspect of managing your yoga studio as it forms part of your investment. Given such, it must be taken care properly. You knowing what kind of yoga mats are available in the market can make it easier for you to know how to keep it at its best state and how to store them properly.
The following is some of the many yoga mats used by yogis and yoga studios:
- Basic sticky yoga mats – it is the most common mat used by yogis. Its thickness usually measures from 1/8 inch to a 1/4 inch. The material used in this yoga mat tends to have a slightly sticky texture.
- Natural rubber yoga mats – this mat was one of the many natural material-made mats introduced for environmentally conscious yogis. As its name implies, it is made out of natural rubber, making it biodegradable and recyclable. The material also possesses eco-friendly and non-toxic properties.
- Cotton and hemp yoga mats – these mats provides the best cushion for yogis as they are done out of natural cotton and hemp. This kind of yoga mat is the easiest to clean among the many yoga mats available. However, one downside with cotton and hemp yoga mats is that they tend to easily deteriorate compared to plastic yoga mats. On the contrary, these mats are still as dependable as other mats especially if they were made dense and tight.
- Jute yoga mats – Jute is an environmentally friendly material, making it perfect for those who wanted a green solution to yoga mats. Material used in this kind of mat is usually sourced from Southeast Asia. Jute is a biodegradable material. Mats of this kind makes any kind of routine easier due to its natural breathing quality.
- Plastic elastonomer yoga mats – this yoga mat is still environmentally friendly despite having the word “plastic” in its name. It is free from PVC, latex, and other toxic materials commonly found in plastic. It is also one of the easiest to clean as it does not easily absorb water and moisture. Yogis and yoga studio owners, however, need to take extra caution when storing this kind of yoga mat as it easily decomposes when exposed to too much sunlight.
Clean and Clutter-free
Yoga mats play an important role in the practice of yoga. It helps yogis achieve strength and flexibility without exerting too much effort to maintain a pose. Given that, it is a must that you must take care of this investment so that it could be used longer.
Proper maintenance and storage helps in taking proper care of this equipment. Knowledge of how it is used and the different kinds of yoga mats available will make it easier for you to choose which kind of storage best fits your yoga business. Some of the storage options available for yoga studios include cabinets, wall racks, and hanging baskets. All of them capable of taking great care of your mats.
Additionally, these solutions help in keeping your yoga studio clean and clutter-free. They can also add another design element in your studio to make it stand out against your competitors. Having the right storage does not only help in protecting your equipment, but also in achieving the kind of environment ideal for practicing yoga.
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