If you are practicing yoga and in pain from pressure against a hard floor surface, it only makes sense that you will do it less to avoid the pain and once you have injured yourself, continuing with yoga will be more difficult. Even a very simple and unchallenging postures like Savasana, the corpse pose, are better practiced on a mat. When lying in the corpse pose and connecting with your inner self, if you are distracted by pain from the pressure of living tissue against a hard unrelenting surface, then you will not get the full benefit of Savasana. More challenging postures, like the Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, the half bridge pose, that places pressure on the back of the skull, cervical vertebrae, and shoulders, can be unnecessarily painful without proper padding under those pressure points.

Since the goal is to stretch and limber, not stress and injure, cushioning those areas so that you can flex as far as comfortably possible makes good sense. Another good idea is to have a separate pillow or smaller cushion that may be placed in sensitive areas to give more padding.

That being said, all yoga mats or exercise mats are not alike. Choosing the right yoga mat is a matter of personal tastes, necessity, and even, in the case of eco-friendly mats, a matter of personal beliefs.

The basic requirements for a good mat are as follows... 1. Non-slip. This can not be stressed enough and that is why it is at the top of the list. A mat that slips may do more harm than good.

2. Soft enough to provide adequate cushioning. Mats range from 1/4 inch foam to padded mats several inches thick that are more of a cushion than a mat. They may seem way too thick for most people, but they do help people who have physical disabilities to enjoy the benefits of yoga and also people who are just starting to practice yoga. Remember, if it feels good you are more likely to look forward to your yoga practice. Your mat should be soft enough to cushion and yet provide enough stability to allow you to maintain postures.

3. Have mat will travel? Some mats are made to travel easier. They come with a strap(s) and are made to roll into a compact easy to handle bundle. Other mats are meant to be used in one place and do not fold or roll as easily, particularly the thicker mats.

4. Construction material. What your mat is made of may be important as well. There are currently mats of many materials available. Everything from the space age materials to hemp and other earth-friendly materials may be found.

So whatever you choose for a yoga mat, keep in mind that your comfort and safety are the first considerations. Shop around and find the right one for you and don't forget that the right mat for one yoga posture or workout may not be the right one for another. Many people own several mats of varying thickness and materials.