Is it often challenging for you to strike a balance on your yoga room floor? Maybe it is uneven or slippery.
Or you don’t feel grounded in certain poses.
It might be because of the excessive softness or hardness of the flooring installed at your yoga space.
Sometimes, you don’t feel like doing hot yoga like Bikram yoga on those sweaty and sticky surfaces.
It means that you should consider the flooring of your yoga space. In other words, it is better to replace your home flooring with a better one.
While flooring has nothing to do with your yoga skills, movement, and flexibility, you should feel comfortable safe, and focused on the surface during your practice
The right flooring type ensures functionality and ambiance. It stays beneath our feet, back, hand, or butt in different yoga poses. A flooring also acts as the grounding force.
Do you have the right floor in your yoga room at home?
If you are not sure, here I have rounded up some ideal home flooring for yoga you can consider. Let’s get started!
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is often misunderstood as wood. But actually, it is a form of a grass plant. It is known for its strength and eco-friendliness.
It costs you $3.84 per square foot for materials and $ 4 per square for installation. It comes finished, minimizing the amount of money and time spent on installation.
Bamboo floors are a wonderful choice when it comes to resisting moisture. It is available in plenty of colors and textures. Finally, if you are required to replace the floors of your studio, you have an option to refinish them instead of replacing the entire floor.
The downside?
Bamboo floors are likely to be scratched easily. On top of that, they might not feel good in humid temperatures. So, if you are a fan of hot yoga types, this flooring is not meant for you.
Cork Flooring
Cork is obtained from tree bark. It is processed into sheets and treated in a kiln to make tiles for flooring. The material comes with a slight cushion, thanks to the soft nature of the tree it is made out from.
This way, it minimizes the injury risk if you slip and fall onto the wood. Moreover, it is antibacterial, meaning that it reduces the risk of spreading germs or infections from several practitioners.
One more thing—cork is known for its sound-inhibiting properties, making it a great choice for someone looking to practice in a calm environment. A 3mm cork can minimize noise by up to 10 decibels, thanks to the cellular composition of the cork.
Let’s talk about the issues you will likely face with cork flooring.
Cork flooring is prone to damage due to humidity and dampness. The wood starts to warp and lose its sheen due to the humidity. It might have an uneven surface due to the lump and ripple experienced by the wood.
Cork is vulnerable to sharp objects such as knives, pins, or nails. They are likely to get into the wood easily.
Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring has been gaining momentum in healthcare facilities, fitness centers, laundry rooms, schools, and other settings for its outstanding resilient surface.
First of all, rubber flooring is durable and resilient due to the natural elasticity of the rubber. It can easily absorb impact, thereby reducing the risk of injury. And it is a highly slip-resistant flooring type.
Another convincing reason to choose rubber flooring is that it is a budget-friendly option.
This flooring is available in a wide variety of designs and colors. It is easy to clean. You can install it over your existing floor.
But rubber flooring doesn’t look attractive compared to other flooring types. They are also costly but the durability of rubber floors outweighs these downsides.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate is a multilayer flooring option that mimics wood but it doesn’t come with the quality of wood such as durability. Although it has the appearance of wood, it is thinner than wood.
The thing that goes in the favour of laminate flooring is that it is quite affordable.
You need to regularly clean them to keep them long-lasting.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is a wonderful blend of laminate and hardwood types. It comes with a durable core made of several types of wood with different grains.
It can last long and doesn’t require regular maintenance. But the key selling point is that it remains stable in various temperatures and humidity, making it ideal for hot yoga sessions.
With striking features such as moisture resistance, shock resistibility, and durability, this type of flooring is a good choice for your yoga room. Engineered wood is budget-friendly compared to its solid wood counterpart. So, you can find some nice options without breaking the bank.
However, it is prone to fading and easily being dented and scratched.
How to Select the Right Flooring for Your Yoga Space?
After going through the pros and cons of the abovementioned home floorings for yoga, you must have many options to choose from. However, it might be equally overwhelming and stressful to choose the right one. You need to weigh your options or you can consult a flooring professional in your certain scenario.
However, keep these things in mind while choosing any option.
- Flooring for yoga space should not be too hard or too soft like concrete and carpet respectively. The best flooring types in this scenario are cork, wood, and bamboo.
- Make sure the flooring you choose should be easy to clean and maintain. Bamboo, vinyl, or rubber flooring is simple to wipe and waterproof.
- Safety and traction should be ensured by the flooring. After all, you don’t want to slip and fall on spilled water during your session.
- Durability is an important factor. Therefore, check the flooring for structural stability so that it can bear the weight of your body.
Conclusion
Flooring is an important part of the setting in which you perform yoga. The right flooring type supports your balance and makes you feel grounded.
While there are many options to pick from, only need to focus on safety and traction, durability, maintenance, and texture.
