Can You Do Yoga On Carpet? Pros And Cons Of Yoga On Carpet

As most yogi wannabes will soon discover, yoga is a physical exercise, even though its level of intensity will vary depending on what style of yoga you participate in. When you start practicing yoga at home, you will immediately notice that the surface beneath your yoga mat is different to the surface you might have experienced in the yoga studio - a big difference can be if your home is carpeted. As so many of us have carpeted homes, let's explore the pros and cons of practicing yoga on a carpet.

Is Doing Yoga on Carpet Bad?

As well as trying to avoid the yoga carpet burn, here is why you might like to reconsider practicing yoga on your carpet! It is not necessarily that doing yoga on a carpet is bad, but it is perhaps not ideal. There is a reason, after all, why yoga practitioners practice on yoga mats. Although a carpet can be a more comfortable surface for the body, it can provide changes to your yoga practice. It will be harder to find grip and connection to the ground in asanas which can cause an extra challenge for you in your practice. It is also harder to balance on carpet. Perhaps carpet could be good for doing more restorative or yin-like practices, but for more dynamic based yoga practices, a carpet is extremely challenging.

Is It Harder to Do Yoga on Carpet?

This question depends on the style of yoga you are practicing. Maybe yoga for you is sitting and meditating and doing a few gentle poses, and if this is the case, you will be fine on a carpet. If you have a physically intense yoga practice with lots of movement, it is going to be harder on a carpet. This is because the surface is soft and uneven, so it is harder to find balance and support in asanas. You might also find that if you are using a yoga mat on the carpet, it could slip around and it might be hard for the mat to stay in place throughout your practice. Ultimately, what makes the yoga harder is your ability to concentrate, focus and relax into the asanas.

Pros of Yoga on Carpet

• Comfort - soft, comfy carpet to lie down on!
• Kind on the joints - protecting the knees from harsh surfaces
• Can help you relax knowing that you have the ultimate comfortable surface underneath you - you can let go and release with ease
• Can improve your balance - as you are working on a more challenging surface, in the long run it can actually improve your balancing skills

Cons of Yoga on Carpet

• Carpet burns - try rolling over your toes from upward dog to downward dog in an Ashtanga practice. Not ideal!
• Harder to concentrate and focus - if you are focusing more on working with the carpet, then it is more challenging to just get on and do the yoga
• For the handstanding yogi - your balance in a handstand will be completely different - it is harder to get balanced
• Asana will be harder - you will have to engage the muscles even more consciously to prevent you from slipping and sinking deeper into the poses - even relying on your flexibility and not using strength within the poses.

Do You Need a Yoga Mat If You Have Carpet?

Using a yoga mat on a carpet can give you a perfect combination of comfort combined with the grip and surface you need to practice yoga efficiently on. Realistically speaking, it is not going to be possible to feel your way into every asana if you are only using a carpet - in fact it would be quite tricky. Just adding the extra surface of the yoga mat will help you to protect your body and your joints and will allow you to find the ease you are looking for in your home yoga practice.

Tips for Doing Yoga on Carpet

• If you are going to do yoga on a carpet, chose a practice which is suitable for the carpet such as yin or restorative
• Focus on your breath
• Use your feet and hands to gain grip and connection to the floor
• Use the surface of the carpet to give you more information about your practice; what is it that you feel?

Do You Need a Yoga Mat If You Have Carpet?

Using a yoga mat on a carpet can give you a perfect combination of comfort combined with the grip and surface you need to practice yoga efficiently on. Realistically speaking, it is not going to be possible to feel your way into every asana if you are only using a carpet - in fact it would be quite tricky. Just adding the extra surface of the yoga mat will help you to protect your body and your joints and will allow you to find the ease you are looking for in your home yoga practice.

Best Yoga Mats for Carpet

You will find that any yoga mat will work adequately on the carpet. But it is best to select a mat which has a good size thickness, say 4.2mm - 6mm, then at least you can be assured the mat has enough weight to stay in place out on the carpet. Rather than a fabric mat, you will be better with a mat made of a PVC material.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Keep My Yoga Mat from Slipping on Carpet?

The truth is you probably can't stop your yoga mat from slipping a little on a carpet! It is the nature of the two materials together so you either have to grin and bear it, or find a different surface to practice on.

How to Avoid Carpet Burns While Doing Yoga on Carpet?

Go slowly and softly, work mindfully and try not to rush your yoga practice.