Why Do Yoga Studios Use Mexican Blankets?

As a yoga studios owner, you would have stocked Mexican blankets in your studio and, at times, wondered, “why do yoga studios use Mexican blankets?” Mexican blankets are gaining popularity as decorative blankets for their thickness, and they’re currently the most popular blankets for yoga practice. Mexican blankets are hand-crafted and made of cotton, polyester and acrylic materials, and feature a striped weave providing excellent heating and padding for yogis. 

So, why do yoga studios use Mexican blankets? Mexican blankets are ideal for yoga classes because they are soft yet firm, have aesthetic appeal, and are easy to roll up, providing zero-hassle storage when you’re ready to tuck them away. Mexican blankets are the norm today and hence yoga studios widely use Mexican blankets.

In this article, I will discuss some essential factors surrounding the popularity of Mexican blankets in yoga studios, such as the:

• History of Mexican blankets in yoga
• Average price of a Mexican blanket
• Top 4 benefits of using a Mexican blanket for yoga
• The two types of Mexican blankets: ‘Falsa’ & ‘Serape.’
• Blended blankets vs. cotton blankets vs. wool blankets

History Of Mexican Blankets In Yoga

Mexican blankets quickly spread in yoga circles and became the norm 40-something years after their discovery by BKS Lyengar. Before their rise in popularity, pure cotton blankets were the norm for yoga practice. 

Mexican blankets do contain cotton, but they also contain polyester and acrylic materials, blending them to produce blankets tougher than the average blanket. They are very affordable, and many companies offer lower prices for bulk purchases.

Average Price Of Mexican Blankets For Yoga Studios

Mexican blankets cost $10-20 on average, depending on the quality. You can find sets of 10 Mexican blankets on the market for under $100. 

Most Mexican blankets are at least 70″ long. The length of a yoga blanket should, at the very least, match your height, and the 70″ average length means Mexican blankets are suitable for yogis of all statures.

Top 4 Benefits Of Mexican Blankets For Yoga Studios

Mexican blankets are the optimal choice for yoga enthusiasts who want to get the most from their blanket. These blankets have the highest amount of padding of any blanket, making them extra warm and comfy. They are great for yoga practitioners who prefer extra cushioning and prefer practicing flexibility on thicker blankets.

The textured weave material on Mexican blankets allows yogis to exercise barefoot and enables movements such as stretching the hands in challenging poses. 

The following are the top 4 benefits of Mexican blankets:

1. Mexican Blankets Are Fantastically Decorative

Mexican blankets are aesthetically pleasing and used for decorative purposes at home, making them some of the most beautiful blankets available. The unique mix of vibrant colors can brighten up the home environment, and you can use them for yoga practice.

Mexican blankets can brighten up the theme of a room, enhancing the aesthetics of your living room. The excellent craftsmanship of these blankets makes them more beautiful than simple yoga blankets.

Mexican blankets enhance the decor of the yoga studios and add character and vibe to the yoga studio. 

2. Mexican Blankets Are Durable

Mexican blankets are durable, and many will easily withstand years of use and washing, without the colors fading or stitching ripping apart. This durability makes them perfect for use in yoga studios.

The manufacturers make Mexican blankets with prolonged sitting in mind, and you can even use them as floor covers. If you practice for several hours at a time, you want something that keeps you warm on the floor and doesn’t tear up. A Mexican blanket will accommodate that need.

3. Mexican Blankets Are Warm

Mexican blankets can warm you up in the winter months, making them great for both inside and outside the yoga studio. If you practice on a cold floor as many yoga studios have, you can use this blanket for sitting on and warm up before a long yoga session. 

They’re also excellent for cold nights when you want to relax with a loved one and wrap yourself in a cloud of comfort.

4. Mexican Blankets Are Unique 

Mexican blankets feature excellent stitching and craftsmanship, and they come in many different sizes and colors. They have different dyed strands, giving the blanket a unique look with different colors for each strand. 

No two blankets are entirely identical; they’re all custom pieces of art (though mass-producing blanket companies might have blankets with the same basic pattern).

Two Types Of Mexican Blankets For Yoga: Falsa & Serape

The most common Mexican blanket is the “Falsa” type, which you’ll find in yoga studios everywhere. Falsa blankets are long and suitable for tall practitioners. 

The second kind of blanket, known as “Serape,” is typically decorative in nature.

The blanket you choose should depend on the purpose for which you’re using it. However, bear in mind the material and feel of the blanket are ultimately the same. Falsa is not inherently superior to Serape, and vice versa; they’re just different.

Falsa Mexican Blanket For Yoga Studios

The Falsa blanket is the most common Mexican blanket. Enter any yoga studio, and you’ll find dozens of Falsa blankets neatly stacked away. The most common pattern for Falsa blankets is the “X” pattern, but the colors vary by manufacturer.

Falsa blankets are very long, and the average length is around 75″, making them ideal for individuals of all sizes. You generally want a blanket that accommodates your height and provides extensive coverage. One Falsa blanket should cover you for years of use.

Serape Mexican Blankets

Many people use Serape Mexican blankets for home decorative purposes. Serape blankets have fringes at all ends and have bright colors. Serape blankets have openings for the head, making them similar to Mexican clothes such as the poncho.

Men typically wear serapes, but in popular culture, they are decorative pieces more than yoga equipment. Serapes are an excellent option for seated meditation purposes, and they can provide the cushioning you need for the knees. Serapes come in many colors, and if you have a preference, you should easily be able to find your ideal style.

Blended Blankets Vs. Cotton & Wool Blankets for Yoga

How do Mexican blankets stack up against pure cotton and wool blankets? 

In the past, pure cotton blankets were the norm for yoga practice. However, Mexican blankets are the most popular blankets for yoga practice.

Mexican blankets are quite similar to cotton blankets, as 1/3 of the material in Mexican blankets is cotton. However, Mexican blankets tend to be warmer, and this is why many people prefer them over pure cotton and wool blankets. They’re also roughly the same price.

Blended Blankets

Mexican blankets belong under the “Blended” label, which means they’re a mix of all these common materials: cotton, polyester, and acrylic. 

Certain manufacturers only work with recycled textiles to provide eco-friendly blended blankets.

Blended blankets tend to last longer and require the least maintenance. Maintenance is straight-forward, and you can wash them in cold water. The only part affected by continual washing is the weave.

They are also aesthetically pleasing, and you can easily use them for decorative purposes. 

Cotton Blankets

Cotton is a popular fabric for all forms of clothing, such as t-shirts, shoes, and sweatshirts. These blankets used to be the norm for yoga practice until a few decades ago. Pure cotton blankets for yoga have bright colors similar to those of Mexican blankets.

All over the world, you have cotton blanket manufacturing units. Maintenance for cotton blankets is harder than that of Mexican blankets because cotton eventually shrinks with repetitive washing. If you have to wash a cotton blanket, you’ll have to wait for it to dry naturally without heat.

Wool Blankets

Wool is the least popular for yoga, as it is scratchy and expensive. However, it’s the densest and warmest blanket material, making it the preferred choice for a minority of practitioners. 

Wool blankets typically use recycled wool, which is very soft and lasts long. Wool blankets are washed using cold water but have to be dried naturally.

NOTE: I have written an article on the color you should use to pain your yoga studio. In the article, I cover the most popular color choices for yoga studios based on a survey we conducted. If you run a yoga studio or plan to open one, give it a read!