Many people enjoy simply participating in a yoga class as a great form of physical exercise. Yoga requires students to wear comfortable clothing in which you can move easily. Many of the physical postures used in the exercises require you to stand, lie, or sit on the floor. A mat made for these exercises is usually used. Because of the physical exertion put on the bones, muscles and joints of the body, it is an excellent idea to practice yoga on a quality sprung floor.
Yoga flooring has many similarities to a dance floor used for ballet or modern dance classes. Dance floors that are safe to use consist of a sprung floor. What this means is that there is some form of cushioning between the subfloor and the surface of the dance floor, so that the floor actually absorbs some of the shock to the knees and joints when jumping or leaping movements are performed. Dancing or performing yoga exercises on a hard non-shock absorbing surface such as hardwood, for example, can over time lead to injuries to the spine and joints over time. The injury starts out very small, so the performer does not really notice the pain, but over time the damage caused by the repeated stress can be severe. It is for this reason that the yoga floor and dance floor provide the support needed by these athletes to help prevent injuries.
The surface of the yoga floor, as with a floor used for dance, should be completely smooth and free from cracks, loose boards, or any nails sticking up or adhesive residue on it. This is crucial for injury prevention. Many studios will choose to use hardwoods, such as maple or oak, for the top surface of the flooring, and then finish it with polyurethane coatings to preserve the surface. Hardwood is very durable, and is beautiful as well. Floors used for both yoga and dance require regular maintenance to keep the surface at prime, and only the appropriate dance footwear should be allowed on the floor, or barefoot for yoga classes, because dirt on street shoes can damage the floor.
The bottom line is that the same quality sprung floor in a dance studio can also be used for yoga classes. This allows both to be offered by the same studio, offering another stream of revenue from the same venue.