Stinging spots on knees after yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I am just a keen beginner but am experiencing one off-putting problem. Immediately after even a very short practice, I develop raised red spots on my knees (the spots correspond to the small bumps on my yoga mat). They then start to sting and last for several days.

Other students with exactly the same yoga mat do not experience this.

I am slightly overweight (about 9 kilos/20 lbs). (But other students are more overweight).

My instructor is baffled.

I don’t feel any pain or stinging while I am actually doing the poses, but it begins immediately afterwards. It happens so quickly. Today at home I just practised one full round of Sun Salutation … and the spots appeared.

I realise I need to remember to put some kind of padding under my knees to prevent this …but also wonder why is this happening to me and not others using identical mats to do identical yoga poses???

#2

Could it be an alergic reaction to some of the chemicals in the mat? Doesn’t sound like it is what your doing, but what postures do you do?

Im sure it’s not posture related, but im no expert.

Any one else?

#3

I hadnt thought of that. Yesterday practising at home all I did was a round of Sun Salutation, so I was only on my knees for a very very short time indeed. I was wearing shorts so my knees came into direct contact with the yoga mat.

Previously I have worn long yoga pants to classes, which have produced the same spots (but of course I have done more poses).

I washed the mat recently using the same handwash product I use for delicate laundry, so it cannot be an allergy to that. It must be the mat itself …

Only my knees are affected. Hands and feet dont show any problem.I’ve always had sensitive knees …I don’t like kneeling. I am wondering if there are tiny blood vessels close to the surface? Really dont know anything about this type of thing. Its definitely the shape of the mats surface…still red and sore today.

#4

What happens if you get one of your bed sheets, and do some simple kneeling postures on that. Do you still get the spots?

I am thinking if you get no problems with your bed sheets, then maybe we could disprove the knee postures by using a known safe material as a test!