Yoga is hugely beneficial even for people who can’t perform other types of exercise, including seniors.

There are almost too many benefits to mention, though reduced stress and anxiety, increased muscular strength and better health in general should be enough for most of us. Often, though, people don’t know where to start – giving a friend one of these when their birthday comes around may be all the impetus they need start taking better care of themselves.

This mat offers everything you’d expect from one costing several times as much. No harmful chemicals that leach out over time, thick enough to use on hard floors, and a non-slip surface on both sides.

What sets it apart from almost all yoga mats is that it comes in dozens of beautiful designs, many with some kind of symbolic meaning. This makes it a great gift for any health enthusiast, plus you could just leave one in your living room as a carpet and no-one would find it strange.

This might still not be the yoga mat for you, though. How much padding you prefer is really a matter of personal inclination: some will find holding some poses a little difficult when spreading this out on plush carpet, while others are used to a much softer surface. Equally, while the textured surface is quite grippy (as long as you clean it with a damp cloth between uses), a few people will be better off with a mat made of fabric.

As a bonus for beginners, an instruction video and app are included as well, though most yoga enthusiasts will agree that there’s no substitute for an experienced human teacher once you’ve gotten a grip on the basics.