really? your knees are bruising? that seems unusual.. there's no knee pads that I know of so maybe you can just get a thicker mat?

I have a really thick mat and it's great

Hmm nope I have not heard of knee pads. Maybe you could just put together something homemade? Seems like it would be pretty easy to do

Usually a mat does it for me. Is there a thicker mat for yoga perhaps so it won't be so hard on your knees?

In the yoga class I attend we use sponge blocks or a folded blanket under the knees if we need to, but just in asanas where our knees touch the floor and it's hurtful.

There's non need to feel pain or discomfort when practising yoga, with time you will no longer need those props, but if now you need them you should most definitely use them.

Get a thicker mat.

as you get stronger you might not put so much weight on your knees so this might be a teething thing - why not try a folded towel under them for now

dont put your weight on the knee cap itself. adjust yourself until it feels comfortable. and i used to fold my mat or put my towel under my knee.

listen to the pain.. make adjustments when needed.. bruising will go away if you keep practicing.

www.rickytranyoga.com

Everyone summed it up I guess, I agree, thicker mat and a folded blanket will do the trick. You may already be using a folded blanket for support during lotus.

Or you can simply fold your mat under, depending on which pose you're in. My knees are not super sensitive but if we are going to do a lot of work from kneeling, I'll fold my mat over a few times to create a little padding.