It is not infrequent that a yoga student asks about choosing a yoga mat. Sometimes, budget, physical need, or a desire to have a mat that will serve many purposes means that you grab whatever is available at the discount store. FANTASTIC! Yoga can be practiced with any mat, with no mat, with a blanket or towel, or anywhere else that you can find a place to be. Seriously. No mat shaming here! I’ve practiced with a folded blanket on a bare floor when I lent all my mats to students, and without a mat or other ground covering when I was outdoors and inspired. Yoga is flexible, even when you aren’t!
Sometimes, you commit to your practice in a way that makes you want to invest in a mat. Sometimes, you find that your mat slides on the floor, or doesn’t provide the cushion you need. Maybe your hands slip when you get sweaty, causing safety issues, or your mat rolls up in odd ways because it’s too thin for your vigorous practice. Maybe you start looking at purpose-driven yoga mats, and discover they can be a real investment, and you have no idea where to start! Start here.
In this article we’ll look at some of the most popular yoga mat producers, and my experiences with those mats.
Gaiam mats can be found almost anywhere, from your local MegaMart to your fancy online yoga stores. This company makes a wide range of mats, generally in a lower price ranage than their Big Name counterparts. Gaiam is also known for having mats available in a wide range of colors and prints. Most Gaiam mats are made of PVC, also called “vinyl”. This synthetic material allows mats to be lightweight, flexible, and soft. A PVC mat can be tossed in your washing machine for cleaning, can be cleaned with any detergent or mat cleaner, and is relatively easy to maintain. Gaiam has also expanded to make “dupe” mats from other materials, like cork and natural rubber, similar to those made by other companies but at a lower price point.
With Gaiam’s lower price point, however, come some sacrifices. PVC mats are not super durable, and may show wear quickly with heavy use. PVC also tends to get slippery when wet, so a sweaty practice might result in slipping, even when the surface is textured. The “dupe” mats are generally thinner than their original counterparts, and may not offer the same types of surfaces, even when the materials used match up.
Jade Yoga may be best known for their “Harmony” style mat, but has many styles available. Jade mats are sold online at the above link, as well as in yoga studios and specialty retailers. The solid natural rubber of a Jade mat provides sturdy cushion for hands and knees. This also makes the mat extremely durable, allowing one mat to last through many years of regular practice. These mats also have a pebbled surface to allow for grip, and to stay on the floor where you put them. Jade mats are available in a wide range of colors, as well as sizes. They offer extra-long and extra-wide mats, as well as thin travel versions that can be folded flat.
The Jade mat is also somewhat porous, meaning that it cannot be tossed in the washing machine, and should be cleaned with mat cleaner or a damp cloth after use. It will last longer with better care, such as bringing it inside when temperatures in the car might be extreme. A Jade mat can also be one of the heavier mats available, but can be rolled tightly to fit most yoga bags or mat straps.
Yoloha has made its name in the world of cork-surface yoga mats. While it may sound a bit strange, cork makes for a very nice mat! It becomes grippier when it is wet, meaning that slipping on your mat because you’re sweaty is less of a possibility. It is also somewhat soft, and comfortable for a more gentle practice. These mats have a natural rubber backing, but one that is far lighter and squishier than the Jade material. Yoloha mats are available in many styles, some with lots of rubber cushion, and some with less, depending on your needs. I used an “Aura” style – my favorite mat! They also offer a new style, the “Unity,” that combines rubber and cork on the surface, for one of the grippiest, sturdiest mats on the market! You can choose from any number of beautiful designs, or even have your mat personalized for a small upcharge. Yoloha mats are also very lightweight, with an average mat weighing just under three pounds.
Cork has its downsides, though. It doesn’t want to roll as tightly, and might not fit in your yoga bag – which is fine if you want a new one! It also requires some maintenance: don’t use your cork mat for fitness with shoes on, and certainly don’t clean it with your garden hose or power washer! Cleaning instructions come with the mat, and it’s as simple as wiping the mat with a damp cloth or an essential oil blend regularly. But it does need to be done.
Manduka is one of the “OG” yoga mat producers. Natural rubber, basic styles, lightly textured surface. The classic Manduka mat is the MandukaPro. Since then, they have adapted to the market, and created mats in many colors and styles! A classic Manduka mat is similar in weight and feel to a Jade mat – heavy, supportive rubber, not too much “give” in the support, and a surface that is grippy but can slip when wet. I prefer the pebbled Jade surface, but have several friends who swear by the wavy lines of the Manduka. These mats tend to be somewhat less porous, meaning they may last nearly forever with proper care.
I find Manduka mats to be slippery, and “harder”, if you will, than other rubber mats. Because there is less give in the rubber, my knees tend to feel sore more quickly than with other mats. They should also be cleaned only with approved mat cleaner or a damp cloth. Maintenance is just important if you’re going to invest in a mat, just like it is when you invest in a car, home, or clothing! Because the rubber is so dense, these are also some of the heaviest mats around, depending on your choice in thickness.
Do you have a favorite mat or mat style? I’ll add to this post as I try new mats, or learn about others’ experiences!
