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mystairway2health

Choosing the Right Mat for Your Practice

Updated: Apr 24, 2019

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When it comes to yoga...your mat choice is everything!

A mat is an essential part of yoga practice. It can make a difference between experiencing a great, renewing practice time or a slippery, uncomfortable and not-so-hot one. Most yoga studios have smooth, hard floors of some kind (usually hardwood). A mat creates a personal practice space that cushions the hands, feet, and knees during poses and movement. While breaking a sweat, a "sticky" mat prevents slippage during practice. In my opinion, a good mat is ESSENTIAL!

There are hundreds of yoga mats available. They come in several sizes and thicknesses. There are countless brands. So....which mat is the best?

Depending on needs and preferences, the mat you choose will be different from someone else. For example: a tall person will want a longer mat. If weight matters, a rubber mat may not be a choice for you. If you want it to travel with, a thin mat may be all you want. If you have tender knees and joints, thickness will be something you will want to pay attention to. If you are into hot yoga and really sweat, a true anti-slip mat is going to be a top priority. All of the before-mentioned features come at a price. So, cost then becomes relevant. (Keep in mind, however, that initial price isn't always the true cost of a product.)


Here are a Few Mats that I Recommend:


Hugger Mugger: Is a local Utah company. If you live in Utah and want to support local business, this might be a deciding factor for you. Having said that, buying local is a bonus for me...not the only reason to purchase. Hugger Mugger makes a great sticky mat. (Meaning that hands and feet stay in place during practice in all kinds of poses.) Hugger Mugger offers several styles, sizes and thicknesses. (Mine is a 1/4" thick and is 74" long) They are reasonably priced and seem to be a high-quality mat. I own one of their mats and love it! It is lighter weight than my Manduka and keeps me in place during my practice. However, it is thinner than my Manduka so I need additional padding when coming to my knees. (A yoga blanket or soft block does the trick!) I need to try it out in hot yoga. It might be great for that! Below are the bullet points of the features of Hugger Mugger:

  • Lower price

  • Many styles and colors to chose from

  • Lighter weight

  • Very sticky, less slippage and "break-in" time

  • Many sizes and thicknesses to choose from

  • Local Utah company

Manduka: Is probably my favorite all-around mat. It is heavier than many mats but comes with a lifetime warranty. It is sturdy, comfortable and has plenty of cushion (mine is 6mm thick). It is heavier than some but it is not difficult to carry in a yoga bag...even walking a ways to and from class. It has become my "go-to" mat for almost all my practices. However, it isn't fantastic for hot yoga. My hands and feet slip too much. However, I don't attend very many hot yoga classes so it's a great all-around mat. Bullet points for Manduka:

  • Lifetime Warranty

  • Sturdy and thicker than many mats

  • Anti-slip, expecially after the "break-in" period

  • Available in several thicknesses and sizes

  • Many colors to choose from

  • Great all-around mat.


LuLu Lemon: this mat seems to be of high quality and is double-sided. The smooth side is great for hot yoga practices, once it's broken in. (My Manduka mat doesn't do so well for hot yoga.) This mat comes as thick as 5mm so that is adequate but there are mats that come thicker. (I like the extra padding.) Pricing for LuLu Lemon mats is in about the same price range as Hugger Mugger. It comes in several styles, colors and sizes.


There are many more brands out there than the three I have talked about here. My very first mat was made by Gaiam. It was thin, cheap and short. Not very good for holding poses. It was slippery. But, what can one expect for under $20? Gaiam does have a variety of mats and qualities, especially now. Just do your homework when selecting a mat. Any mat that is made of rubber will be long-lasting and be heavy but will give you good traction. Most rubber mats have a great warranty,too. I have noticed that Gaiam has a wide variety of styles, colors and thicknesses. Just remember, initial price isn't really what a product costs. A cheap mat may seem a bargain but it can definitely interfere with receiving a quality yoga practice.

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