Looking to level up your yoga routine? Choosing the right yoga may play a pivotal part in how confident and comfortable you are in your practice. When first getting into yoga, it can be overwhelming trying to select the appropriate mat. Is there a difference in material? How thick should my mat be? What texture provides the best grip? All of these factors can vary from person to person, but the general idea remains the same: find the mat that fits best with what is most important in your practice. I can only offer my humble opinion and hope that this information helps in your decision making process!
While there are many factors when considering a yoga mat, the top three to focus on are cost, grip, and design. Before we dive into the good stuff, take a quick moment to reflect on your practice and what needs you want your mat to meet. Make a short list of your highest needs that impact your current practice. Things to consider might be current level of practice, what you use yoga for most, injuries, type of yoga practiced most, perspiration of hands and feet, and so on. Let these guide you in your decision making process.
Cost
Cost is the most important factor in choosing your yoga mat. You can find mats from $10 to well over $100, how much you are willing to spend on your yoga mat largely depends on the level of your practice. Before you dive head first into an expensive mat, first figure out how much you like/practice yoga and what you will be using your yoga mat for most.
My first yoga mat was a cheap, basic mat that I got for ten bucks at Ross. That baby lasted me for years before I upgraded! And although it was nothing spectacular, it worked. I used it for yoga, home workouts, and now my dad uses it in the garage when he needs some extra padding while working under his cars.
Starting out, go for the cheap option.
Once your practice has developed and you are able to identify more finite needs in your practice, then research and upgrade when you’re ready. It took two years before finally getting the mat I currently have. I wanted to make sure that it really was going to be the right fit for my practice. My highest need was the grip so I researched and researched and researched until I finally found one that fit that need and checked off some of my other boxes. Let me tell you, having a mat that satisfied my need for grip allowed me to deepen my practice more than I realized I could. Since I was no longer focusing on how much my hands were slipping in downward dog, I could actually relax and allow myself to enjoy it and get the most out of the pose.
Find a price point that you are comfortable spending on a mat, identify your highest priority needs, then research which will be the best fit. And the best part? You can always upgrade when you are ready.
Grip
Grip is a very close second to cost when considering when selecting a yoga mat. Think otherwise? Go do a downward dog with sweaty hands and feet… good luck! While there is the option of using a yoga towel for some extra grip, they are more useful in a hot yoga practice than in an every day practice. Selecting the appropriate grip for your practice largely depends on how much you are willing to spend on a yoga mat. The best grip on a yoga mat can be found with a triple digit price tag and as that price decreases, so does the quality of the grip. There are many great options at affordable prices and the best way to determine which kind of mat will work best for you is to hop online and read reviews. Reviews provide honest insight into what the mat actually offers, you can find the reviews on the retailer’s website or you can ask your local yoga teachers. Some studios have mats available for rent, renting a mat is a great way to try out different options at a low cost to see what kind of material and grip is going to accommodate your practice best.
Also keep in mind the conditions in which you will be practicing the most. If you attend hot yoga frequently, you may want to explore mats that have grip even when things get hot and sweaty. If your practice largely consists of slower styles, like yin or nidra, you may opt out of extra grip and go for a thicker mat.
Your style of practice and your high priority needs will be the most important factors in determining the level of grip of your new mat.
Design
Coming in as our third most important factor is the design of the mat. Design encompases the size, shape, thickness, and visual appearance of the mat. The standard yoga mat has a rectangular shape, 3.3mm thickness, and varies in pattern and color. This is a great starting point for most who are beginning their yoga journey.
When it comes to determining the thickness of your mat, consider any injuries, tender joints, and the location that you practice most. My knees have been used and abused so I need extra padding when I am on the ground for longer periods of time. The mat I use most frequently is thinner than your average mat, so I will layer it up with a thicker one to make sure that my knees are properly protected. A little extra padding also is great for a relaxing Savasana. 😉
Shape and size are pretty standard across the board. You will encounter some circular yoga mats which are very fun if you like to free flow and move around a lot, but for most of your traditional yoga sessions a rectangular mat will be just fine. There is a bit more variation in size of yoga mat, most people can fit on your standard mat. If simply like more room or will be using your mat for exercise just as much as yoga, I recommend looking into a larger size. Most of the larger sized mats you can find online or will need to special order.
When it is time to step onto the mat, you want to be excited and love the mat that you practice on. The visual appeal of your mat needs to be something you like but also calms you down. Some people love bright colors and designs, but those tend to distract me so I tend to gravitate towards cooler, more neutral colors and calming designs. Whatever speaks to you should benefit your practice by setting the mood for your practice rather than distracting you from it.
With all that considered, here are a few of my favorite mats by category.
Best Overall
Liforme. My Liforme mat is the best mat I have ever used. These mats have a hefty price tag, but it is worth every penny because of the high quality, thoughtful design, AND it’s eco-friendly. I would only recommend this mat to those who have practiced for a while and are comfortable spending more on a mat upgrade.
The mats come in various colors and all have the same geometric design to help guide and improve the form of your postures. The grip is hands down the most amazing grip I have experienced, both with dry and sweaty hands. These mats are also a bit longer and wider than your standard yoga mat so you will have a bit more room to expand your practice.
Best Design
Form Yoga Mats. I LOVE my Form yoga mat. Similar to the Liforme mat, these ones have amazing grip for both dry and wet practices as well as beautiful geometric designs to help with form of postures. This is the yoga mat that I bring to all my studio classes because it is lightweight, rolls up pretty small, and is easy to carry around.
What sets these ones apart is their variety of shapes and their incredible visual appeal. Just go scroll through their website and you will see what I mean. I have the evergreen mat and each time I step on to practice I am immediately transported to a tranquil tropical jungle.
If you want to practice on the beach with crashing waves, they have a mat for that.
If you want to practice in the galaxy amongst the stars, they have a mat for that.
If you want to take your practice in all directions (literally), they have circle mats for that.
These mats are beautiful, functional, and reasonably priced!
Best Versatility
PogaMat. Poga mats are an amazing hybrid of yoga and exercise mat. Their sizes are what distinguishes them from all others. If you had a big and tall shop for mats, this would be it.
Poga mats are great because they provide additional thickness to help cushion the joints and make for a super comfy Savasana. There are multiple size options, their smallest mat is still longer than your standard yoga mat and their largest mat can comfortably fit three people. These mats go on sale pretty frequently and you can get some discounts for bundling different items.
For an additional 10% off, use discount code: KELSEYANNYOGA
Whichever mat you choose, always let the needs of your practice guide you. Sometimes you may have to try out several different mats before you find the one that fits best with your practice. As you continue your yoga journey you may end up with a collection of mats that you can pick and choose from depending on your style of flow from day to day, lend to friends, and provide additional comfort for those that practice with you. At the end of the day, yoga mats are there to add to your practice with comfort, reliability, and ease. May the best mat win!