How to Choose a Yoga Mat
By Theresa Shay
My first yoga mat was turquoise. That’s all I remember about it, besides that by the time I disposed of it, threads hung from every edge, chunks were missing from the top layer, and permanent hand and feet marks made it look like I never cleaned my mat.
My first “professional” yoga came to me by bribe. I wanted to establish a daily yoga practice when I moved to Central Pennsylvania in the final months of 1999. I told myself if I practiced for 40 days, I would buy myself a Manduka mat. Five of the seven mats I now own (not including the 12 in my attic) are this brand.
Manduka Mats
Manduka makes durable, functional, and very heavy mats, especially if you go with their PRO mat style. If you think Cat Bows make you strong, carrying these mats around will make you stronger. I love how Manduka mats stay put no matter what kind of surface I am working on and give sufficient cushioning for my knees even on a hard floor. They also remain flat when I roll up to Natural Seat. Manduka mats last forever. The Black Mat PRO that I purchased over two decades ago does not have a single mark showing wear. A Manduka mat is expensive but you won’t ever need to replace it.
Lighter Mats
Many companies make yoga mats that are meant for yogis on the go. Manduka has a PROlite® mat, which I used when I directed three yoga studios in the State College area and was always traveling from one studio to the next. I use my PROlite® mat when I fly to yoga events. Tapas mats, from Hugger Mugger, are another simple, well made choice. When we opened the yoga studio in Bellefonte, I purchased Tapas mats in a variety of colors for the studio. Tapas mats also last a long time. They look like the mats you pass at the end cap in the grocery store or at the box store, but they are a big step up in quality.
Environmentally Friendly Mats
Mats made of naturally sourced materials speak to my environmentally conscious side. I’ve tried Manduka’s eKO mat and I own a cork mat. I don’t use either of them, however. The rubber mat has an overpowering smell that reminds me of the tire store and give me a headache. I aired mine out, laid it in the sun, washed and rewashed it, sprayed it with essential oils, but I was never able to relax on that mat. Cork mats have come to me with promise, but my hands slip too much on the cork surface. I tried to “break it in” to get the grip I needed, as the packaging promised, but I never stopped slipping. I sometimes use my cork mat for photo shoots because the mandala on mine makes me smile, but that’s about it.
The Mat That Works
When I teach online, I use a mat from Retrospec. I’ve never known anyone else who’s used this brand of mat. I bought it blind for one reason: it was the only beige yoga mat I could find. Some months into the pandemic when I began teaching yoga on Zoom, I realized I needed a light-colored mat because my dark yoga pants were indistinguishable from my dark yoga mat and students could not see my alignments. The Retrospec mat is fine, but truth be told, when I’m not teaching yoga on Zoom, I toss the mat to the side and roll out my Manduka.
The best yoga mat is the one that works for the need you have. Maybe you have super slippery hands and require a mat with the grip of Godzilla. Maybe you have an allergy and need a mat made without the ingredient that makes you break out. Maybe your aunt is a weaver and has given you the most exquisite yoga rug, you never want to use a sticky mat again. Like we say in TriYoga®, there are many ways to flow. Explore, experiment, pay attention, and when you find the mat that works for you, trust yourself that you have found the best mat in the world.
Note: The views expressed here are my own opinion. I am not an affiliate or representative of any of these companies and received nothing in exchange for reviewing their product.
Theresa Shay is the founding director of TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania, where she teaches weekly yoga and meditation online and trains others to teach TriYoga®. Each week, she shares wisdom cultivated from decades of TriYoga study and practice.
Learn more about her here. Theresa can be reached at Theresa@PennsylvaniaYoga.com. Find her on Instagram @theresa_of_triyoga for more inspiration and light.