This week our pre-class chat turned to yoga mats – which are the best? With so many out there to choose from it’s hard to decide which to buy. Here is my personal take on what works for me along with a link to an article from the chaps at Reviews.com with options and feedback on some of the best mats around.
WHAT DO I STEP ONTO IN STUDIO?
Undeniably my favourite mat is the Manduka PRO Yoga, its wider and thicker than most other mats but it does carry a hefty price tag.
The PRO is the mat I use every day and it’s genuinely indestructible. If you are looking for a mat to last a lifetime – this is it. It’s 100% latex free and is a firm favourite of teachers and students alike. If you are tall (which I am not) the extra length of the 85′ option is great and whilst it does take a little breaking in (stick with it – its worth it) it really is the best mat I have ever used. Some reviews do mention that students have found the PRO slippy at first – try giving it a wash with a salt solution and letting it air dry outside – but the best advice to is to keep using it, once the manufacture film wears off performance improves. You’ll find Manduka in our studio where my own mat is seven years old and it still looks like new. The down side? It doesn’t move from studio. Whilst brilliant, the pro is definitely not the mat you want if you are planning on carrying it about – its heavy, really heavy! If you are looking for something more portable check out the PROLite.
WHAT WILL YOU FIND IN MY CAR?
The mat you will find in my car is the Jade Harmony Professional. Thinner than the Manduka, it’s a good mat if I am teaching outside studio or on the days I feel the need to get a little ‘closer’ to the ground. You’ll find these alongside Manduka in our studio but for new students probably doubled up.
It’s manufactured out of natural rubber and the company plant a tree for every purchase which is hard to knock. If you are looking for a genuinely eco friendly mat, you’ve found it in Jade. It’s great to simply throw down and begin practice and in honesty beats Manduka hands down when it comes to grip in a sweaty class. That said in flow yoga or vinyasa where you may need to slide your feet back a little, that strong grip may not always be a good thing. My personal grouch with this mat is that the open-cell surface is a devil to clean as it seems to pick up every piece of fluff around and there is no denying that you’ll need to replace it more often that your Manduka but the price tag does reflect this. In the end, for personal use if you dont want additional cushioning, it’s a good all-rounder and worth the investment.
Remember, choosing the right mat is a little like choosing the right wine – some get better with age but in the end it’s personal choice. If you are looking for a new or first mat, take a look at what is in your studio. Next time you take a class don’t just jump on the same spot – try out a different mat and you might find a different perspective.
