mats
The most crucial part of yoga (besides the body!) is the mat. Grip, thickness, material, sustainability, and of course, style.
Lululemon: The Reversible Mat 5mm
Our resident hot yoga instructor loves this mat, and uses it exclusively for her practice. It’s reversible, with coordinating patterns on each side. One side has an extra layer that absorbs sweat, so your hands won’t slip (at all!) during downward facing dog, no matter how sweaty you or the mat become. The other side is great for less-sweaty practices, and has a little more cushion. The mat has an open-cell structure that creates the sweat-absorption and grip, so you’ll want to clean it with non-toxic, natural products. How we clean ours: fill a spray bottle with water and a few drops of fragrance-free, bleach-free laundry detergent, and spray all over. Then take a soaking wet cloth and scrub it down. Air-dry, and it’s good to go. As for sustainability, not so much. While we appreciate that it’s 61% natural rubber, the 15% polyurethane is what makes it so incredibly non-slip. Impact-Site-Verification: 45e9f601-6566-4aa6-a197-d6111a351f42
Manduka: eKO Yoga Mat 5mm
What we love most about this mat is the environmentally-conscious aspect. No toxic chemicals are used to soften the natural rubber, and the tree rubber itself is harvested with sustainable practices. The grip may not be as impeccable as the Lululemon mat, but the fact that your face isn’t pressing against chemical components in child’s pose is definitely worth something. Plus, the patterns are chic, and most won’t show sweat. It’s a closed-cell mat, which means it won’t absorb whatever you use to clean it with. We clean ours with any non-toxic spray cleaner designed for yoga mats.
JadeYoga: Harmony Mat
We love that this company’s mission comes through with this mat. While it’s not the best for hot yoga or sweaty palms (the closed-cell structure doesn’t absorb moisture) it IS great for giving back. JadeYoga plants a tree for every mat sold, and donates to certain causes and charities depending on the color of the mat you choose. Their 4.7mm Harmony mat is made from natural rubber and created sustainably, and works really well for the less sweaty among us. We clean ours by filling a spray bottle with water and a big splash of white vinegar, then spraying the mat liberally and wiping it down with a damp cloth.