I get asked occasionally ‘what is the best yoga mat?’. Rather than recommending a specific brand (although I am going to mention a some), I usually recommend yogis consider a few things when they’re choosing their mat. It’s not just about ‘what is the best yoga mat?’, ‘but what is the best yoga mat for you?’.
Thickness
For my first yoga teacher training which was a one month long 200-hour training course in India – I brought a regular run of the mill mat along, I gave no consideration really as to how long I was going to be spending on it, on a wooden floor. Big mistake and my bones did not thank me. While most of us aren’t going to be on the mat for hours a day, it’s still good to have a little bit of padding – but not too much either as trying to balance on one leg can be challenging enough without adding to that challenge with a mat that’s too thick or even spongy. I find a thickness of between 4mm and 6mm works well.
Size & Weight
Length-wise – consider your own height of course, most mats will be around 183cm long x 61cm wide, which for me at 5’7” is spot on. I do have a Liforme yoga mat however which is 185cm x 68cm and I really appreciate those extra few centimetres.
When you’re buying your mat, consider where you’re going to be using it. If you’re travelling with it on foot or on your bike, you need to consider the weight. I really like the aforementioned Liforme mat (which has really handy alignment markers) however at 2.5kg, I do find it a bit too heavy to sling over my shoulder and walk or cycle to the studio (they do have a travel mat option). The weight of a regular mat is around 1.5kg - 2kg. Consider where you’re going to be using it. If you are actually travelling abroad (imagine that!), many brands do a lighter travel version, I have a Jade travel mat, which is very pliable and easy to fold up and fit in a bag or case.
Grip
This is important, you don’t want your downward dog sliding away from you thanks to sweaty palms. My advice here is to look out for ‘anti-slip’ in the product description and read the reviews before buying. If you already have a mat that’s a bit slippy, use a thin towel on top.
Sustainability & Price
Most brands will state upfront if their mats are sustainably made e.g. with ethically sourced natural rubber and either biodegradable or recyclable, if it’s not immediately clear just check out the product details. Yoga mat prices range from around €25 to €180 and everything in between, no doubt beyond that too. You might expect to pay a bit more for an eco-friendly mat but I found this mat at an Irish Yoga store, Pure Mind online yoga store and it’s made from eco-friendly recyclable PVC and really good value at €39.90 and you’ll find funky sustainably produced mats at the Irish brand Downward Dog Club from €46 - €58.
Brands
It’s great to see homegrown Irish brands producing yoga mats, including Holder Eight – their designs are just gorgeous, there’s also Flow State with really graphic, dynamic designs and Greener Me who produce a cosy wool yoga mat. Other good mat brands to watch out for include Jade, Manduka and Liforme.
Have you found a mat that you really like and can recommend?
