Best Yoga Mats for 2020

A rug is a rug, right?  Not when it comes to yoga. This article reviews what are considered the best yoga mats for different situations.

In yoga, your rug is your personal space. This is where you happen to find Zen, strength, relief — everything that drives your yoga practice. But it’s hard to get there when you have a rug that impedes your flow. Even the most desperate yogi can get angry if his hands begin to slip, or their wrists feel as if they were planted right on the wooden floor. “If you practice regularly, you should invest in your own mat,” says Christine McGee, a Peloton yoga teacher.

Most yoga mats look pretty similar, but there are slight differences in thickness, material, texture, and grip or stickiness that can affect how you move. This last attribute is one of the most essential elements for yogis: “The rug should have such a good grip from the start,” says McGee. “If you find yourself gliding too much, this is not a good sign.” All these additional movements will distract you from being present and focusing on your flow – the whole point of yoga.

A textured mat usually provides more grip, but the material can also affect grip. “Most mats are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC),” said Kevin Schaefer, gear and yoga instructor at Backcountry e-bookstore. PVC was an OG sticky rug. But now there are more environmentally friendly mats made from natural and recycled rubber or other natural materials that provide the same grip. “Rubber is my choice – it is solid and great for balancing postures, but with some thickness, so it’s convenient when you use floor and gravity.” 

Comfort is another essential factor for yogis, and the thickness of the mat determines this. “Your travel mats can be between 1 mm thick and 3 mm thick average plush,” Schäfer explains. “Your regular home rug will be 3 to 6 mm thick. And if you want extra comfort, you can go 7 mm more.” Some people need more stuffing than others, so it’s essential to find out what you like (and your joints).

A right rug may be an investment, but worth it. “If you take care of them, yoga mats can last quite a long time – at least five years!” says McGee. This means that you can wipe it after a workout (every time it would be great, but at least once a week), as well as thoroughly clean it and let it dry once a month, she adds. McGee recommends Jo-Sha Yoga Cleansing Wipes.

But a yoga mat should not destroy a bank. Here are the many winners for all wallets, regardless of whether you are looking for a budget entry option or one that you can take with you.