best yoga mats for your practice
I was originally going to combine this post to include Yoga and Pilates mats, but I decided that there are different requirements for each so check out this blog post about the best Pilates mats.
What is the best Yoga mat you recommend? I have been asked that question so many times, and like most questions there isn’t a one fits all answer as it depends on a few things – what type of Yoga do you mainly practice? Will you be practicing at home or in a class? Are you travelling a long way and therefore do you want the weight of the mat to be a factor in your decision?
Just to be clear – I am not an official product tester, and I also don’t earn any affiliate income to recommend any particular Yoga mat. I’ve just tried a lot of mats during my own personal practice and my teaching career, and have also had a lot of conversations with both my clients and other Yoga teachers about the mats they are using and whether they would/ wouldn’t recommend them. Most of us Yoga teachers have a bit of a problem with having an out-of-control collection of Yoga mats!
A good mat can totally elevate your practice by allowing you to move your body freely without worrying about either your yoga mat slipping around on the floor, or your hands and feet slipping on the mat. A good Yoga mat will also support you in all the important places (joints and other bony bits!).
I want you to find a great mat so that you can get the best out of your Yoga practice!
To try and cover everyone’s requirements, I’ve decided to split this down into a few different categories – and which mats I would recommend for each - Best budget Yoga mat, Best eco Yoga mat, Best overall Yoga mat, Best travel Yoga mat, Best Hot Yoga mat and Best Yin/ restorative Yoga mat.
Budget Yoga mat
Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat - £26
https://www.yogamatters.com/collections/yoga-mats/products/yogamatters-sticky-yoga-mat
Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat
This mat is a favourite in Yoga studios as they last well and are easy to clean. Even though they measure the same thickness as some of the other mats on here. I wouldn’t have one of these as my personal mat though as I don’t feel it is supportive enough. I think it’s a case of you get what you pay for, but if you don’t want to spend too much then this is a good option. Available in a whopping 11 colours to suit your décor!
Eco Yoga mat
Yogamatters Eco Rise Yoga Mat - £49
https://www.yogamatters.com/products/yogamatters-eco-everyday-rise-yoga-mat
Yogamatters Eco Yoga Mat
This is a really lovely feeling mat. The top layer is made from a cotton mesh over the top of the rubber it feels as though you are lying on fabric which is not how most Yoga mats feel. I know a studio that uses these and they have stood up well to the wear and tear, however I personally wouldn’t use them in this setting as I think they are a less hygenic option for a studio having multiple people using them. I do think this is a great option for your own personal Yoga mat though. Available in 5 lovely colours – Eucalyptus, Grey Ice, Natural, Wisteria and Wild Sage.
Overall Yoga mat
Fable 4mm Pro Grip Studio Yoga Mat - £73
Fable Yoga mat 4mm
I’ve had this mat for about a year now and I’m really pleased with it. This mat is wider and longer than the standard size Yoga mat, so is a great option for taller people (and is also just nicer if you are an average size!). The top layer is non-slip so you aren’t supposed to go anywhere when you sweating. I admit I haven’t used this mat for Hot Yoga as I have another mat that is specifically designed for Hot Yoga (see below). My Fable mat is another mat that has survived a lot of use, and a lot of abuse and is still looking as good as the day I had it. I know a studio that is using these and they are standing up really well to the heavy use that they get in a studio setting. Fable plant a tree for every Yoga mat sold. These mats come in some fabulous colours - the current colours available are Blush Pink, Sage Green, Taupe, Black, Ocean Blue, Rose Pink, Forest Green, Berry, Mist, Earth Brown. I have the Taupe but I wish the Earth Brown had been available when I purchased mine as I love that colour!
Yoga Bare 4mm Ever Grip Paws Yoga Mat - £80
https://www.yogi-bare.co.uk/products/ever-grip-paws-desert-rose
Yoga Bare Ever Grip Paws Yoga Mat
This mat is another that I have seen, touched, wanted but managed to resist based on the fact I’ll soon need to move house or buy a much bigger car to house all of my Yoga mats! The Ever Grip Yoga mat incorporates Yogi Bare's revolutionary EVER GRIP™ Technology, setting a new standard for grip in the yoga mat industry. Yogi Bare are continuing to research more sustainable materials to continue to reduce the impact that us Yogi’s have on the environment. This mat is currently available in Desert Rose, Forest Green and Black.
Travel Yoga mat
Fable 2mm Commuter Travel Yoga Mat - £65
Fable 2mm Commuter Travel Mat
I haven’t personally used the travel mat variation from Fable, but based on how much I love my 4mm mat from them, I think this would be a great option and is cheaper than some of the other travel mats out there. I think this is great if you want a lighter weight mat for travelling to class, but probably not for packing into a backpack or suitcase.
The travel mat is not available in such a fabulous range of colours as the Fable 4mm mat, with just Black and Red options.
Mikkoa Travel Yoga mat - £69
Mikkoa Foldable Travel Yoga Mat
A few of my clients have these mats, and as they fold up into a very small size, they are great for being able to pop into a backpack or suitcase and they don’t take up much room. They have a lovely feel to them and come in 10 colours/ patterns. I personally love the solid colours they currently have.
Hot Yoga mat
Hotpod Yoga Yoga Mat - £48
Hotpod Yoga Grippy Hot Yoga Mat
Now just to add a disclaimer to this – I haven’t used this version of the mat as at the time of writing this is a brand-new version, however I’ve used it’s predecessor for around 4 years and only have great things to say about it. The mat is designed specifically for hot Yoga, and the more you sweat, the grippier it gets! If you don’t sweat much, you can flick some water onto the mat where your hands and feet will be and this will stop you from slipping. At one point I was teaching around 12 hot yoga classes a week as well as my own practice. It’s survived being repeatedly thrown in the car boot, being squashed by a huge bag of 30 Yoga blocks and much more abuse. It’s survived far better than other Hot Yoga mats I had tried, and it still looks in very good condition, whereas the others I tried before all looked rather shabby after only a couple of months use. I know the team at Hotpod, and I’m sure that this will be an improved version on the old one so I’m looking forward to adding to my Yoga mat collection! The mat comes in Black or funky Purple.
Yin/ restorative Yoga mat
Yogamatters Organic Cotton Restorative Yoga Mat - £70
Yogamatters Organic Cotton Restorative Yoga Mat
Like most of my other recommendations, this is not a cheap option by any means, however I think this is another case of you get what you pay for. If you need some TLC, and you practice a lot of Restorative or Yin Yoga (where the poses are floor based and held for a long time), this mat is like lying on a cloud! I can’t recommend enough the feeling of being supported by this soft, fluffy comforting fabric mat. It’s like a hug in a Yoga mat, and something we all need a little more of – being nurtured. It’s a little like the difference between having lovely organic cotton bedding versus lying on a plastic sheet! Once you’ve tried one of these you will never want to go back to a normal yoga mat for your restorative practice again. This is also a great mat for lying down meditations such as Yoga Nidra or Sound Baths. When you combine this with some of their other props such as the Organic Cotton bolster, Organic Cotton Eye Pillow and Organic Cotton Blanket, you are in for a super cosy treat - enjoy!
For my top tips on how to keep your Pilates or Yoga mat in great shape, and how to clean it check out this blog post.
