The 11 Best Yoga Mats to Reinvigorate Your Practice
Consider it an investment in your health.
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I’ve never been the sporty type. The idea of competing in anything makes my blood run cold—so much so that I didn’t even dabble in team sports as a kid. No, instead, I told my mom that I wanted to try a yoga class at the ripe old age of nine. Picture it: an awkward third-grader walking into an yoga studio smoking with incense. But the rest is history, as they say. It’s been a decades-long love affair ever since. I guess the mat was the perfect place for me to work out that cafeteria stress.
These days, stepping onto my yoga mat almost feels like walking into church. It’s a sanctified space, and one that I try to take good care of. So, finding the right equipment is important. If you think all mats are created equal, think again. As with anything, quality varies widely. I’ve rounded up the best in class options that meet my criteria for grip, cushion, material, and weight. May your leggings stay up and your Savasanas be long.
While they aren’t exactly mainstream, an ever-growing number of yogis are turning to yoga rugs and ditching their rubber mats. Why? Well, they’re washable, for one thing. Plus, they’re soft, plush, and don’t get slippery when you get sweaty.
This is the mat I currently use—and love. It’s a great size, has a smooth leathery feel under my hands and feet, and it rolls up quite compactly. Would recommend!
Of course you can find designer mats. The beauty of this one is not only that it’s sustainable, but it’s also crafted in conjunction with Adidas, and who knows athletics better than Adidas?
Why should all mats be the same shape anyway? You already know and love Bala for its ankle weights and pilates equipment, so you can expect the same great quality (and aesthetically pleasing design) from its mats.
The patented design of a Stakt mat solves a multitude of problems. For one, you won’t have to roll it up to store it. The flat fold is great for traveling, too. If you’re regularly folding your mat for extra padding under your knees or hands, this segmented mat was made for you.
If you tend to get sore hands or feet from a lack of cushioning, you'll love this super dense mat. The stay-dry top wicks away moisture, so you won't have to worry about slipping during your hot yoga class.
When you practice hot yoga, you need a mat that not only supports your body, but can also handle a sweat-drenched practice. Say hello to The Mat from lululemon. A polyurethane top layer absorbs moisture to help sturdy your grip during sweaty practices while an antimicrobial additive helps prevent mold and mildew on the mat. And, if you’re big on inversions, this mat is sleek and thin enough to offer maximal stability.
Most pros agree that if you’re going to invest in a yoga mat, invest in the Manduka PRO, which has been dubbed the Cadillac of yoga mats. It’s not too thick, not too thin, and easy-to-clean (and quick-to-dry), too. Plus, Manduka offers a lifetime guarantee.
Best for yoga beginners, this eco-friendly yoga mat has alignment lines on the top layer to help you make proper adjustments with your hands and feet as you're moving through poses. The double layer also provides grip so you don't slip and are able to maintain balance. We love that it also comes with a velcro strap so you can carry it with you wherever you go.
Anyone with sweaty hands and feet can attest to slipping on a yoga mat at least once, but this Gurus mat is made of sustainable cork. Unlike foam mats, the cork material reacts to the sweat on your body by becoming even more grippy, giving you extra traction even if you're doing an impressive handstand. Also, because cork is naturally antimicrobial, you won't have to clean it as much.
This best-selling yoga mat on Amazon has more than 60,000 5-star reviews. At 24 inches wide and a 71 inches long, this mat is perfect for people of all sizes. Plus, it's extra thick so it provides cushion and support for those with back pain or sensitive spines, hips, knees, and elbows. Even better, it comes with an adjustable strap so you can easily travel or store it.
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Additional reporting by Sienna Livermore and Christine Yu.
Meg (she/her) is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com, where she specializes in shopping stories spanning the fashion, home, and lifestyle categories. Over the past three years, she has devoted countless hours to researching brands, testing hundreds (maybe even thousands!) of products, and deep-diving into market and consumer trends. Her favorite job responsibilities consist of co-writing the monthly series Same Same But Different and curating the fashion market for ELLE Escapes. Meg graduated magna cum laude from the Missouri School of Journalism with an emphasis on magazine editing. In 2020, one of her feature stories in the service article category was recognized by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The year prior, the Society of Professional Journalists named voxmagazine.com “Best Affiliated Magazine” in its Mark of Excellence Awards, when she was on staff. Meg’s stories have appeared on Cosmopolitan, Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar, and Good Housekeeping, among many other outlets. Her personal passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and gardening. You can find her in New York, where she lives, or on Instagram, where she also lives. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.
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