Yoga mats are specially fabricated mats used to prevent hands and feet slipping duringasana practice in modernyoga as exercise. An early variety made of rubbercarpet underlay, pioneered by the yoga teacherAngela Farmer in 1982, was called asticky mat. Before modern times, meditativeyoga andhatha yoga were practised on bare ground, sometimes with a deer or tiger skin rug. Modern mats suitable for energetic forms of yoga are made of plastic,rubber, and sometimes other materials includinghessian andcork, trading off cost, comfort, grip, and weight. The yoga mat has been called "One of the most ubiquitous symbols of yoga's commercialization".[1]
In ancient times, meditationalyoga was practised in India onkusha grass, on hard earth without any cover, or on a rug ofdeer ortiger skin, as specified in theBhagavadgita and theShvetashvatara Upanishad as suitable for attainingenlightenment.[2][3][4]
Seated in an easy posture, on a (deer or tiger) skin, placed on Kusha grass, worshippingGanapati with fruits and sweetmeats, placing the right palm on the left, holding the throat and head in the same line, the lips closed and firm, facing the east or the north, the eyes fixed on the tip of the nose, avoiding too much food or fasting, theNâdis should be purified, without which the practice will be fruitless.
— Shvetashvatara Upanishad, chapter II
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With yoga's introduction in the West, many practitioners used towels orcotton mats on wooden floors.[5] Feet tended to skid on these surfaces, requiring strength just to stand still in a pose likeTrikonasana.[6]In 1982, while teaching yoga inGermany,Angela Farmer usedcarpet underlay cut to towel size during yoga classes; she returned home toLondon with the material. Angela's father, Richard Farmer, contacted the German padding manufacturer and became the first retailer of "sticky mats".[7] The first, purpose-made yoga mat was manufactured and sold byHugger Mugger Yoga Products in the 1990s; the company initially imported Farmer-style mats, but finding that they began to crumble with use, developed their own more robust alternative.[8][9]
Yoga mats vary in thickness, composition, surface texture, "stickiness" or grip, and weight, as well as price.[10] They are normally around 6 feet (180 cm) long and have a width of 2 feet (61 cm). Yoga mats range in thickness from lightweight 'travel' style at1⁄16 inch (2 mm) to1⁄8 inch (3 mm) (standard), and up to1⁄4 inch (6 mm) for either high performance mats or soft mats foryoga therapy.[11] Mats are available in many colours and patterns. "Alignment mats" are printed with guides to proper alignment, intended to help practitioners to place their feet the right distance apart and accurately in line with each other.[12] Others are printed with images.[13] Some travel mats can be folded into a small square.[14][15]
The first commercially produced "sticky"[11] yoga mats were made fromPVC; they have a smooth surface, and tend to be cheaper.[11] More recently, some supposedly "eco-friendly"[11] mats are being made from naturaljute,organic cotton, and rubber.[11] PVC mats are the spongiest, resulting in more "give" when stepped on; fibre mats such as cotton and jute are the firmest.[11] Jute mats are the roughest; "sticky" PVC mats give good grip, but some of the modern textured mats in other materials also grip well.[11][16] Smooth mats provide the most grip, so are suitable for the more energetic styles such ashot yoga andAshtanga (vinyasa) yoga; the trade-off is that they may be less comfortable and appear dirty more quickly.[17] Mats with more padding are useful for styles such asyin yoga where poses are held for longer periods. Travel mats are thinner and lighter, but provide less padding.[17]
Some yoga practicesin Scandinavia use cottonfuton mats.[18][19] They consist of a mattress, usually with pockets of cotton batting, sometimes with wool or polyester-cotton mixes, and a washable cover.[20][21] They give good cushioning and grip.[22][23] However, futons are much heavier than other mats, weighing as much as 4.7 kg.[18]
Yoga Journal asked five yoga professionals for their views on yoga mats. They varied widely in their brand preferences, some choosing the traditional "sticky" type, but they agreed that mats must not be slippery.[14] Katie Okamoto inThe New York Times wrote in 2024 that she had used a natural rubber "Harmony Mat" by JadeYoga for ten years, buying a new one every few years; it provided "unbeatable performance, grip, and durability", regardless of sweat, and was "cushioned without being squishy", making it her top pick. However, she noted that it had a strong rubbery smell.[24]
A hessian mat reviewed byThe Independent gave good grip and was both comfortable and attractive; itsrubber underside made it stable on any surface, but somewhat heavy; acork mat provided both good grip and an exceptionally warm surface with a pleasant texture, and the property of being to some degree self-cleaning.[17] The best grip was given by a smooth latex mat; in the review's opinion, its 4 mm thickness both gave enough padding for yin yoga, and the stability for energetic yoga styles.[17] The review noted that a circular mat was at first unfamiliar, but helpful for personal practice of poses such asPrasārita Pādottānāsana (wide stance forward bend) and sequences where a rectangular mat would have to be turned through 90 degrees at intervals; it was also ideal for demonstrating asanas to a class.[17]
| Composition | Grip | Surface | Soft/firm | Weight | Durability | Cleanliness | Environmental impact | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Sticky"PVC (plastic) | Good[12] | Smooth Slightly sticky[16] | Softer*[16] | Light*[16] | Tend to crumble | Tend to get dirty[17] | High, not always recycled[12] | Lowest[12] |
| Rubber (latex) | Best[12][17] | Smooth | Firm*[16] | Heavy[12] | Excellent[16][25] | Easy to wipe clean[16] Light colours show dirt[25] | Low if natural and suitably sourced#;[12] high if combined with non-recyclable plastics e.g.polyurethane[12] | High[12][25] |
| Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) | Good[13] | Smooth | Firm[13] | Very light[13] | Good | Tend to get dirty[17] | Sustainably made, recyclable[13] | Mid[13] |
| Cork on rubber | Good[17] Non-slip when wet[25] | Smooth[12] | Very comfortable, firm but warm[12][17] | Heavier | Good | Mainly self-cleaning[12][17] | Low if suitably sourced#[12][17] | High[12] |
| Hessian (Jute) on rubber | Good[16] | Rough weave[12] Attractive texture[17] | Very comfortable*[23][17] | Heavier[17] | Good[16] | Washable[26] | Low if suitably sourced#[12] | Mid[17] |
| Hemp | Poor | Smooth weave | Firm[16] Softens with use[27] | Light | Good, better than cotton[16] | Washable[16] | Low if suitably sourced# | Mid |
| Cotton | Poor[23] | Smooth weave | Firm[23] | Light | Moderate, fibres wear out[16] | Washable[16] | Low if suitably sourced#[23] | Mid |
| Futon cotton with lining (cotton, wool, or polyester) | Good[22] | Smooth | Softer[22] | Very heavy[18] | Good | Washable cover[20] | Low if natural and suitably sourced# | High |
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The yoga mat has become the definitive symbol of modernyoga as exercise.[6] The yoga scholarAndrea Jain wrote inThe Washington Post that "One of the most ubiquitous symbols of yoga's commercialization is the mat, which many consider a necessity to prevent slipping, to mark territory in crowded classes or to create a ritual space."[1] She noted that "committed adherents" could pay over $100 for a luxury mat.[1] The yoga scholar Noora-Helena Korpelainen agreed that the yoga mat had aritual function: everyAshtanga Yoga session "starts with opening a yoga mat, taking a straightstanding pose (samastitiḥ) and chanting amantra. ... The practice ends with a mantra, relaxation, and rolling up the mat."[28]
In 2025, The UK'sOffice for National Statistics decided to include the yoga mat in its "basket" of goods and services used to calculateinflation in the country. The items are chosen to represent typicalconsumer spending and hence to work out changes in the cost of living; the yoga mat's inclusion means that it has become a standard household purchase.[29]
The attractive Aztec print design provides body alignment guides for easy positioning and you can just as easily use it for a HIIT session. It's expensive
This mat comes in a variety of fun colors and prints
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