[update] still thrilled with this mat. five months later and my mat looks like it is brand new. I do usually use it with a full-size yoga towel because I go to hot classes and I'm afraid of slipping because I sweat so much. Today I went to class without my towel because it was in the washing machine. I really expected to slip all over the place in downward dog because I've used a manduka in this class and was slipping like crazy. Well, I got through the entire class and DID NOT SLIP ONCE! Unbelievable!!! I still like using my towel to soak up the extra sweat, but it's so nice to know that it's not a necessity. I would recommend this mat to EVERYONE. Simply the best! I go to yoga classes six days a week. I just started a couple months ago, and I can't get enough of it. However, when I first started, I was using a really thin, cheap mat, and I could tell that my practice was suffering because of it. I would constantly slip in downward dog, and any positions that put my knee(s) on the mat would cause knee pain. I knew that I needed to upgrade my mat, but didn't want to spend the $80 or $90 on the black mat that everyone around me had. I searched amazon.com and other sites to search for what I thought I would never find: a high-quality, well-padded mat for a reasonable price. Well, this mat is that and more. First of all, it has no rubbery or synthetic smell. In fact, it is completely ordorless (even in very close proximity, i.e., when your nose is pressed into the mat for a pose). It is very thick and well-padded. When I kneel, the knee pain I was experiencing is completely gone. It is longer than most, so I can stretch out and not worry about running out of room (I'm 5'6). I usually do a hot vinyasa where the room's 100 degrees and I'm pouring sweat, so I use a yoga towel. I do not slip at all with the towel. Actually, when you sweat THAT much, I can't imagine ANY mat being 100% slip-proof (the first class I ever took I rented one of those $80 black mats and my hands were slipping all over the place). The one time I did a slow burn (less heat, less intense, less sweat), I didn't use the towel and didn't slip at all. This company's customer service is unfathomable in this day and age. This owner really cares about his products and it shows. What else? I love the color of my mat. I got the orangey/mustard yellow one. Last but not least, the price is EXTREMELY reasonable. I hope to use this mat for years to come. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to better their yoga practice. Read more
I am very happy with this purchase. I am relatively new to yoga but have taken classes/used various mats. This one is definitely high quality. I read so many reviews about every yoga mat Amazon has and tried really hard to make the best overall decision, taking into consideration quality and price. Obviously a $15 yoga mat sounds awesome but it's just not going to hold up or work well. On the other hand, spending over $100 on a mat seems ridiculous (for me personally). This yoga mat is priced well for the quality it is. It also had pretty much the best rating overall. I read through some of the complaints other people had before buying it so I wanted to address those now that I own this mat. I saw a few other reviews saying it moved/stretched in downward dog. It really doesn't. I weigh less than 120 pounds, so I wondered if it stretches for people who weigh more, so I had my over 200 pound boyfriend do a yoga class on it and it didn't budge. My hands and feet don't slip at all EXCEPT towards the end of the class when I'm getting a little clammy, which can easily be fixed with a towel. Also I noticed that when you press with the end of your palms you may slip some but when you actually press down into your fingertips [like you're supposed to] you don't (so maybe some of those complaints are from improper form/usage). I was concerned about a strong smell when it arrived so once I un-packaged it I immediately pressed my nose against the mat and inhaled. There was virtually no smell, and I used it the same day it arrived. Also the mat provides proper cushioning. My house is entirely hardwood so I was very worried my knees would hurt but the mat really does provide support. After staying in table top for a really long time I may feel it some but it's not bad at all. The mat has a sort of memory foam quality about it which I personally like. It helps you grip and you can see where your hands and knees were briefly once you change positions which is pretty cool. Finally, if you're like me and have cats and dogs that join your yoga session, this mat holds up well to their claw marks. I try to keep my animals off it but they walk across occasionally- it happens- and there are not marks thus far, so I'm happy with that. Overall- I recommend this mat. It's high quality and gets the job done. Any issues with slipping hands can be fixed with keeping them dry and remembering to press down into your fingers NOT the heels of your hands (because who wouldn't slip like this?) and it's a very fair price for a mat that is quality and will hopefully last a while! Read more
