Manduka PRO Yoga Mat - 6mm Lifetime Durability Hygienic Construction Premium Studio Quality Teacher Approved

I've had a bunch of nice yoga mats. My Jade mat began to fall apart and I got little rubber bits all over me when I practiced & my Lululemon mat wore down so much that it was no longer grippy. I decided to fork out the money for a Manduka Pro because I've read about their longevity. So far so good! I'll address the most pressing concern: the mat is really slippery when you first get it. It really shouldn't be because it's so expensive, but whatever. You have to do a bit of work to get it to a reasonable grippiness. Skip the salt advice; it doesn't work at all. Take regular old Dawn Dish soap, squirt it all over the mat, scrub the mat with the rough side of one of those green and yellow sponges, rinse and let dry. Do it a second time if it needs it. This worked great on my mat and it now grips very well except in the hottest of classes where I do have to use a yoga towel (also went with the ridiculously expensive Manduka towel and it works very well). It's a heavy mat. I'm not sure why people who exercise complain about this. It's not THAT heavy. It's a thick mat, but not in a cushy way. It's nice and dense. This is great for folks with joint (especially wrist) trouble. It's a closed cell mat. This means It doesn't soak up your sweat. If you're really sweaty, it will pool and you'll need to use a yoga towel. This is ideal for me because I was yucked out by open cell mats that make the sweat disappear. Where does it go? Into your mat. Forever. The closed cell nature of the Manduka Pro means you can wash it and it actually gets clean. I think this is overpriced, but I practice a lot and so far I'm a fan. Read more

In case anyone else is wondering, I contacted Manduka to verify if this would be a legitimate mat and was told as long as it’s sold and shipped by Amazon it’s guaranteed. My old nat was jade harmony which lasted me ten years. But it was too thin (it says it’s 5 mm which is 1 mm thinner than this mat but really it measured about 4.7). Believe me the extra millimeter for this Manduka pro mat makes a lot of difference in cushioning for the joints and over all comfort. I did not use the whole salt method because I don’t like the idea of sprinkling salt all over my mat which will end up all over my floor. So I just wiped it down with a damp microfiber cloth. It does not feel slippery at all. However, I don’t do hot yoga so that might make a difference. I bought the extra long length which is nice so I no longer hang off the edge. I also like that this mat is 2 inches wider than my old one. Overall, this has much better cushioning, it has just as good grip and feel sturdy like it will last a long time. Happy with purchase. Read more

An excellent and high-quality yoga mat that will last you a lifetime. I highly recommend the Manduka PRO Yoga Mat. It has a lifetime guarantee and the company is environmentally conscious. The cushioning is great for my knees, elbows, and other joints. It was a little slippery at first, but after using the salt method to break it in, it has been perfect. Be aware that it is a bit heavy, so you might want to get a carrying strap if you plan on taking it to and from a yoga studio. One word of caution: I ordered two of these from Amazon Resale and had to return one because they sent the wrong brand. Be sure to inspect the product carefully when it arrives. Even with that issue, I still highly recommend this mat. It's a great investment and will be your forever mat. Read more

I Love this mat! I am a relative newbie in yoga, have been sporadically going to YMCA yoga classes for a little over a year. I started out by just using the mats at the Y. Then I decided that I would get my own mat... I didn't really want to use the same mat that lots of other people have been using; wasn't too sure how often they are cleaned or the health of previous users of the mats. Well... I got a yoga mat in the $20 range. Thin and my hands slipped in Down Facing Dog. Moved up to a mat in the $30 range and used both mats during practice. No problems with the thickness of the combined mats stacked together (comfort of knees in poses that require you to be on all fours), but still a little problem with slipping hands. And standing balance poses were a little more difficult since the two mats together were a little "spongy" and my balance is not that great that I needed the extra "added benefit" of a less stable surface to balance on! I noticed that all my instructors use Manduka mats... Hmmmm, wonder if the mats are worth the (lots) extra money they cost??? Asked a couple of my instructors, and they all said emphatically "YES!" Sooooo.... Decided to give the $$$ mat a try. I mean, after all, I spend well over $100 for running shoes... and stability and comfort in my yoga mat is also important! Well, I have to say, the instructors are right! I LOVE this mat. My hands do NOT slip in Down Dog, even toward the end of a strenuous yoga workout when I am a little "damp". (I sweat like a well lathered horse after a hard run...). The mat is comfortable in all of the poses that I have done; no issues with knees on the hard surfaces of the gym floor. Standing balance poses have become a little easier; the firmness of the Manduka mat provides stability that I was just not getting with less expensive options. The mat itself is obviously of better material than my previous less expensive mats. Firmer, heavier, less slippery. I have seen some reviews that say it is TOO heavy... not a problem. If you are doing plank position, and you are complaining about the weight of this mat, then something does not equate! I like the fact that the mat has a lifetime guarantee. One of my main instructors has used her mat for over 4 years; and she teaches classes 2 hours a day on average ... every day (or maybe more...). Her mat is still in perfect condition. She said that she went through 2 mats a year before moving up to the Manduka... So is it really more expensive than the cheaper mats??? Maybe not!!! I got the extra long Manduka mat. I am not tall (5'9") but I like to stay on the mat and not on the floor - shorter mats have me hanging off the ends on some poses with the normal sized mats. The longer mat is perfect! If you are new to Yoga, give yoga a try using the studio mats at the class before buying a Manduka (they are expensive). If you like Yoga and want to continue... BUY A MANDUKA MAT!!! You will not be sorry! Read more