Excellent top quality yoga mat. I bought this mat because I needed something more durable and something that won’t absorb sweat and is easy to clean (note the closed-cell construction). I compared this with the Manduka PRO yoga mat (the is the PROlite version) and I like this because it’s a bit lighter and slightly smaller and easy to carry to class. It has a lifetime guarantee and I can see why. The material is not cheap foamy material. I don’t know if it’s rubber, but it feels like thick rubber sort of. I plan to use and keep this for a long time. Good investment! Worth the extra money!!! Read more
Amazing, amazing, amazing!! I have heard such great things about Manduka yoga mats, that when my company said they would reimburse employees for fitness equipment, my first thought was to get one of these babies! I chose the 71" Midnight Blue Manduka Pro Lite honestly just because it was within the reimbursement budget, but also because it is a great color. I love how it is made from recycled materials and champions an eco-friendly lifestyle. It is a great width and weight, and nice and grippy! In terms of use, I sweat a lot, and when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. This does a really good job of preventing slip, but also at a certain point, no mat will ever stop someone who is straight up liquid, so be realistic with your expectations (i.e. I still find it slips sometimes). Also note that I tend to use my mat on carpet, and if you were to use it on hard flooring, the mat would be even grippier and I don't think I would have issues slipping at all! On maintenance - Manduka recommends you sprinkle a bunch of salt on your mat when you first get it to help "break it in." Who was I to question the natural and earthy powers of the great salt break in??? Who was I to place myself above the experts of Manduka????? I decided to heed their advice. With all the passion and excitement of unleashing my mat's true potential, I shook shook shook my salt shaker above its gleaming surface. I patiently waited, attune to my mat's needs. After 24 hours passed, I returned to my mat, ready to welcome it into its new form. But wait - I encountered a dilemma. How exactly, were I to lift this 71" rubber serpent from the ground?? How were I to safely deposit those millions of shaken salt crystals from my mat's plane??? Now let us pause and note that this would not have been as arduous of a task if I had not decided to complete the great salt shake in my carpeted bedroom. Alas, my decision had already been made, my ship set on its course. With all the great balance and coordination of an amateur yoga practitioner, I raised the sides of my mat, dragging it to my bathroom. Allthewhile, I sensed myself losing thousands of salt crystal souls on the way. After patiently attempting to contain the briny gems, I finally heaved my rubber flag over the bathtub and shook shook shook as best I could, to remove the salty deposits. Yet again, I found myself tormented. This mat is praised for its grip, its hold, its strength. And so the salt remained. Defeated, I climbed into the bathtub, swallowed my pride, and brushed each individual crystal from my mat's surface. To this day, I still find memories of the past clinging to my mat - small sodium chloride diamond reminders of heroes come and gone. So overall, I think you could probably break this in without having to salt it, unless you really really wanted to. Awesome addition to any exercise routine!! Read more
Been using this mat exclusively and daily for about 6mos. A different design than the usual yoga mat. Very dense with excellent grip. Cushions firmly without being too soft. Very sturdy and heavier than other mats - a much appreciated feature. No residual smell. Cleans very easily. A bit more expensive but after using it, I find it worth the price. I anticipate it will last a long time. Read more
This is a great yoga mat (Pro Lite), it is well worth the money if you can put the hours on the mat with some time to "season" it. As you unroll it, you will need to rub it with coarse sea salt and let it sit for 24 hours on a hard flat surface and / or let it sit in the sun for a few hours, according to the Manduka website. This mat is VERY slippery upon first unroll but after season, it got a little better and is continuing to get better over time. My yoga teacher has had hers for nearly a decade and hers is still in amazing condition with even better grip. In the photos, you can see my older Natural Tree Rubber Mat from Manduka laid on top of the pro lite and it was a normal yoga mat size. I am not a tall person by any means (about 5’ 10”) but I had to be exactly in place or my head/feet would be hanging off. This new Pro Lite (which you can see underneath) is significantly longer without taking up my whole room. I honestly don't think I would need anything longer or wider, not for the substantial price jump at least. I love this mat because it doesn't make my hands smell like that weird rubber glove smell like my old one did. This mat doesn't move on the floor thanks to the circled grips on the bottom. My favorite aspect of this mat is because it is closed cell technology which means dog hair splinters and other fibers don't get stuck inside the mat and poke you in the back during savasana or other floor poses. I would recommend using Manduka brand cleaning spray after use to maintain the integrity of the mat. I have been a Manduka fan for a long time and this was a great addition. TL:DR This is a great mat that will last you forever IF you practice on it a lot or season it with salt scrub. Read more
This yoga mat has great grip, cushioning, stability and a nice design. It has yet to develop any smell with consistent cleaning after use giving 4 stars instead of 5 because this takes forever to break in. I'm paying a lot of money for something that requires me to "rub course sea salt to remove the factory film" that makes it extremely slippery at first. Once broken in, it is among the best Yoga mat's. Read more
My gym has these mats and I have been using them at least 3-4 times a week for a few months. They are more comfortable and durable than other mats at the gym. Finally got a pink one, and it is such a great color. I cannot wait to use it. Read more
