The best yoga mats can make a big difference in cultivating an at-home yoga practice that feels grounding and sustainable, even if you’re a relative beginner learning to flow to online videos.
“A varied home practice can help us feel really comfortable in our skin,” Angela Dawn, a certified yoga instructor at Y7 Studio, tells SELF. “It can be really tough to start, but you don’t have to go through it alone. The internet is actually a great place to find sequencing ideas, flows, and even full yoga video classes.”
How to Choose the Right Yoga Mat
Finding a good mat isn’t tough (you don’t have to spend a fortune to get one that’s supportive and grippy), but when you’re shopping, keep in mind all of your specific needs. Maybe you find thicker mats more comfortable for joint pain. Maybe perfect alignment is your goal, and you want a mat that provides you with ample space to stretch your legs out in warrior II pose. And if you sweat a lot during your practice, a mat that reduces slipping might be top of mind.
Next, consider the mat’s portability. If you’re looking for a mat you can carry with you—even if it’s just into the backyard for some outdoor yoga—or a mat compact enough to stow under your bed, you may want to choose one that fits in a yoga strap or rolls up easily to fit inside your yoga mat carrier.
And especially in these stressful times, it can be helpful to think outside the mat’s functionality for a minute and choose one that just brings a smile to your face with its design and feel. Need some inspiration? Below, yoga instructors and fitness pros walk us through what they consider the best yoga mats for all types of practices and bodies.
1. Best Yoga Mat Overall: Manduka ProLite Yoga Mat
This latex-free yoga mat has a unique fabric-like surface and is made of a “closed-cell” material, which helps prevent sweat and moisture from soaking into the mat. Bonus: It comes in 12 fun colors.
The ProLite has ultra-dense cushioning, so it provides all the support and stability you need during your practice. It’s also easy to clean and seals out moisture. It’s a standard but reliable mat. —Mandy Ingber, celebrity yoga instructor and author of Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover
Available in 71” and 79”.
2. Best for Extra Grip: JadeYoga Harmony Mat
Made of natural rubber for extra grip and nearly a quarter of an inch thick, this mat is also great for giving a charitable boost: For every mat sold, JadeYoga will plant a tree. And if you purchase certain colors, some of the proceeds will be donated to a cancer charity.
This is a great mat with excellent grip! I recommend it for power or hot classes that tend to steam up a room and have you in Downward Dog with sweat dripping out of you. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but if you’re looking for a long-lasting mat to withstand the test of time, this is a great choice. Plus, since Jade mats come from trees, they give back by planting a tree for every mat sold! —Kelley Green, certified International Yoga Instructor in New York City
Available in 68” and 74”.
3. Best for Hot Yoga: Yoga Design Lab Combo Mat
This mat has great grip and cushioning due to its natural rubber and absorbent, sueded microfiber fabric that is made from recycled plastic bottles. Plus, it’s available in 20 colors and patterns and comes with a carrying strap.
The Yoga Design Lab mat is a yoga towel and mat in one. It’s the best surface for yoga imaginable—the perfect amount of grip without restricting movement. Bonus: You will never have to worry about remembering a towel for a sweaty or heated class with this mat. —Heidi Kristoffer, founder of CrossFlow Yoga and creator of CrossFlowX in New York City
Available in 70”.
4. Best for Asana Yoga: Alo Yoga Chakra Mat
This natural rubber mat has an asana grid etched into it for optimal help with poses. Plus, it has an antimicrobial, moisture-wicking surface that’s great for preventing slippage.
I love this mat because it has an alignment grid etched into the design of the mat. It provides a nonslip surface, which means if I take a sweaty hot yoga class, I don’t need to worry about slipping around on my mat. It’s thick yet light, so it’s not too heavy to carry around. —Kylan Fischer, founder of Bendy Babes and yoga instructor in Sunset Beach, California
Available in 68”.
5. Best For Ultimate Cushioning: Manduka Pro Yoga
This ultra-dense yoga mat was recommended by four of the instructors we reached out to, and the reason was pretty clear: It’s the ultimate mat for comfort and cushioning. Plus, it comes in 13 fun color choices.
The Rolls Royce of mats! It’s a super-durable, heavy mat that is stable. I love that it feels so substantial and does not move on the floor—it stays stuck! I like that it’s thicker than most yoga mats, so it’s great for strength exercises, but not so thick that your feet stick in and are unstable. I’m a sucker for luxury goods, and this is the best on the market. —Holly Perkins, C.S.C.S., creator of the Glutes Project
This is my go-to mat for my home practice. It provides much more cushion than other mats. It also is a little bit heavier than others, so I keep this mat around my house. —Jackie Skinner, yoga instructor business coach and certified yoga teacher in New York City
Available in 71” and 85”.
6. Best for General Exercise: BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Exercise Yoga Mat
If you prefer to let the masses direct you to their top choice, this is your mat. It’s the top seller on Amazon and is affordable with a capital A. The mat’s thickness is great for beginners and will make any pose comfortable on a hardwood floor.
I found this yoga mat on Amazon, and it had over 19,000 reviews with a very affordable price, so I was drawn to trying it out. Once I purchased it, the reviews did not let me down. This mat has a great grip, so I’m not slipping or sliding if I work up a sweat while transitioning through yoga poses. —K.G.
Available in 71”.
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