I’ve talked about keeping mats clean elsewhere on the blog, so I wanted to throw a little light on the yoga mat itself. There’re so many mats out there, at so many price ranges, it can definitely be a little overwhelming. So here’s my deep dive on the humble yoga mat:

Yoga Matters yoga mat

Low price range

I really can’t love tkMaxx more for a good yoga mat on a budget. When I was a brand new teacher back in 2016 looking to bulk-buy good mats for my yoga classes, this is where I went. Be careful though, the cheapest (and most common) mats here aren’t ideal (you’ll end up finding bits of yoga mat all over your house).

You want to look out for ‘luxury’ mats which are at least 5mm thick and don’t collapse to nothing when you squish them. But thankfully they don’t sit in the ‘luxury’ price-point, as these sort of mats will only take you back around £12-15.

Mid range

I’m a big fan of Yoga Matters for mid-budget mats. They stock some more expensive mats, but look out for the Classic mats. These are Yoga Matters’ own brand and, really, they’re pretty great. These are the mats I bought for my brick-and-mortar studio in York. Even with regular class use and cleaning, they wore really well.

Higher budget

If you practice a lot, it’s definitely worth investing in a decent mat; they’ll last for years, will probably get better with age, and will keep you motivated to practice. My first mat splurge was about £60 on a Manduka ProLite, and I know a few teachers who swear by Manduka’s Pro. My latest was the BEAUTIFUL 8mm Canary mat from Zen Bear at £85, really great if you sweat a lot as you’ll stick like glue to this mat (TYR members get a discount with Zen Bear, just go to your perks page).

Don’t forget

Whatever mat you end up with, bear in mind that brand new mats can use a little airing outside if you have space, or on a bannister, or the back of a chair. Leave it for a few days until any smell reduces.

And ultimately, remember it’s about the yoga, not the mat. There can a lot of snobbery around yoga mats, especially if you’re going to popular in-person studio classes. Make sure to go with a mat that’ll inspire you to practice regularly, price range included. And if you’re waiting for payday til you can afford a Manduka Pro or Zen Bear beauty, just yoga on your kitchen tiles or use a towel. It’s all good.

In the meantime, for more goodness from yours truly, join TYR’s inner circle for free classes, exclusive resources, and inspiration.

Chloe - TYR Founder & Joyful Living Coach

POSTED: 05/04/2022

Chloe is a yoga teacher, mindfulness guide, and joyful living coach, and she thinks the meaning of life is probably to be as happy as possible.

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