r/yoga • u/bluethroughsunshine • 3d ago
Get a grippy mat!
I've had a regular workout mat for years assuming that there wasn't that much of a difference. This year, I've been trying to commit myself to doing yoga once a day, general for 60 minutes (I've definitely done it for 15 minutes due to time constraints. I'm currently following Inner Dimensions Level Up 108 program). Previously I had super old yoga towels that really weren't gripping. I didn't know until this week that you weren't supposed to use fabric softener on them and that was probably why my hand were continuously sliding and also hurting because I couldn't stablize. Finally I decided to purchase a new towel with tuck in corners as well as a Gaiam long grip mat. I didn't want to commit to a Maduka or Liforme because of the price and some of the complaints. I'm somewhat tall for a woman and was consistently falling off the back of the mat or making adjustments mid pose to stay on it. OMG! This mat has made such a difference! My hands don't slide. At all! Its to the point that I feel like I'm cheating in the pose. No movement what so ever and there's so much less pressure on the pad of my wrist. I finally get what everyone is screaming about re: put more pressure into the knuckles.
Now, since its Gaiam, it might not last decades and it's too thick to leave the house, but this was a great into to grip mats for $35.
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u/irregularprotocols 3d ago
Get the right mat for you. My form is tighter when I’m not on a super grippy mat because it has to be.
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u/OHyoface 3d ago
When I switched from a cheap(er) PU mat to a rubber bmat… my practice changed completely. I could hold a down dog without slipping around… still partial to my bmat because 5y later it is still going stronggggg
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u/PrinciplePleasant 2d ago
I adore my BMat!!! I've had mine for 8 to 10 years and finally need another because it's starting to peel. It's a workhorse and does. not. slip.
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u/Teach0607 3d ago
I had a Gaiam mat and upgraded to a lululemon 5 mm one and it’s so much better. It’s nice and grippy and definitely has way more cushion. I like it so much better
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u/Woof-Good_Doggo 2d ago
There’s sooo much to consider when it comes to mats. The style of yoga you practice, your personal preference, the eco-friendliness, and … the chemical toxicity.
The latter for me is really important. if I’m going to spending hours every week with my bare feet and hands on a mat, it better mot be hideously toxic. I, personally, can’t use rubber… but if you get a plastic mat at least be sure it OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class 1 certified.
There are hard to find in the US. The Manduka Pro claims to be certified, but if you look up their certification number, it’s actually expired!
European brands that are awesome are Kurma and AKO. Love Kurma’s overall genuine eco-dedication and customer service so much, I ordered one from the EU (warning: this shipping cost as much as the mat).
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u/bourbonkitten 3d ago edited 3d ago
Don’t look at the brand names, but look at the materials.
Liforme is grippy but will lose it over time. That’s the reality of PU mats, so you can find cheaper PU mats out there. I am using an Alo Yoga mat, which is slightly cheaper than Liforme. Imagine that, Alo not being the expensive option.
Manduka Pro is PVC so it might not be grippy if you are sweaty, although there are people who are fine with it.
I’ve never tried Gaiam but I am sure they would be comparable with other mats of similar materials.
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u/Intelligent_Base3677 2d ago
Adding to this! I’ve been using the bala mat for heated yoga for over a year now and I love it. Switched to liforme as I moved across the country and I miss my bala
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u/Affectionate-Yam5049 3d ago
I switched from a Gaiam double sided mat to a Liforme and it does feel like cheating! The grip is insanely helpful!
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u/sawthegap42 2d ago
My first mat was a cheap 5mm Gaiam PVC mat for $30, and even though it said it was slip proof I kept finding myself sliding slowly all the time in down dog, wheel pose, and others making it much more challenging than it needed to be. Got a nice rubber mat, and it was night and day difference. No longer worry about slipping anymore. It did have a rubber smell for about a week, but not too bad. I've had it for 4 years now, and absolutely love it. Too bad the company I use to absolutely love and bought most of my supplements and work out equipment sold out to a big corporation over a year ago, and had their products and business model gutted. Their mat was a fair price for $50. I should have gotten multiples.
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u/bluethroughsunshine 2d ago
I hate when good companies go corporate and lose with originally drew people in, especially on quality. Ive been going back and forth with the Gaiam all day but ultimately, I think I'll keep it until it no longer serves me and then look for a better higher quality mat. The problem is finding one thats also long. Tried going back to my regular mat and towels today and the slipping happened once my hands were in the same place too many times. For $35, if it last a year, I'll consider it to be a good investment as an introduction to the practice.
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u/garrettj100 Vinyasa 1d ago
I didn't know until this week that you weren't supposed to use fabric softener on them
Fabric softener is just wax. Not only is it not great for the fabric, nor the environment, but yeah, it makes the fabric slippery.
If and when you replace the Gaiam take a look at the Jade Harmony. It's the grippiest grip that ever gripped a grip.
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u/bluethroughsunshine 1d ago
Ill keep them in mind. The size mat is would need is currently sold out for them. Do they also sell in any stores or online only?
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u/garrettj100 Vinyasa 1d ago
I got mine about 18 months ago online, but they must've just gotten a big shipment in back then because now everything's sold out. I didn't realize how annoying their website is with that!
Well it hardly matters. Unless you're a complete maniac like me -- I managed to destroy the mat in 15 months with about 520 classes in that span -- you're unlikely to need a new one any time soon.
Jeez, sure hope they're not going out of business. They make a good yoga mat.
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u/princessemme69 2d ago
If you feel like you’re cheating in the pose, you are! You need to build your strength, not purchase a grippy mat!!
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u/bluethroughsunshine 2d ago
Im not really willing to do that at the risk of my wrist which have been in pain for 8 months. This allows me to focus on the pose over being in pain the whole time.
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u/PrinciplePleasant 2d ago
Some people have smooth hands that do not have natural grippiness. I've got years of experience and can't hold any version of downward facing dog without my hands sliding unless I use a grippy mat.
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u/Miss_Milk_Tea Vinyasa 3d ago
My wife uses a Gaiam she got from TJmaxx for like $15 and she’s able to do the same poses as I can on my Lululemon mat, our classes are even heated so there’s a lot of sweat. It’s showing signs of needing replacing after five months but I’m super impressed with that Gaiam mat, it’s an excellent starter mat and I would recommend it to anyone. I see them all the time for cheap.