How To Choose The Best Yoga Mat For You
As yoga experts, we’re here to help you find the perfect yoga mat for you – one that suits your yoga practice, style and needs. Whether you’re a yoga beginner looking for your first yoga mat, or a seasoned yogi looking for an upgrade, our best yoga mat guide is here to help you get the most out of your yoga practice. With ever increasing complexity, and with so many different yoga styles around, the best yoga mat will have enough grip to make you feel at ease during the downward dog, and enough cushioning to help you master that headstand. Other than that, the rest is up to you. There are so many variations on the humble yoga mat that it’s hard to know what you’re looking for; you need to consider where you’ll be practicing, what style of yoga you want it for, and what experience you want to have. The best yoga mat for you is the one that makes you feel supported and elevates your practice, so we have found something to suit every shape, style and budget. Namaste!
1. Best For: A Natural Surface
Practicing yoga on a natural surface can intensify a yoga pose and its physical benefits. Many aspects of yoga are about being in the moment and at one with nature – yours and the one out there – and a natural surface is perfect for keeping you more grounded and closer to nature, even if you’re in a yoga studio.
This Yatay Cork Yoga Mat (£59.99) are crafted and designed for the most effective yoga practice. Each mat is made by carefully combining recycled rubber (TPE) which forms the underside, and a grippy top layer of 100% natural and organic cork.
This particular cork yoga mat is 188 x 68cm and 5mm thick.
2. Best For: Pregnancy Yoga
Practicing yoga whilst pregnant is a great way to connect with your growing baby, embrace the physical and emotional changes of your pregnancy and prepare you for birth. It can also help with aches and pains during your pregnancy, so choosing the right mat is crucial along on this spiritual journey.
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The microfibre top layer almost feels like suede, and although these mats are versatile and great for any kind of yoga, their soft touch makes them the perfect mat for pregnancy yoga, alongside slow paced classes such as Yin and Restorative yoga.
The Bump Yoga Mat is 183cm x 61cm x 8mm thick and weighs 1.5kg. It has a centreline to help you find your alignment. It's dual surface - use the grey or purple side to suit your grip or mood. It's high-grip surface removes the distraction from slip and the BUMPER thick cushion gives ultimate support.
3. Best For: Tall Yogis
A standard yoga mat is around 68in long, so anyone over 5″8 tall won’t be able to stretch out fully in certain poses. For the taller yogis out there, a longer mat is the best yoga mat for a comfortable and zen yoga experience without worrying about touching the floor.
This Lotuscrafts Mudra Studio Extra Long Yoga Mat in Aubergine (£27.95) is 77 x 24in, so the extra long length is great for tall yogis or for anyone who just wants a little more room on the mat. This yoga mat also comes in a shorter length of 72 inches and can be found here.
The slight stickiness of the mat gives you great grip, even when you start to sweat, so is great for Ashtanga Yoga and any yoga class where you’re going to be moving around a lot. The yoga mat has a thickness of 5 mm which gives the best comfort and support during your practice. The non-slip surface with waffle structure provides perfect grip and stability in every yoga posture.
This is a great yoga mat for yoga beginners and yogis on a budget. It’s also great value for money and ideal for a home practice or at the yoga studio.
The Mudra mats come in a whole rainbow of colours, you can explore them here.
This Mudra Studio Yoga Mat only weighs 1.2kg so it’s lightweight and portable, which is great for yogis on the go. It’s also a sustainable yoga mat – made of eco-friendly PVC, and is free of Latex, Phthalates, AZOs and heavy metals. Lotuscrafts are committed to implementing and achieving high ethical, social and environmental standards in all areas, so if you want a yoga mat made with a conscience, this is the best yoga mat for you.
4. Best For – Hot Yoga
The Manduka PROlite Mat (£72) is built to go everywhere and do everything, just like the people who use it. Like its big brother, the Manduka PRO, the PROlite is all about performance. It is a favourite among Hot Yoga and Vinyasa Flow enthusiasts. It will enhance your practice and protect our planet, and best of all, it comes with a lifetime guarantee.
This yoga mat is 180 x 61cm and is 4.7mm thick.
The PROlite Mat is also emission and latex free!
This mat serves as a very natural surface to practice on and it is also very light (1.8kg), so it's comfortable to carry whilst travelling. You can get this Organic Cotton Carrying Strap to make carrying even easier!
5. Best For – Meditation
Yogis have been practicing dhyana (meditation) for hundreds of years, and although you don’t need to meditate in order to practise yoga, the two practices support each other. There are many different ways to meditate, and your yoga mat can really help you feel ‘in the zone’.
This beautiful Phantai Mandala Yoga Mat in Green (£80.00) is an excellent multi purpose mat that can be used as a meditation aid as well as a yoga mat. Meditating on a mandala works as a tool on your spiritual journey, to bring about inner peace and profound inner transformation.
Phantai was created by yoga teachers with years of experience, so they really know what makes the best yoga mat. Their mandala yoga mats combine all the qualities of the world’s best yoga mats – cushioning, more space, ultra grip and alignment guidelines.
The yoga mat features a natural rubber (PVC free) base with a thin top layer that will keep you from sliding around in your yoga class, even when you’re really sweaty! Whether you’re a beginner or a teacher, the central line will keep you symmetrical and balanced no matter how twisty your yoga class, and this is really useful if you’re someone who struggles with balance.
The mat measures 73 x 27in and is 4mm thick, giving you more space to move freely with your poses. If green isn’t your colour, this yoga mat comes in a great range of vibrant colours that can be found here.
7. Best For – Yogis On A Budget
Whether you’re starting out your yoga journey and don’t want a big commitment or you’re just looking for something economical, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a great quality, long lasting yoga mat.
This Mudra Studio Yoga Mat from Lotuscrafts in Grey ( £26.95) is the best yoga mat for new starters and yogis that don’t want to break the bank. Its waffle structure gives you the perfect grip and stability in every yoga pose. The sticky feel of this mat ensures it wont move around or bunch up under your feet, allowing you to focus fully on your practice.
It is 72 x 24in and is 0.5mm thick, giving it a great cushiony feel. The Mudra mats come in a whole rainbow of colours, you can explore them here.
This Mudra Studio Yoga Mat only weighs 1.2kg so it’s lightweight and portable, which is great for yogis on the go. It’s also a sustainable yoga mat – made of eco-friendly PVC, and is free of Latex, Phthalates, AZOs and heavy metals. Lotuscrafts are committed to implementing and achieving high ethical, social and environmental standards in all areas, so if you want a yoga mat made with a conscience, this is the yoga mat for you.
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Lucy Edge
is a yoga advocate and writer with three yoga books to her name, including the beloved travel memoir Yoga School Dropout. She writes regularly for the national press, has authored over 150 guides to types of yoga and yoga poses, discovered nearly 250 proven health benefits of yoga through her painstaking classification of 300 clinical studies, and collected more than 500 personal testimonials to the real life benefits of yoga. She is also the creator of our yoga shop – YogaClicks.Store – handpicking yoga brands that are beautifully made by yogis committed to environmental and social sustainability.
