Ever slipped off you yoga mat? It sucks… I know this from experience. After nearly two weeks of missing yoga after home imprisonment due to a massive blizzard, I was pumped to breathe deep, walk my down-dog, bow to my inner goddess and try out a new, pricey yoga mat that I had ordered online. How quickly it turned into a disappointing mass of technical failure as my hands and feet slipped out of my first downward dog of the day. In honor of restoring order in the class, I intended to power through as to not disturb the other goddesses around me (no men that day). I promptly headed to the front desk and rented a mat and made it through the rest of the class—although reverting from a level 2/3 to a level -1, I never quite regained my momentum. I didn’t set an intention for class that day—I instead silently cursed my new mat for failing me. Not a very yogi thing to do.
But it was not all for naught. I broke a solid, cleansing sweat… then fled home to get online so I could learn how to ensure that I would never have to deal with this un-sticky situation again.
The Manduka BlackMatPRO - Sticky Yoga and Pilates Mat
The most common culprit of a slippery mat: Constant exposure to oil and sweat. Other offenders: Poor quality mat material. Opt for a denser, thicker mat that feels fabric-like. The long ruling favorite of yoga teachers worldwide and the mat that saved the day? The Manduka BlackMatPRO.
The anecdote: Find the right mat for you and cleanse it regularly.
At-home mat cleansing treatment:
Castile or Glycerin Soap. Place your mat in the bathtub and soap with a couple ounces of liquid glycerin or castile soap, rinse, and air dry over night.
Tools to keep in your yoga bag:
Microfiber towel! Great for removing sweat from palms (or anywhere) and also to put at the head of your yoga mat to place your hands on when in downward dog or inverted positions.
Water. For hydration of course, but also to spritz on your mat and wipe down for a surface with more grip.
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