Unlike most lightweight yoga mats, the Manduka is made from rubber so you still get a good amount of grip – even if it’s a little slippy for the first few uses. Unlike most rubber mats, however, Manduka uses only sustainably harvested rubber that’s free from PVC and toxic dyes, making it a great option for eco-conscious yogis too. Additionally, there are yoga mats that use other eco-friendly materials, such as cork or jute, and are intended to more closely resemble the traditional nature of a yoga rug. Durability

Whether you’re a dedicated yogi who wants to remain steady throughout your asanas or a HIIT junkie in need of a soft surface for chest-to-floor burpees, a yoga mat is a workout essential. Yoga rugs have been shown to offer more durability than traditional yoga mats. Since yoga rugs are made of woven materials, you can wash them in your washing machine without worry, giving it more longevity. Different Types of Yoga Mats – Select Best For Your Practicing.” Health and Fitness Magazine, 2 Dec. 2019, https://www.healthnfitnessmag.com/different-types-of-yoga-mats.

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These distinguished benefits of a yoga rug are not the same as the benefits of a yoga mat, but nonetheless, should not be overlooked. How to Use Yoga Mats and Yoga Rugs Together And when considering a yoga rug, you may also be keen to find out whether the yoga rug is produced by artisans in another country such as India, as an art form and an vital opportunity towards providing livelihood to underrepresented communities. There’s nothing more irritating than buying a brand new yoga mat only for it to fall apart after a few vinyasa classes. Fortunately, there’s no such problem with this durable offering from the experts at Complete Unity. It’s crafted from sustainably harvested tree rubber and natural jute fibres, which means the surface isn’t the smoothest, but it is resistant to wear and tear and, crucially, it’s uber sturdy – trust us, it won’t budge, whether you’re flowing on carpet, hard wood or tiles. The materials used by yoga mats and yoga rugs vary considerably. As the eco-friendly option, yoga rugs often are woven, usually with organic cotton. Many yoga rugs are also constructed by hand, woven, stitched, and dyed by artisans, giving them a natural feel similar to a rug you’d find in your living room at home. Another top-quality option from our pals at Les Mills. Unlike the MBX mat above, this one is designed specifically for yoga, with a vegan leather top layer that absorbs moisture (read: sweat) and stops you from sliding around, no matter how clammy your paws are. Sure enough, our resident yogi stayed rooted in their poses during vigorous vinyasa flows, without any distracting slipping around. Music to our ears!

Fast-paced flows aside, it’s just as effective for chilled out sessions, even on the most unforgiving floors, thanks to the wonderfully cushioned rubber base. Our tester said it lay flat on the floor as soon as they rolled it out, it’s wide enough for users of all sizes, and cleaning the mat is a painless experience – just wipe it down with a cloth and you’re G2G (good to go). Yoga props are used for different purposes to aid you in your practice. Generally speaking, they are used to provide stability and support when entering difficult poses but they can also be used to help you get a deeper stretch. Yoga props are a great tool for gradually increasing your flexibility, range of motion, and strength. The yoga mat vs. yoga rug debate is one that has been argued endlessly. There is often confusion about which is better to buy, the yoga mat or the yoga rug.

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Our pros put a number of mats through their paces, seeing how each one performed during yoga, yoga nidra (a form of deep rest), HIIT and even weights sessions (most yoga mats double up as exercise mats). They were scored based on how grippy, comfortable, portable and stable they were (with bonus points for eco credentials), and only their favourite few made it on to this list. While yoga rugs can be comfortable when performing basic warmup exercises , yoga mats are often needed for other types of yoga, such as vinyasa flow, because yoga mats inherently have more grip.