You\u2019ll know you\u2019ve found the best yoga mat for your practice when it keeps you so comfortable and steady on your feet that you barely notice it. Sliding on sweaty hands? Never. Curling up at the ends? Not a thing.<\/p>\n
Your mat is the backbone of your yoga routine, whether you prefer classes at home or at a local studio, so we consulted experts about how to find an amazing one. Among our top picks are editor favorites, including several SELF Home Fitness Award winners. And once you find a mat that works for you, consider adding yoga blocks and other helpful props<\/a> to your practice.<\/p>\n Our top picks<\/p>\n In this article<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Shop the best yoga mats<\/p>\n Our picks were made to help you go with the flow.<\/p>\n Best Overall: Manduka Pro Yoga Mat<\/p>\n This Home Fitness Award\u2013winning<\/a> yoga mat comes recommended by multiple instructors for its superior comfort and extra cushioning. Holly Perkins, CSCS<\/a>, calls it the Rolls Royce of yoga mats: \u201cI love that it feels so substantial and doesn\u2019t move on the floor\u2014it stays stuck! It\u2019s thicker than most yoga mats, so it\u2019s [also] great for strength exercises, but not so thick that your feet stick in and are unstable,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Jackie Skinner<\/a>, a yoga instructor in NYC, and Jake Panasevich<\/a>, a yoga instructor and health-science journalist in Philadelphia, also love the Pro mat\u2019s thickness and stability. They both point out that it\u2019s on the heavier side, though, so it\u2019s better if you drive to a class or practice at home. That said, I\u2019ve owned this mat for five years\u2014it still feels brand new, by the way\u2014and I rely on the Manduka\u2019s Yoga Commuter Mat Carrier<\/a> to sling it over my shoulder, which works like a charm.<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButtonAccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Size:<\/strong> 71 x 26 in | Thickness:<\/strong> 6 mm | Weight:<\/strong> 7.5 lbs<\/p>\n Best for Hot Yoga: Lululemon The Mat<\/p>\n Lululemon\u2019s rubber yoga mat is reversible, with a smooth side and a grippier, textured one that\u2019ll prevent your hands from sliding in sweat, even when you\u2019re practicing in a sauna-like studio. Panasevich got several years of use\u2014in indoor and outdoor classes\u2014out of his, and he\u2019s quick to recommend it. \u201cIt provides strong grip, so you don\u2019t slide, and sufficient padding,\u201d he tells SELF. \u201cIt\u2019s plenty big for those with broader shoulders and taller folks, yet not awkwardly bulky.\u201d<\/p>\n Our Home Fitness Awards tester sang this mat\u2019s praises after testing it for at-home Pilates and barre workouts<\/a>. \u201cThe rough, textural design and grippy surface allowed me to jump up and down for burpees and transition from standing to sitting workouts,\u201d she said. \u201cEven with jumping jacks, the mat never slipped, which I experienced with many low-quality mats.\u201d<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButtonAccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Size:<\/strong> 71 x 26 in | Thickness:<\/strong> 5 mm | Weight:<\/strong> 5 lbs<\/p>\n Best for Asana Yoga: Alo Yoga Chakra Warrior Mat<\/p>\n Alo Yoga<\/p>\n Chakra Warrior Mat<\/p>\n The design on this mat isn\u2019t just for decoration\u2014it has an asana grid etched into it, so you can check your alignment throughout class. Plus, the surface texture is ideal for tougher flows: \u201cIt provides a non-slip surface, which means if I take a sweaty hot yoga class, I don\u2019t need to worry about slipping around on my mat,\u201d Kylan Fischer<\/a>, founder of Bendy Babes<\/a> and a yoga instructor in Sunset Beach, California, tells SELF.<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButtonAccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Size:<\/strong> 74 x 26 in | Thickness:<\/strong> 5 mm | Weight:<\/strong> 8 lbs<\/p>\n Best for Taller and Bigger Bodies: JadeYoga XW Fusion<\/p>\n JadeYoga<\/p>\n XW Fusion Yoga Mat<\/p>\n Jessamyn Stanley<\/a>, an award-winning yoga instructor, author of Every Body Yoga<\/a>, and founder of The Underbelly<\/a> yoga app, previously told SELF that this extra-long XW Fusion mat from JadeYoga is her go-to. \u201cI can\u2019t recommend it highly enough\u2014it\u2019s expensive, but worth every penny,\u201d she said. As the brand\u2019s widest, thickest, and longest mat, it\u2019s designed to fit and support folks with larger and taller bodies.<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButtonAccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Size:<\/strong> 80 x 28 in | Thickness:<\/strong> 8 mm | Weight:<\/strong> 9 lbs<\/p>\n Best for At-Home Use: Bala The Play Mat<\/p>\n Cute and curvy, the Play Mat is worth considering for anyone with annoying aches. \u201cRegular yoga mats often leave my wrists in pain because they’re just too thin and don’t protect my joints from the floor nearly enough,\u201d SELF\u2019s senior commerce editor, Sarah Felbin, says. \u201cMy Bala mat, however, is so thick that I can do downward dogs and sun salutations without missing a beat. It has just the right amount of cushioning, but doesn’t feel squishy, either.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s on the heavier side, so we recommend keeping it at home\u2014thankfully, it\u2019s pretty enough to leave out. But if you want to roll it up and take it on the go, SELF\u2019s commerce director, Shanna Shipin, is a fan of the matching scrunchie<\/a> that keeps it from unfurling.<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButtonAccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Size:<\/strong> 71 x 26.5 in | Thickness:<\/strong> 5 mm | Weight:<\/strong> 8 lbs<\/p>\n Best Budget Pick: All In Motion Premium Fitness Mat 15mm<\/p>\n All in Motion<\/p>\n Premium Fitness Mat<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not a huge yoga person but still need a mat for Pilates, consider the Home Fitness Award\u2013winning All In Motion Premium Fitness Mat. It\u2019s made specifically for floor-based workouts, with extra cushioning (15 milliliters!) for sensitive joints. Our tester, who used it outside and indoors for a variety of workouts, confirmed this, saying it prevents pressure from building up in her hands, knees, and feet.<\/p>\n The textured surface provides enough stability for many exercises, although the mat\u2019s probably too thick for balance-heavy workouts. The included carrying strap makes it easy to tote around too.<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButtonAccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Size:<\/strong> 72 x 24 in | Thickness:<\/strong> 15 mm | Weight:<\/strong> 3 lbs<\/p>\n How we picked the best yoga mats<\/p>\n A great yoga experience starts with your mat. To make sure we\u2019re only recommending top-tier options, we asked yoga and fitness instructors which mats they personally use and which activities they\u2019re best for. Plus, SELF staff tested several options for months (some even won Home Fitness Awards!) to crown our final winners.<\/p>\n What to consider when choosing a yoga mat<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n A thicker mat is ideal if you\u2019re practicing on hardwood or primarily using it for floor poses and stretching. With enough supportive cushioning, you can focus on your yoga practice, rather than on uncomfortable pressure points.<\/p>\n On the other hand, some people may find it easier to balance and flow more dynamically on a thinner mat (typically under four millimeters). \u201cListen to your body: A thicker mat might feel way more comfortable for your sensitive knees, or you might find that you\u2019re sinking too much and need something flatter,\u201d Annie Moves<\/a>, a registered yoga instructor at Alo Moves<\/a>, tells SELF.<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n Most standard yoga mats are 71 or 72 inches long, but you can find options that are both shorter (68 inches) and longer (80 inches). If you\u2019re on the taller side, it may be worth seeking out a longer mat that\u2019ll accommodate your body, since many yoga poses<\/a> involve a wide stance (think warrior II, downward dog, and goddess pose).<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n If you sweat a lot<\/a> or frequently go to hot yoga<\/a> classes, using a mat with a non-slip surface can help keep you from sliding around. Look for options made with open-celled materials like polyurethane foam, which is extra absorbent. (You\u2019ll still want to regularly clean your mat to prevent bacteria buildup.) Bringing a yoga towel is another way to avoid practicing in sweat puddles.<\/p>\n There are also textured yoga mats, which feature grippy nubs along the top that can give you more stability. \u201cYou can also get mats with dual surfaces, featuring a smooth surface on one side and textured grip on the other,\u201d Chelsea Jackson Roberts<\/a>, a yoga instructor at Peloton<\/a> in NYC, tells SELF. If you practice both hot, fast-paced yoga and slower flows, a more versatile option might be your best choice.<\/p>\n AccordionItemContainerButton<\/p>\n A thinner, lightweight mat is ideal if you often take your mat on the go because it can pack away easily. Thinner mats should be able to fit in carrying straps, roll up into your yoga mat or gym bag<\/a>, or even fold down into compact squares.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n