Manduka PRO Yoga Mat – Grippy Textured 6mm

This was my first yoga mat in this price category and so I did quite a bit of research before deciding on this mat, including talking to yoga instructors and students, reading blogs, correspondence with Manduka, as well as the reviews on Amazon. This mat is safe for those with latex allergies, has a lifetime warranty and good grip and support when using. The mat is easy to care for (don’t put in a wash machine!) and can be left in the sunshine. I made the decision between the ProLite and the Manduka Pro based on weight and ease of transporting to and from the yoga studio; If you primarily practice at home or the mat would be stationary, then the Manduka Pro may be the better choice. Also if you can carry around 7 pounds and you have significant joint problems the Manduka Pro may be a better option…but for most people, the cushion and support of the Manduka Prolite is probably sufficient and the lighter 4 pounds is easier to transport. I ruled out the Jade mat as it does not have a lifetime warranty and from what I have read and been told, be prepared to replace it every 1-3 years. Manduka and Jade have the highest ratings overall and so those where the main contenders in my search for the right mat. I would have considered a rubber mat, but I have latex allergies.
My experience with using this mat is that at first it was slightly slippery as others have mentioned. But in my experience it quickly got “grippy” with just washing down after use with a mat cleaner and paper towel…I didn’t not do the salt treatment or make any other extra efforts. I have had the “sensation” of slipping on this mat, but my hands and feet were secure and were not moving. This mat WILL be slippery in a Hot class as it is dense and the sweat doesn’t absorb into the mat, but the very simple solution is to buy and use a mat towel; I recommend the Manduka eQua, wet down with water. I do not slip in Hot yoga classes using a mat towel and this mat. The mat gives more support (cushion) to joints than other mats I’ve used, but is dense (stiff) enough that I can do balance poses easily. I have had to adjust how I move on this mat as I can not slip my feet or hands around on it if they aren’t in the position I want. This has taken some getting used to, but being more mindful of the placement of my body on the mat is probably making my positions better overall. As with all sports equipment, individuals will have difference preferences, but after much research and my own experience I would highly recommend this mat!
(One last note that I was initially confuse about…the Manduka Black Pro mat and the Manduka Pro colored mats are exactly the same except for the color.)

Good traction for hands and feet, lays completely flat for a nice grounded and firm practice every time (I store it rolled) . Quality material and colour.
I did not do the salting method to break it in faster, like the instructions suggest you COULD do.
Not necessary, it breaks in well with consistent use. I will be buying another for my spouse .

Once I had gone to enough yoga classes to determine that it was something I would be doing on a regular basis and I should therefore get some decent gear, I bought a Manduka PROlite to replace the cheap exercise mat I’d started out with. Immediate improvement! The density of the Manduka meant my knees no longer hurt in certain poses, and the mat had better grip than the one I’d been using. The mat did have a faint smell at first, but this quickly dissipated. And while substantial, it fit easily in my mat bag and was easy to carry (this last feature was confirmed when I had to drop my car off for an emergency repair after yoga class and then had to walk home with the mat slung across my back: roughly 2 miles, most of it uphill).

A little over 3 years of regular practice later, this mat is still going strong, still looking great, and I never get tired of that soothing Pacific Blue. This mat looks like it could last forever. Meanwhile, I have watched other students go through mat after mat that started falling apart after just a few months of use.

Others have complained that this mat is slippery. I never had this problem because I never had a problem with sweaty hands and feet. Then I began taking heated power yoga classes and commenced to sweat veritable frog ponds. Things did indeed get slippery. So I bought a Yogitoes skidless mat towel. Problem solved.

As for cleaning, I just handwash the thing with warm water and mild soap, hose it off, and let it dry in the sun.

Although the PROlite is a bit more expensive than other mats, you get what you pay for: a good-looking, durable mat that provides cushioning and grip. If you have a problem with sweaty extremities, a skidless towel or some grippy yoga gloves/socks should take care of it.

Rutschfest, schöne Farbe, gute Habtik – verwende sie regelmäßig.