Elephant Yoga Organic Cotton Yoga Rug - Handwoven and Eco Friendly - Ideal for Ashtanga Mysore Hot Yoga Pilates Power Yoga

Product Information

While some yoga mats a re able to be washed by machine, almost all yoga mats force you to scrub dirt and sweat off of your mat by hand, which is not only annoying and time-consuming, but also reduces the durability and resiliency of the yoga mat. When working out, you want your mat to provide stability and comfort, so you do not have to worry about dirt or sweat impeding your routine. 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. Yoga mats also have the advantage of being more portable than yoga rugs. What makes yoga rugs a good option for durability can make them a poor option for portability, as the dense nature of yoga rugs can make them difficult to roll up, making them bulkier for transport.

Finding the best yoga mat to do your stretches on can help make the most of every practice. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Bikram or Ashtanga, whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a total newcomer – a good mat will help you hold your poses wherever you are, so you can perfect your posture and keep your flow without worrying about slipping or sliding. For advanced yogis that perform headstands and other inversions, you may want additional support. Using a headstand as an example, your hands and wrists hold a lot of tension, so using a yoga mat and a yoga rug together can enhance your comfort level.

What’s the difference between a yoga mat and a yoga rug?

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.

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!Oh, and if you have any little ones at home running around at home, why not get them involved in yoga too? If you scroll down to the bottom of the list, you’ll find our choice of the best kids’ yoga mat.

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. There are several reasons to consider a cork yoga mat. The first is the environment – when you shave a layer of cork off the tree it actually encourages it to grow and replace it. It doesn’t get much more renewable than that.Using a yoga mat and yoga rug together can also decrease your distance to the ground, offering more stability. In certain balancing yoga poses, such as standing splits, decreasing your distance to the ground by providing more height, can help you more efficiently perform the pose. Prices can vary, and like with most things in this life, you can be simply paying for the brand. A good rule of thumb to follow is: anything different to your bog standard-sized PVC yoga mat is going to cost a little bit more than your average. And if you’re a new yogi, you may want to start off with a cheaper, more basic mat while you figure out what type is best for you.

So when making a decision whether to buy a yoga mat or yoga rug, we highly recommend making the logical choice - yoga mat.The Warrior Plus mat is the big sister of the original Warrior mat – one of the most popular yoga mats around. It’s a little longer than a standard mat and offers 6mm of padding for extra cushioning, which is good for sore knees or therapeutic practice. This, combined with its reasonable price, means it’s a great mat for beginners and more experienced yogis on a budget. We recognise this by offering over 25 different, high-quality yoga mats. Need eco-friendly? We've got it. Extra dense? That too. Our stylish yoga mats come in a range of vibrant colours to energise your yoga practice – just choose your favourite colour! For additional calm and poise, we have a lavender-scented mat in gentle purple tones. Or if you're always on the go, try our ultra-light travel mat, with fabric mesh for added strength. Yoga rugs are a more traditional floor mat for your yoga practice. Since yoga was originally conceived to be performed without a mat, yoga rugs were used by ancient yoga practitioners to add an extra layer of support between their feet/knees and the ground. Why Use a Yoga Rug? Yoga mats and yoga rugs can also be used together in distinct situations where you may need extra cushion. The yoga rug can give you the natural feel on your hands and feet, while the yoga mat underneath pads and stabilizes your hips and knees. 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.