A few weeks ago, I packed up all my belongings (except one suitcase) and moved across the country. As I was packing, I did a lot of groaning and grumbling. “Why on earth do I have so much stuff!? I don’t even use most of this stuff!” Well, now that I’m back in California and living out of that one suitcase I left behind, I am beginning to understand why I own so much stuff.
I miss my things. I miss my husband and my cat (not my “things,” but still). I miss my dishes and my sheets, my desk. And, yes, the couch I was so willing to abandon just to lighten our load. But one of the things things I miss most is my Jade Harmony yoga mat.
I have a mat here, but I’ll be honest—it sucks. I was my first yoga mat, and I bought it in my college’s book store when I was 18 years old because it was on the required list for my first yoga class. Sure, I get a little nostalgic when I unroll it for a quick practice, but it’s thin and slippery and it just won’t do.
In my years practicing yoga, I’ve had a lot of yoga mats. I think it’s the same for most yoga students. You start with a crappy mat because you don’t know anything about what you want. Then, you start to understand the poses and the kind of practice you like so you upgrade and get something a little better. And you’ll keep doing it until you find the one that’s best for you. You fall in love, and go steady, then it just doesn’t feel right to use any other mat.
Well, if you’re not in a committed relationship with a mat, let me save you some trouble. In my mind, there are only two kinds of yoga mats that are worthy of a commitment: Jade and Manduka. Don’t bother with the rest. They’ll just clutter your closet, deplete your bank account, and be something else to move someday.
What mat do you use? How did you know it was your match?
I recently just bought a Jade yoga mat – you're right, it's love at first sight. Before I was using a pvc mat from target, it's slippery and really thin. I will never use another mat besides Jade again!
I had a crappy Wal Mart mat for like 7 years and eventually really liked it. Somewhere in the middle I bought a crappy gaiam mat from a bookstore and it was by far the worst mat ever.
A couple years ago I got a Prana Revolution which I adore, but I'm small and I feel lost on it. So a couple months ago I bought a Manduka Pro Black Mat – which feels really good, but I slip around on it like a slip n slide once I get a little sweaty. I've done all the recommended stuff to make it better, but it's not working out. Absolutely horrible. I hate it. I've heard so many people love them, but my Revolution mat blows it away.
I LOVE my Agile Eco yoga mat. No slipping, just the right amount of cushion, and eco friendly- which means friendly to my body, too. 🙂 Reasonably priced as well!
I am a Jade convert as well — couldn't imagine my practice now without it!
My favorite mat was a Gaiam and had little rubber dots on it, like the ugly orange one at the YJ office. It ended up not working out long-term because the rubber dots disintegrated within about 6 months. Maybe I should give Jade a chance.
April, I agree with you. The reason I have a Jade mat and not a Manduka is a the slipperiness of the Manduka in warm classes. I sweat like a pig, so Jade is the only way to go for me… However, I do like Manduka for more alignment-based classes without so much sweating.. because they are cushy and super high-quality.
Believe it or not, my Jade mat is actually starting to get worn (I think it's 3 or 4 years old now). It's starting to peel off where my hands and feet go in Down Dog, so I'm thinking about buying a new one. I don't think Mandukas ever wear out.. ever. So it all just depends on what you're looking for.
I think I've thought WAY too much about this. 🙂
I rock a purple Jade Edge Mat with the Ogee edge. It was love at first sight and obsession after my first practice. The wavey edge really makes it like a magic carpet!
I have a manduka black, which I've never tried in hot yoga class (it's so heavy!). I also have an old, thin, but fabulously non-slippery mat that I always take to classes. I have NO idea where I got it, which kills me, because I love it and would love to know I could replace it. I also recently bought a lotuspad that's growing on me.
PS I LOVE my manduka, but again, I haven't taken it to a hot class.