Manduka PROlite review: the best travel yoga mat money can buy!

Hey Guys and Gals,

Today, I want to cover the topic of travel Yoga mats. First off, I am a very serious Yoga practicioner – however my job as a flight attendant often colides with my Yoga studies. For that reason, I usually always carry two things on flights with me: my advanced yoga book and my Manduka PROlite travel Yoga mat. Let’s take a look at this Manduka mat.

Manduka 71-Inch PROlite Travel Yoga and Pilates Mat
The thing I like about this mat is also the quality that makes it easy to travel with – the weight. It is probably the most lightweight yoga mat that I have ever used. A lot of yoga mats tend to absorb sweat, which really increases the weight of the mat. This mat doesn’t absorb anything, yet still is a very sticky mat when it comes to gripping the floor and your feet. Another great thing about this mat is it is really easy to roll up and make it small. While it has a good amount of padding, its shape makes it really easy to roll up and store in a suitcase or whatever it is you like to travel with. If you want to buy this mat, I highly recommend you buy it through Amazon here. You won’t find it cheaper anywhere else!

Doesn’t have to be used for travel either

I hear a lot of complaints from people saying that mats tend to be really heavy and annoying to lug around. The Manduka Prolite is extremely easy to transport because of its unique shape when rolled up and its weight. Even though it is a travel mat, you could easily use this one as your everyday mat and not have to worry about it wearing out. It is extremely durable and is designed to last your whole lifetime.

Jade makes one sticky yoga mat that will never slip on you.

Hello All! Sorry for my lack of posting as of late.

Recently, I have been getting a lot of questions about what is the best sticky yoga mat you can buy. After going through many different mats in my day, I have found that Jade makes some really great sticky yoga mats that are 100% eco-friendly. If you sweat a lot, or take a Yoga style that is heavy in movements, I highly recommend you get a sticky mat to avoid having your mat travel around the room when you are practicing.

My personal Favorite: Jade Harmony Pro 3/16-Inch Yoga Mat

This mat is a favorite with many people at my school, as well as on any online website I have checked. The Jade Harmony mat is extremely sticky – both when gripping the ground and also good at gripping your feet and hands. Even when my mat is completely soaked in sweat, it has no problem with traction or slippage. My only negative I can say about this mat is that it is heavy and reeks of rubber for the first month of use. However, after a good sweat bath and washing, the smell will fade.

Available in all sorts of colors – from pink, green, blue, red, orange, black, brown and a few others. You can get this mat cheapest at Amazon through this link. It is currently on sale for 10% off.

Want a thicker mat? Try the Jade Fusion 5/16-Inch mat.

This is a massive yoga mat that provides an extra layer of padding, but still has the non-slip, sticky properties of the small Jade Harmony mat. Great if you find some of the positions tough on your joints. It is available in green, blue, and red. Got good news for you if you want to buy this mat – it is currently on sale at Amazon for $11 off through this link. Amazon is definitely the best place to buy your Yoga supplies from.

As I said, if you are a heavy sweater, or your Yoga style is movement based, you definitely need a non-slip yoga mat. While there are definitely cheaper mats out there than the ones above, none compare in quality and durability which is why I included these in my review.

Keep Practicing!

Thick Yoga Mats: Review of Best Thick Mats And How to Stay Safe.

Lately, I have had a lot of questions about where to buy thick yoga mats, and whether or not it is safe to use them. If you find that a thin yoga mat still puts pressure on your body, you might want to consider upgrading to a thicker yoga mat. That said, I can only recommend a thick yoga mat if you truly can’t take the pain from a thinner mat.

Manduka Eco Yoga Kit (5mm thick eKO mat) – If you don’t know by now, I am a huge fan of Manduka. I love these because they are eco-friendly and durable as hell. This is one of their thicker models that is still quite easy to balance on. This is my recommended purchase if you are looking for a thick mat that also provides stability. Comes in Red, Blue, or Green. This Mat is currently on sale for $27 off at Amazon through this link.

Jade Fusion 74-Inch x 5/16-Inch Yoga Mat – This is a really great mat that is both thick, durable, and provides decent stability. Comes in Green, Red, or Blue. A lot of people really love this one, however it is one of the more expensive mats out there which is why I recommend the Manduka over this one. This mat is also on sale for $11 off at Amazon – buy it here.

3/8” Pilates Aero Yoga Mat - This is a super thick yoga mat – I don’t think you will find one any thinker than this. There are two things I dont like about this mat – its just a little bit to thick making it hard to balance on, and the durability is not that great. This one will probably only last you a year but for $20, you can’t go wrong.

As it turns out, thick yoga mats aren’t as ’safe’ as thinner ones depending on your skill level and body type. Thicker mats are a lot harder to balance on as the mat gives under areas of your foot that support the bulk of your weight. This means you will constantly be wiggling around while other people stand strong.

I have also heard that thicker mats can cause back and knee problems, which does make sense as it forces your body to support your weight in ways it was not meant to.

With all that said, if you are willing to sacrifice usability for comfort, then I suggest you buy one of the mats above.