I have talked a lot about Manduka in the past, but today I want to address a company who makes very similiar yoga mats at a lower price. The company prAna makes some really nice yoga mats definitely worth giving a shot if you don’t want to pay for a more expensive Manduka Yoga Mat. Most of the reviews I have read about prAna have been nothing but good so there seems to be a large group of happy buyers – even Manduka gets the occasional negative complaint!

prAna The Revolution Yoga Mat – This is the Mercedes of Yoga Mats. Out of every yoga mat I have reviewed, none have as many good reviews than this mat. It is an extra wide mat which is an aspect not many mats address – this is also one of the reasons I really like this mat. Often times I feel a little constricted on the 2 foot wide mats. This mat is more expensive than most, however definitely worth it if you are looking for that kind of quality. I highly recommend you buy from Amazon here for the cheapest rate. I wasn’t able to find this cheaper anywhere else.

prAna The Natural Yoga Mat – As the name says – made completely out of all natural rubber. This mat has some really good anti-slip attributes so it’s great for all you heavy sweaters out there. This mat is also extra long so its great for taller people.  The only bad thing I have heard about this mat is its’ smell – but you will get over that. You can get this mat for as low as $27 through this link on Amazon.

prAna E.C.O. Sticky Mat – If you are one of those green conscious people, than this yoga mat is for you. Definitely a lot cheaper than the Manduka equivalent and just as good. One major problem people talk about is its durability – which you can expect out of an eco friendly mat. People who practice Yoga 5-6x a week say it will last you about 6 months. You can buy this mat cheap through Amazon here.

Manduka BlackMatPRO 71-Inch Yoga and Pilates Mat

As you can all tell by now, I am a huge Manduka Fan. But it’s for a good reason! these mats are simply the best there is. This particular one provides superior comfort, while still only being 1/4 inch thick. Not only the but the amount of slip protection it offers is unmatchable. While it is a little bit more expensive than other mats, it will last you 2 to 3 times longer than a traditional yoga mat. So in the long run, this mat is a lot cheaper. Want to buy it? It is currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Tapas Ultra Nature Collection Yoga Mat 1/4″

Here is the 2nd best one that people seem to rate well. While it can’t compare with the Manduka 1/4, it is still a good yoga mat to get started with. It will last a normal practioner about a year. A good alternative if you dont want to pay the $70 for the Manduka. Comes in Green, Red, and Blue. You can get this mat cheapest at Amazon through this link.

1/4 inch is a perfect size for all skill levels.

Regardless of your skill level, the 1/4 inch mat is probably the most well rounded thinkness you can get in a mat. Because of that, it is great for any Yoga practioner, regardless of your skill level. If you want a thicker mat, I suggest going 5/16 inch.

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.

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!

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.

Hugger Mugger Cotton Yoga Mat - The is one of the more expensive mats made of cotton but it has some really nice features. Its padding is almost 2 inches in height – the most padding you can find in any type of yoga mat. The Hugger Mugger Cotton Mat is only available through Amazon Here. It is just under $110.

MindBodyBliss Natural Cotton Large Yoga Mat - This one is probably the biggest Yoga Mat money can buy. It is made of all natural cotton and spans 72×36 inches making it the largest yoga mat available. I like this particular one because it is half the price as the Hugger Mugger yet offers just about the same quality. Although, it is not as thick as the HM. It is currently on sale for $10 off at Amazon through this link.

Yoga Cotton Waffle Mat - Here is a good bargin brand cotton mat. While not as big as the others, still a very cost effective solution. Pretty decent quality too from what I have read. Check it out here.

Why I dis-like Cotton Yoga Mats

There is only one thing I hate about this fabric – while it does provide excellent grip and traction, it tends to collect sweat like no other. This thing will reek if you don’t wash it weekly. They can get really nasty, really fast depending on your style of Yoga – Especially if you practice hot yoga.

After the class was over, I understood why they all had yoga towels! Midway through class I noticed that my yoga mat was starting to pool sweat like crazy. I also started slipping all over the place after a good amount built up on it – making it almost impossible to keep up with the rest of the class.

If you are looking for a really good Yoga towel, I suggest you buy a Yogitoes. It is currently on sale at amazon here.

Yogitoes Skidless Full Size Yoga Mat Towel: The Perfect Solution!

About half of them had the Yogitoes brand so naturally I just had to have one(ok so i’m a little trendy). But seriously, this particular Yoga towel is the best because of the amount of extra grip it provides – check out the specs:

• 100 percent silicone eco nubs grip the mat or carpet.
• Premium mat-size yoga towel for slip prevention and sweat absorption.
• Keeps your hands and feet from slipping mid position.
• Measures 24 x 68 inches – will cover most yoga mats.
• Can buy it in many different colors including: blue, green, orange, purple, red, sand, white, stone, earth, fire, gold, and many more. For a full list of colors, check out the amazon page here.

Only one negative thing about this towel

Not everything is perfect – I noticed that after a few washes the color really starts to bleed out while washing. Because of that, I suggest you get a light colored towel – white won’t bleed obviously.

Manduka BlackMat PRO Review

• Superior durability and lifetime.
• Extremely comfortable especially on your spine, hips, knees, and elbows.
• Really slip resistant, although not sticky.
• 71 inches long; 26 inches wide; 1/4 inch thick – Don’t think you will find a mat any bigger than this.

For those of you into power Yoga, this mat is definitely a good choice. When I joined my power Yoga classes, I noticed that my regular yoga mats really couldn’t stand up to the wear and tear during extensive practice. I would go through a cheaper mat in just a couple months time. I bought this Manduka off a suggestion from my teacher. He was totally right because this thing is going 6 months so far and still in great condition.

What I also like about this mat is that it really sticks to the floor. On my regular mats, normal power Yoga moves would cause the mat bunch up and would require me to bend down and straighten it out while everyone kept working out. The BlackMatPRO solved this problem.

Another reason why I am reviewing this product is because a lot of other people seem to really like it as well. Here is one review:

ADifferentView “charaka”

“I have been practicing yoga for almost 3 years now. I feel that the Black Mat Pro is the best investment I have made on Yoga related stuff so far. It is comfortable and stable for any type of floor work. Also great for standing and inversions asansa”

The only negative thing I can say about this mat is that it is a little on the heavy side because of the extra padding. I am not too concerned about it being heavy because I don’t whine about little girly things like that, however I have seen a lot of reviews from people saying it is a little annoying to tote around all the time.

If you are interested in buying this mat, it is currently on sale at Amazon here.

Lower back pain is a common ailment. Most often it is brought on by weak or stressed muscles in the back, as well as in the stomach and sides. The obliques (side muscles) wrap around from the spine to the pelvic girdle to provide support for the entire core of the body. All of these muscles work together to do a very difficult job. Keep you upright. The best way to keep this area of the body free from pain is to develop a good, healthy workout schedule. When it comes to strengthening and relaxing muscles nothing is better than Yoga.

Why Yoga?

Yoga is the perfect lower back exercise—in fact Yoga is the perfect exercise period. It not only builds up the muscles with slow, concentrated movements, it stretches the muscles. Muscles often spasm because they bunch up and tighten. Yoga pulls them out and loosens them up.

The Best Yoga Exercises for Lower Back Pain

The Corpse: This very simple exercise is pure relaxation for your lower back. Lay flat on the floor. Do not substitute a soft surface like a bed for this exercise. Place your hands at your sides and breathe deeply to relax the lower back muscles. If this position causes too much pain in your lower back at the beginning, bend the knees and place the bottom of your feet on the floor to ease the tension in your back further.

The Cat: This exercise stretches all of the muscles of the pelvic girdle and the lower back. Get on your hands and knees with your back straight and your head in line with your back, looking down at the floor. Inhale and slowly push your back up toward the ceiling while tucking your head and your tailbone downward until you are looking between your arms. Exhale and slowly return to the original position. Repeat this ten times.

The Fish: Lie on your back and bend your knees placing the bottom of your feet on the floor by your hips. Place your hands at your side, palms down and keep your chin up with the back of your head on the floor. Inhale and push your buttocks up slowly toward the ceiling as far as you can with your feet, hands and head remaining in the original position. Exhale and slowly lower your buttocks to the floor. Repeat 10 times.

These are just a few of the marvelous Yoga exercises you can do to improve your core condition, relax your back, and get rid of back pain. Once the pain is gone continue with your Yoga workouts to prevent future lower back problems.

He isn’t annoying with it though which is why I think his yoga mats sell so well. Yes, students will find better deals online or can buy a single mat for cheaper than what he offers. However, this doesn’t stop people from buying them by any means. I would say that 50% of the students in my class all use the yoga mats they bought of my teacher which he got wholesale.

You can buy some really nice Yoga Mats online at wholesale price – Check these ones out:

4mm Thick Yoga Mats - You can buy this whole pack of 24 Yoga mats for about $330. These are actually high quality mats which you could easily price at $35 each and make plenty of sales from.

Environmentally Friendly ECO/TPE Yoga Mats – These are more expensive but they tailor to a special niche of people – people who are trying to be ‘green’. For some reason there are a ton of these people interested in Yoga. They comes in a 24 pack and cost $600 and are available in blue, black, and orange. However, since these a special yoga mats, you could easily charge $50 for one and still turn a decent profit.

GOGO Premium 6mm Thick High Density Sticky Yoga Mat - These mats are particularly popular because of their stickiness. Makes them great for power yoga. A good choice for certain types of Yoga that require really sticky mats.

Think about this – a new student comes in, signs up for a month worth of classes and buys a yoga mat as well. Even if this person never comes back again after that month(seems like a lot of people don’t come back), he has just made an extra $20-$30 dollars off this person. This can add up especially when you get 1 new interested customer a day.