The appropriate no-slip yoga mat retains the physique grounded and aligned whereas offering much-needed cushioning for joints and muscular tissues. Nonetheless, most mats are produced from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or coated with protecting seals to maintain them from sticking collectively throughout manufacturing and provides them long-term sturdiness, each of which might make the floor slippery in the course of the first few makes use of. Others are designed with a closed-cell floor—nice for holding moisture and particles out, however more difficult for traction throughout a sweaty class.
Add in heated observe rooms and residual physique oils and lotions, and even the very best high quality mat can initially really feel slick and unstable.
Many yogis swear by a brand new viral development—salt-scrubbing—to offer their mats added grip and stickiness.
“Salt is a good way to interrupt that preliminary barrier of the ‘new mat feeling,’ and I like to recommend doing it a minimum of twice inside the first month of working towards in your new mat,” says Atlanta-based yoga teacher Freya Locklair, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP.
“I like to recommend doing it a minimum of twice inside the first month of working towards in your new mat.”—Freya Locklair, RYT 500
Christian Regester, SVP of product at yoga attire and tools model Manduka, says the model recommends the salt scrub methodology to interrupt in its PVC-based PRO and different mats. This is how one can salt scrub a yoga mat:
- Sprinkle coarse sea salt on prime of mat
- Depart it to set for twenty-four hours
- Scrub in salt utilizing a washcloth with a small quantity of water
- Wipe the mat clear and dangle it to dry
How does salt-scrubbing a yoga mat work?
“Salt and sweat break down the highest layer of the mat, so the fabric turns into extra porous and higher in a position to take in sweat and create traction,” says Locklair. “Over time, you will notice the distinction within the areas of your mat the place you place your arms and ft, as a result of they are going to have extra of a matte look as a result of the highest layer has worn down.”
She recommends rushing up the breaking-in course of by showering earlier than class to take away residual physique and hair merchandise and utilizing yoga mat sprays and different cleansers sparingly on new mats.
“Cleansing removes the sweat that’s useful in giving your mat that ‘grippy’ feeling, which ends up in a safer and extra steady asana observe,” she explains. “Additionally, some cleaners depart behind a residue that may make mats sticky and unstable.”
As a substitute, she recommends wiping off extra moisture after observe and hanging your mat to air dry indoors, giving time for sweat and salt time to totally take in and add tackiness to the floor.
Some mat supplies are slippier or require extra salting than others, so she suggests buying round for the best mat to your explicit yoga observe. Locklair prefers an open-cell model mat (just like the B Yoga On a regular basis Mat or Iuga Professional Mat) for decent yoga lessons as a result of they want “little or no breaking in and supply extra traction.” However these kinds of mats do lure particles and moisture, so that they must be cleaned and changed extra often than closed-cell mats (like Manduka’s Professional and eKO mats.) The latter are also nice for slower-paced light and restorative lessons, if you’re much less prone to sweat.
And in case you do end up sliding round on a brand new mat, each Locklair and Regester each suggest utilizing a efficiency yoga towel to soak up extra moisture and add traction for sweaty palms and ft.
“Nonetheless, a towel does stop your sweat from seeping into the mat and prevents the pure breakdown of the highest layer,” says Locklair. An excellent compromise? Beginning class with out a mat towel, after which placing one down when the floor turns into slippery.
In the end, identical to nailing that elusive pose or respiration by means of a troublesome asana, breaking in your new mat requires time, endurance, and observe.
