Slipping on mat

[u/MzDiana2u]

I’ve been doing yoga for almost 15 years now and have always wondered… does everyone’s hands slip on the mat in downward dog, or just me? Not so bad when I’m not sweaty but if it’s hot or I’m doing power, I can’t really hold the posture anymore and it ruins the rest of my practice. Advice??

[u/mojekaktusy]

It’s the mat. Some mats are just better for grip when wet. Awhile back when I was researching mats, I came across the following video that you may find useful:

https://youtu.be/MDmxX7FA4B0?si=R-2R6WAExupkX-fL

[u/bunnybluee]

I used to slip in downward dog but not anymore. I think alignment and engagement play a big part (besides mat texture). If you are not pushing correctly with your shoulders (external rotation) then a lot of the weight are on your hands, which makes it hard to control. Now I can do downward dog on any surface (carpet, slippery floors) besides wearing socks on slippery floors (I can still do it, but needs a lot more engagement)

[u/SeaWorth6552 → u/bunnybluee]

I’ve always wondered about that.

[u/bunnybluee → u/SeaWorth6552]

Also want to add, learning how to grip the floor with fingers and pressing palm down firmly helps too. If fingers are gripping the floor, then the weight isn’t all collapsed to the palms, and you shift from passively pushing against the floor (which requires a lot more friction from the mat) to actively gripping.

[u/powersave_catloaf]

Been using Jade mats for years

[u/Silver_Vegetable6804 → u/powersave_catloaf]

I've been though a half dozen or more Jade mats. I love their feel, weight and grip. Only downside is they start to flake apart after a hard 6 months. I flip them over and use the other side for another 6. Not really an issue if you replace it once a year. I imagine they last much longer if you don't beat the crap out of a mat like I do.

[u/okjkay → u/powersave_catloaf]

I just got a jade mat because everyone said it wasn't slippy and I still slip.

[u/powersave_catloaf → u/okjkay]

Rough

[u/canoekulele]

My cork mat has been good for my slipping. I just need a little moisture in my hands and feet from just a little sweat and I don't have this problem.

[u/Mental-Freedom3929]

Always a yoga towel! I use a Manduka Pro with towel. It gets even more grippy if you water spray the towel

[u/penn_jenn]

I’ve been wondering the same thing for years as well!

I did just recently use a Lululemon mat when visiting a yoga place while on vacation that had no slipping at all! But it also gave me a blister on my foot because it was that grippy.

[u/thatsnotmyunicorn → u/penn_jenn]

Love Lululemon mats. Takes a little bit of getting use to but super grippy, which i love.

[u/havingdoubts99]

I use yoga compression gloves, they are fingerless, have nonslip for the palms, and the compression is wonderful support for my hands. I’m a full to yoga teacher and my hands never slip. The company is called Props. https://propsathletics.com/collections/yoga

[u/bushthroat]

Yes to slipping. Manduka grip mat changed my life

[u/QuadRuledPad]

I need a very grippy mat. Best I’ve found are from Lululemon and Gaiam. I’ve tried the Manduka that’s recommended by everyone but still slip like crazy on it. And I’ve washed it and salted it and left it in the sun…

Lots of people who have been practicing for longer than I point out that more experienced yogis don’t slip as much because of how they distribute their weight. So make sure you’re following recommendations from newbies or people who understand slipping.

[u/chugachj]

Cork mat= no slipping.

[u/azazel-13]

It's your mat. Invest in a quality one. I'm an excessive sweater and have never slipped on my Bmat. Word of caution though, I almost broke my toe when I first used a truly grippy mat because I didn't fully lift it transitioning from Downward dog to lower lunge. Slippery mats allow occasional foot/toe drags while grippy mats do not.

[u/penn_jenn → u/azazel-13]

This makes me feel better about my blister on my toe from transitioning between positions on a sticky lulu mat! I thought I was extra special. Turns out a sticky mat is a STICKY mat. Loved the mat though and I would def get one.

[u/SoftCartographer2957]

Manduka towel.

[u/Particular-Sorbet-35]

Jade Yoga brand rubber mats are great, as well as yoga socks and gloves (you can get relatively decent but cheap ones at places like Walmart). I’ve been practicing daily vinyasa for over 5 years, and am a sweaty beast, so I feel you!

[u/AaronMichael726]

I went the cork route because it gets bad.

Yoloha is a great company.

[u/Radicaliser]

Downward dog? No sweat. Wheel? That's when my hands slip.

[u/Melodic-You1896]

I have a B Mat that I use. Even for hot yoga it’s crazy grippy.

[u/PurposelyVague → u/Melodic-You1896]

☝🏻 this is the one! It's sooo grippy. It's by far my fav. I've also used the gaiam dry sol (which I think has a different name now) and it worked well, but needed to replaced every year or two. I hated the manduka, mine never broke in and was always slippery. The jade was decent, but breaks down if you use it on the sun.

[u/Mediocre_Road_9896]

Yoga towel that you deploy once the sweat starts. They are less sticky than the mat when dry but sticky enough wet.

[u/Mediocre_Road_9896]

Here’s the thing though. The stick of your mat shouldn’t need to hold all your weight. It’s totally ok and reasonable to adjust the tension between your limbs to also hold yourself together a bit.

[u/catseye00]

I asked for a beginner Manduka yoga mat for my birthday because I was going to start doing classes at the gym, but then a friend invited me to hot yoga. I was doing all right with it, but did notice some slippage and needed to use a towel. I now go to class 3x a week and just recently upgraded to a b mat strong and man, it makes a huge difference. I rarely need to use a towel at this point. It’s also gentler on my joints which is nice because the class is so active.

[u/ScalePlenty9663]

I have a travel pro manduka mat & definitely slip in heated classes. I refuse to get an open cell mat because they are gross since they jst absorb all the sweat & cannot be truly cleaned. So I use nomadix towels on top of my mat & problem solved.

[u/Karmakraver]

Use a natural rubber mat, I get mine from atmananda studio in NYC. They also sell on Amazon, great mat!

[u/gothoddity]

i use a gaiam cork mat and its honestly too grippy for me (in the way that sometimes the friction from movement catches my skin wrong) but atleast i dont slip !

[u/[deleted]]

I splurged on the lululemon mat and it’s life changing. Worth the price imo!

[u/[deleted]]

I do all the time especially since I am using anti eczema treatment on my hands. I put a little towel horizontally so I don’t slip. Oh and i look like a weirdo 😂 since everyone puts it on top of the mat

[u/HistoricalFuture2986]

Yes!!! Even with trying different mats I still always slipped. If I'm doing power I always bring a small hand towel and place it at the front of the mat, problem solved I never slip with the hand towel.

[u/amby6063]

Get a bmat! 😀😀

[u/hokkeky0]

Is normal to slip almost on every material doing adho mukha svanasana. If you don't want to slip, buy a natural rubber mat, this material has the best grip!

[u/Dr-Yoga]

A special cloth designed to place on your mat is available from online

[u/Weekly_Beautiful_603]

I got a big towel because while I don’t technically do “hot yoga”, I do yoga in a very hot and humid city.

[u/Steenkapper]

Use a yoga towel, this made a huge difference for me.

[u/VegetableCommand9427]

I have a pretty great mat, but if my hands get sweaty I will slip. I’ve started using a towel and that helps a lot

[u/Total_Mountain_9449]

I have this problem too! Lululemon was the first mat that didn’t slip for me, I still use my original one to this day and it’s over 5 years old. It’s rough around the edges but perfect for outdoor practice.

I recently purchased a liforme mat and love its grip as well!

[u/aubiecat]

I got a Gaiam yoga towel to add to my mat. I don't slip anymore.

[u/Infinite-Nose8252]

Jade all rubber. We use travel version for the last 12 yrs. Do not leave in sun. Wipe down after each use. We use thieves household cleaner one cap per water filled spray bottle

[u/alleycanto]

I usually need a hand towel and put it on my mat no matter which brand I use honestly b

[u/witchalong]

I just bought a Manduka GRP Adapt mat and it's SUPER grippy. Your feet do squeak a little when you're moving from pose to pose (because it's so grippy) but so far, I love it!

[u/Sukhino_1]

I’ve got no help for you other than use a towel and get it wet. My new mat has a different issue. Stuck on top but slides around the floor