This morning I awoke nice and early and headed off to a power yoga class.
I was really anxious to try out the new yoga mat that I purchased a couple weeks ago and arrived ready to stretch and sweat.
After considering all of your advice on which yoga mat to buy, I ended up purchasing a Manduka PROlite mat.
I chose the Manduka mat in part because I liked that it was thicker and longer than other mats and also because it popped up on sale on RueLaLa a couple of days after I started my yoga mat search. Yes, a sale sealed the deal. (The sale also dictated the color I bought. I was hoping for the pretty teal mat!)
When I unrolled my mat this morning and the class began, I was instantly pleased. It was thick and longer than my previous cheapy mat and I could stretch out my 5’7’’ body on the mat and still have room above my head and below my feet.
My issues with the mat started as we began to work on the various poses, including downward dog. My hands started to slip forward. I repositioned them. They started slipping again.
This happened over and over until I got so irritated that I grabbed a mat from the yoga studio’s selection to use for the duration of the class.
After class I spoke with the instructor who also happened to own a Manduka mat. She said that a friend of hers experienced the same problem with his Manduka PROlite mat and she recommended that I clean it with tea tree oil to remove the film on the top of the mat. She also said I might want to look into using a towel on the mat as well.
All I can say is that a yoga mat that causes me to slip is no bueno. Hopefully the tea tree oil solution will work! The instructor said she would bring some for me to try out at the next class, so my hopes are high.
Breakfast
Since I was still quite warm by the time I arrived home from yoga, I didn’t want to make a hot breakfast and stuck with a cold yogurt bowl with lots of yummy toppings.
The base of the bowl was a cup of strawberry banana Greek yogurt that I topped with fresh raspberries, banana, chia seeds and Honey Nut Cheerios.
It was such an easy morning meal to put together, but all of the different flavors and textures resulted in one heck of a satisfying breakfast.
Perfect fuel to get the day started!
See ya after lunch!
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Hey Julie! When I got my Manduka mat everyone told me it slips for the first year due to the film but after that adjustment period it’s amazing (and totally worth it for that lifetime guarantee!). Hopefully the tea tree oil works for you but if not, I’d recommend a yogitoes towel or something to keep you from slipping in the mean time.
good to know! thanks for sharing, olivia!
I LOVED my yogitoes towel when I would take Yogilates. Doing that workout in a 95 degree room definitely caused a slippery mat. I always had the same trouble while doing downward dog. I never had any issues once I started using my yogitoes towel. I would highly recommend it! 🙂
I feel the towel makes or breaks a yoga practice! I invested in a good towel rather than the mat.
I think yoga sounds like it would be such a great way to relieve stress. I’m no where near ready for a class but I think I’d like to try some yoga on the tv. 🙂
I’ve never done yoga, but I’m clumsy as it is. The LAST thing I would need is a slippery mat while trying new positions! Hopefully the tea tree oil works for you! 🙂
Sorry to hear about the slipping! Hopefully the tea tree oil helps. I have a Gaiam mat and it seems to work really well – although I find that I seem to run out of space with all mats because I’m 5’10”. I think I need to find an extra long one!
Yum your breakfast looks so good. I haven’t had cold cereal in a very long time…
Thank goodness you weren’t doing any yoga moves where if you had slipped you could have hurt yourself! I hope you get it figured out 🙂
The more you use the mat the stickier it will get as well. I recommend spending a little time each day using it so that when you go to class it won’t be as sticky.
I mean slippery! oops
They make yoga gloves and socks so that you don’t slip. I have both, but I only use the socks!
I’ve had the same problem with a different kind of mat. It will get better with wear but my yoga instructor told us that you can even just wet a paper towel and scrub it down. Or fill the bath tub with water and slosh it around a little. No soap though or it will ooze out of the pore of the mat. My mat is definitely less slippery after just a couple of uses. Good luck!
I had to go with a hot breakfast today, it’s chilly and raining in Chicago!
I need more yoga in my life…I just need to prepare mentally for it!
My coworker uses a thin yoga towel on her mat. It’s super cute, too, so could cover up the colour of the mat!
Those raspberries look really good. We won’t be getting tasty ones for over a month still!
That yogurt bowl looks amazing…. I love Cheerios (or any cereal) in my yogurt for that necessary crunch! Have a great Thursday!!
Breakfast looks delish!
Yep all new yoga mats will do that, my manduka did the same. It has a pesky filmy layer that needs to work its way off so that’s why it’s slippery. I just kept a towel with me at first, now I hardly have any problems !
Have you ever heard of Yoga Rat?
They sell awesome yoga mats and towels. I’ve done a lot of heated and Ashtanga yogas and let me tell you, I haven’t done a lot of slipping!
Also, companies like Gaiam have put out yoga socks and mittens! I haven’t tried them, but they have little grips one them, making slipping less of an issue!
I’m not convinced!
PS: I absolutely love your blog! I’m trying to get more serious in regard to blogging. If you have any tips at all, I’d love to hear from you regarding the topic! And, also, should you have any questions about yoga, I’d love to answer them! I’ve been practicing different styles for a few years know and have acquired a lot of information pertaining to the subject! 🙂 I plan to one day get my yoga teacher training.
Lovely post, love
Caitlyn
I have a manduka too and it just takes a few classes to “break” it in. After that, you shouldn’t slip anymore. In the meantime, use a towel over the mat. Trust me – you will love your Manduka in no time!
This makes me crave my favorite breakfast: Greek Yoghurt + Honey Nut Cheerios + Banana!
YUM!
Your breakfast photos always look so good!
Julie,
I have been reading your blog for some time but have yet to comment. I wanted to let you know that I have been doing power vinyasa for about 3 years. Inevitably if you sweat on those mats you may always feel a bit of slip. They sell what are called yogitoes, these towels have grippers and they are key to not slipping. They are not cheap amazon usually has the best deals on them. I find that once you find a mat whose length and thickness fit you the key is a yogitoe. I hope this helps.
I hate slippery mats too!! I use a yoga towel on mine and find it to be WAY better. It makes yoga that much more enjoyable. No slipping and no gross, sweaty mat!
Hey Julie! I felt like such a noobie the first time I tried hot yoga with only a mat because I was slipping around like crazy. I looked around the room and realized pretty much everyone used a towel or a Yogitoes over their mat. I invested in a Yogitoes towel and LOVED it. As it gets sweatier, it works better at keeping your hands + feet from slipping…it’s like a miracle mat. I highly recommend getting one. Plus, you can just throw it in the laundry afterward. Mine still looks brand as new! p.s. long live the writing team! 😉
Julie!! You DEFINITELY must get a Yogitoe!! You will not regret it. I won’t do yoga without mine! Also, some people even use the spray bottle and spray their mat first and then lay the Yogitoe over it for even better grip! They’re amazing. Buy um on Amazon b/c you’ll get the best price 🙂
I hate mats that are slippery! SO sad 🙁 But I sure hope the oil helps ya out!
I use a yoga towel with my mat- or if it’s dirty I’ll just use a hand towel at the top of my mat to help with my hand grip. PS, my yoga towel is from Target, it’s not fancy but it does the trick and I’ve had it for three years now. When I travel, I just bring that with my ipad (I have some yoga dvds stored) for easy on the go yoga!
Another vote for Yogitoes towel 🙂
That breakfast looks amazing! And please keep us updated on how the mat works, I’m looking to invest in one soon and have been recommended a Manduko mat by like everyone!
use a towel on the mat. that’s what saved my practice!
Hopefully the tea tree oil works!
My mat did the same thing! It was super annoying to be sliding off the mat everytime I did downward dog. It does get a little less slippery after more use. Interested to see how the tea tree oil works. PS. I’m very jealous of your yum breakfast!
Mandukas take some time to break in. I have a travel Manduka (use a Jade for regular practice) and I had to use my Yogitoes the first couple of times I practiced. I also tossed it in the washing machine to get the film off. That was crucial. After a wash and a couple of practices, it’s been fine, no towel needed.
I just got the same mat and have used it about 7 times so far and it’s much better now. I followed the website instructions and also clean it after use with part vinegar/part water. I also let it dry out flat after every class (recommended). Someone else recommended going in the tub, and that is not recommended.
Here’s the exact instructions from the “use and care” on Manduka’s site:
overview
features
use & care
green mission
To Store PROlite travel yoga mats: Roll your PROlite with the top side (fabric-finish) facing outwards. This keeps the corners of the mat flat when practicing.
To Break In: The surface texture of the Black Mat PRO improves with use. Our customers have found that the best way to “break in” their mat is to use it on a daily basis. Another trick is to sprinkle coarse sea salt over your mat, use just a spritz of water or dampen with a cloth, scrub it down with a stiff scrub brush, and air dry in the sunshine.
To Clean: We recommend using Manduka Mat Renew or any non-solvent household cleaner and a damp cloth or sponge. Hang to dry in the sunshine. DO NOT clean your mat with the garden hose, put in the bathtub or shower, or put it in the washing machine- it may break the machine and ruin your mat!
The towels are great! I also used to use gripper gloves–they are a lifesaver in heated classes!
Did you find that you lost a bit of your balance on the thicker mat? Not to toot my own horn, but I’m typically awesome at one leg balance poses–they’re my favorite. But on my thick mat I always wobbled to the side. I had to give up the thickness and stick an extra towel under my pelvic bones (TMI?) for the belly moves.
That yogurt bowl looks like the perfect breakfast for a hot summer morning. I usually top mine with fruit and am kicking myself for not adding cereal. Such a good idea!
Breakfast looks delicious!!
Hi Julie
I do yoga 3 times a week at work and one of my colleagues has a Manduka which she is so fed up with that she now just uses the cheap regular mats that work supply. She’s had the Manduka for ages and has tried everything to get it to not be slippery but it hasn’t worked. In the end our teacher usually ends up on it if all the other mats are in use and she complains about it too. They both think it was a complete waste of money. Anyway, just wanted to let you know the feeback. Maybe you could return it? I have an Everlast mat and it was cheap and has been fine. No slipping.
Madelin
Hi Julie! I do a lot of hot, power yoga, and I have to use a towel. I love the yogi toes towels. They are expensive but so worth it to avoid the frustration of slipping around!
🙂
It took several practices for my Manduka ProBlack to stop being slippery too. I tried a yoga towel and that didn’t stay put for me either! But, now that it’s broken in, I don’t have any problems with it.
Hi Julie!! I have the same yoga mat and it slipped for about 6 to 8 classes and then it worked like a charm! Just hang in there for a week or 2 and you should be good to go!
I was on a quest for a non-slippery mat as well because this was my biggest problem with yoga mats. I got a Jade mat and I’ve loved it! I’ve had it for over a year now and I don’t slip at all doing any pose. I love it!
I LOVE my Manduka and just tested Lululemons The Mat last night. But The Mat still slipped and I wouldn’t give up my Manduka. I use a Yogitoes towel on top of my mat once I begin sweating. I highly recommend researching what you can/cannot wash your mat with before you do anything beyond water. You don’t want to ruin it. 🙂 ENJOY!!
Your Breafast looks AMAZING!
I’m totally going to have to try that. I have been looking for something a little “cooler” in the mornings since it is getting so warm out. This will be a nice change from my cottage cheese & Banana b’fast.
Thanks, Julie!
Hi Julie,
What brand/where do you buy your chia seeds? I’ve been interested in trying them out but I wasn’t sure where to look! That breakfast looks delicious!
Thanks!!
That’s too bad about your yoga mat! My mat gets slippery sometimes too, but the more I’ve used it, the better it’s gotten.
THis is a weird question, but your chia seeds look different than mine. Mine are a lot darker in color. Do you know if there are different types of chia seeds or am I just getting weirdly self-conscious about my chia?
My hands ALWAYS slip so I bought these gloves with little grippys on the palm from amazon. The finger part isn’t covered so they don’t make my hands too hot but they make a huge difference in the slippery factor.
Hi Julie! I know I recommended the Manduka for you when you were in need of a new mat, but don’t fret! There’s definitely a bit of a breaking in period for the mat. I’m not sure about tea tree oil, but Manduka recommends rubbing some sea salt into the mat and letting it sit in the sun. I never got around to it, though, because my mat markedly improved after the first few weeks of practice. If I was really worried about slippage in a certain class, I left my new mat at home and stuck it out on my old mat for another class. Interested to hear if the tea tree oil works! I sure hope so 🙂
I’ve had my same yoga mat for years and even though i’d like to get a new one, it doesn’t slip, so I can’t part with it (I think I paid like $8 at TJ Maxx).
Hi PB Fingers!
I do yoga every day and have owned 5, yes 5 Manduka yoga mats. They are amazing, but…you should also invest in a Yogitoes. They are another investment, but they are amazing! I have a few of those too 🙂 They prevent you from slipping all over the place and are super easy to take care of. Good luck! Namaste 🙂
http://yogitoes.com/