Okay, so I got this Manduka yoga mat, right? And let me tell you, it was not cheap. I was pretty excited to use it because, you know, Manduka has this reputation for being top-notch in the yoga world. I had to buy it online, it’s not like they have it in stores around here, but, yeah, I went for it, thinking it would be this amazing, grippy surface for my practice.
Well, the first time I rolled it out, I was like, “Whoa, this thing is slippery!” Seriously, I nearly busted my butt during downward dog. It was not the zen experience I was hoping for. I thought maybe it was just me, or that I needed to get used to it, you know?
So, I kept at it. I practiced on it a few more times, but the slipperiness didn’t go away. I started getting a little frustrated, honestly. I mean, I paid good money for this mat, and it was more slippery than my old, worn-out one from a discount store. I started wondering if all this hype around Manduka is just hype? And I was about to return it.
Then, I did what any normal person would do – I hit up the internet. I found out that you actually need to “break in” these mats. Apparently, Manduka recommends putting in like 10-20 hours of practice on it before it really starts to get its grip. That’s like 10-20 yoga classes before it stops being slick, you know? 20 hours of slipping and sliding, who knows, maybe hurting yourself before it gets better.
I also saw some people talking about using a yoga towel on top of the mat. Spray a bit of water on it to make it sticky and you’re good to go. Yeah, good to go if you want to buy more stuff on top of an already expensive mat. Plus, you’ve got to wash the towel every time, and honestly, I can barely keep up with my regular laundry. And some others were saying that this is just a feature of the mat. A feature? Slipping is a feature?
- Use the mat for 10-20 hours
- Use a yoga towel and spray water on it
- Wash the towel after using it
I decided to give it the old college try, though. I mean, I already had the mat, and it’s not like I enjoy returning stuff. So, I kept practicing on it, and slowly, it did start to feel a bit less slippery. It was a gradual thing, not like a miracle overnight. I’ve probably got a good 15 hours on it now, and it’s definitely better than when I first got it.
Still, it’s kind of a bummer that you have to put in so much work to make a premium yoga mat usable, but if you are looking for something to elevate your yoga space, then I guess Manduka is a great choice. I mean, is this normal? Do other people have to do this with their fancy yoga mats? I am still not entirely sure if it was worth the money, but at least I’m not sliding around as much anymore. So, there’s that, I guess.
