How to fix a slippery yoga mat (4 Do’s and 4 Don’ts)

There is nothing more distracting then a slippery yoga mat during your yoga practise. So how do you fix a slippery yoga mat?

The first thing you need to establish is the cause. Is the cause coming from you, or the mat itself? So the 2 main reasons for a slippery mat are …

Reason one – your palms and feet are sweaty thus causing you to slip on the mat. This is a common issue particularly in hot yoga.

Reason two – you have a new or newish yoga mat that hasn’t been broken in yet. Most new yoga mats will come with a thin layer of film over the top which can cause you to slip on the mat initially. It may also be that the mat itself is just generally made of a more slippery material. For light yoga this may not be an issue, but the harder the yoga, the more you’re going to be asking of your mat.

Do’s

• Do wear the yoga mat down – By far the best way to fix a slippery yoga mat. Overtime your mat will develop grooves and indentations where you most press down with your hands and feet. This will provide more traction which will help you slip less on your mat.

• Do use a yoga towel – Sweaty feet and palms are a sure way for you to start slipping on your mat. To stop this, you can use a yoga towel (or just a normal towel) to either dry your palms and feet during your yoga practise or to lay over the mat.

• Do wash your yoga mat – Washing your yoga mat will help break down the thin layer of film over most new mats (this film is usually the reason why you slip more on a new yoga mat). Always check the brand before washing and make sure to leave plenty of time after the wash for the mat to dry.

• Do leave your mat out – By simply leaving your yoga mat on the floor in a busy place in your home it will naturally start to get stood on. After a day or two of people walking over and standing on the mat, you should find your yoga mat is now broken in and thus less slippery.

Don’ts

• Don’t use vinegar – Some suggest vinegar, but it is acidic and acid has a nasty habit of breaking down certain materials such as rubber (rubber is a common material yoga mats are made from).

• Don’t use chemicals – Yoga mats are not a smooth surface; they have lines and grooves. When you use a chemical on your mat these chemicals get within these grooves and lines and can stay on the surface for several days. So, when you next come to do your next downward facing dog you could well be doing it on whatever chemical you used the day before.

• Don’t use sandpaper – Sandpaper or any other rough material will immediately start to damage your yoga mat. If you wish to break the thin film most new yoga mats come with simply standing on the mat will do just that over time. Sandpaper on the other hand will go straight though the film and to your mat. Even PVC mats would get damaged by this.

• Don’t tumble dry – like the sandpaper point, if you put your mat into a tumble dryer it will very quickly start to damage the mat itself. Instead just leave the mat to air dry if you do decide to wash it.