Whether you were once a regular at your local yoga studio or you took up Zoom classes at home in lockdown, a good mat can go a long way towards making your practice more comfortable and more energising.
ith so many on the market — many of which carry expensive price tags — it can be difficult to know which one to choose to avoid ending up with a mat that’s too slippery, too thin, too short or too heavy.
We asked the experts for their favourite pieces of equipment for enhancing your yoga sessions.
Mats
Though you don’t need a mat — or indeed any equipment — to do yoga, it can make your practice more accessible and supportive, providing a stable base for a safer session.
The standard mat is 4mm thick and 180cm x 64 cm in size, typically made using PVC.
Yet different yogis will have different needs, and you may want to take into consideration a greater thickness for more cushioning or a longer and wider size if you’re taller.
It’s also worth looking at the weight of the mat and what materials are used, if you’d prefer an eco-friendly mat or a lighter one for carrying around.
Yoga instructor Caragh Egan (CaraghYoga.com) advises investing in the best mat you can afford “because it will last forever and make for a much more comfortable practice”. “There are so many cheap, bad yoga mats out there, it can be really hard to find a good one,” she says.
Her top pick is the B Mat Strong by B Yoga (€93.60, TheSportsEdit.com). “This is a 6mm thick mat that is incredibly grippy from first use. It sticks to the floor and won’t let your hands slide.
It’s also heavy enough that it will lie flat on grass and give really good cushioning under your knees,” she explains, adding that the 4mm mat from the same brand (€81.60, TheSportsEdit.com) is “really good” if you want a lighter, more portable alternative.
If you tend to practice outdoors, she suggests the 6mm mat from Kurma (from €79.95, Kurma-Yoga.com), which is available in 185cm or 200cm lengths for taller people.
“That is a brilliant mat — it’s heavy but great for cushioning, and it won’t blow away or let moisture through. I have a purple one for a number of years now and it’s as good as new. I’ve used this on all kinds of outdoor terrain, including wet sand, and it’s fab,” she notes.
For a more environmentally-friendly option, movement coach Charlotte Black (@the_functional_yogi) recommends the mat from Sustain Yoga (€79.99, DuoIreland.com), which is created using biodegradable materials.
“It’s made from premium Portuguese cork and natural rubber which is fused with heat and there’s no glue, so it’s vegan friendly. It’s got amazing grip no matter what pose you’re in and also non-slip when you sweat. It was well worth the price,” she says.
Manduka’s 4mm Eko Lite mat (€80, Manduka.com) is also made from biodegradable materials, in this case natural tree rubber.
Dave Brocklebank, the founder of Burren Yoga and Meditation Retreat (BurrenYoga.com), has been running yoga retreat holidays for more than 20 years, and says the Manduka “has good grip, feels good and has enough cushioning” but warns that it can be a bit heavy for carrying.
His other favourite is the 4.5mm Sticky Yoga Mat by Yogamatters (€30, Yogamatters.com).
“It has good grip, it’s light for carrying and a good price. But the essential thing is to wash it twice in a regular washing machine at 40 degrees with no detergent before use — this will remove any coating and give the mat much better grip,” he explains.
“The great thing is that the more you use this mat over the years, it gets even better grip.”
There are many Irish brands making yoga mats too, and Orla Moore, co-founder of Leyo yoga wear (LeyoYoga.com), recommends the Insta-favourite range from Flowstate (€145, Flowstate.ie), describing the mat as “a statement piece”.
“I really adore Flowstate for the energy and beauty of their mats,” she says. “They are super quality and supremely comfortable, and the beautiful botanical prints are truly functional art, I would say, as they are totally stunning if hung on a wall.”
Orla also recommends the sustainable cork and rubber mats by Youmiia (€80, Youmiia.com), a Galway company that pledges to plant a tree for every product sold. “[That mat] is brilliant — the brand offers beautiful, calming pieces and I love that Youmiia give back and make a positive impact on the environment,” she says.
For those who would like a little instruction from their mat, there’s the Liforme mat (€135, liforme.com), which includes markers to help you position yourself when practising.
At 185cm x 68cm, Orla explains that it’s longer and wider than most mats — particularly useful for those who find their hands and feet sliding off during a session. “That is super if you are tall and need that extra bit of space,” she says.
Blocks and props
There’s no need to equip yourself with a raft of fancy products, but our experts note that there are a few affordable accessories that can support your practice.
After her mat, Caragh says cork blocks (€9, Decathlon.ie) are her “second most important yoga prop”. “They give really good support in a way that lighter foam ones just can’t,” she explains. “They’re really economical, they never wear out and they’re eco-friendly.”
Her other favourite block is the chipped foam version (305mm x 205mm x 50mm) from McSport (€4.55, McSport.ie). “These are great for seated postures especially. This size is good because you don’t want it too high or narrow under your bum, and you can always use a few stacked together for more height when needed,” she says.
“The chipped foam block is heavier and more supportive than the lighter foam block options, and eco-friendly too.”
For a more portable option, Orla recommends the foam brick by Yogamatters (€9.95, Yogamatters.com). “It’s light enough to carry between classes, and it’s fabulous quality,” she says.
“I use it to add height in certain poses. It’s available in lots of lovely colours so it can be matched or contrasted with your yoga mat too.”
Her other favourite piece of equipment is the brand’s bolster (€51, Yogamatters.com).
“That’s a great prop to have for the studio and at home — everyone in my house wants to use it for relaxing as it’s super comfortable. I love that it’s 100pc cotton and has a machine-washable cover,” she explains.
For opening and closing meditation, Caragh favours a wooden bench from Decathlon (€30, Decathlon.ie) — “the legs fold under so I can pack it away when I’m not using it and it’s really portable” — while Charlotte likes the brand’s meditation cushion (€25, Decathlon.ie).
“It makes seated meditation very comfortable, allowing you to meditate for longer,” she notes. “The cover is also removable and washable, which makes maintenance very easy.”
Charlotte adds that an eye pillow can be very useful for meditation too, and highlights the one by Meath company Old Lavender Yard, which can be ordered through the brand’s Instagram (from €20, Instagram.com/OldLavenderYard).
“All of their products are handmade and homegrown, and the eye pillows are filled with dried lavender and organic linseed. They smell amazing and there are lots of designs to choose from, plus the covers are removable and washable,” she says. “It’s top quality.”
Three to try
Best for outdoor use: Kurma 6mm mat (€79.95, Kurma-Yoga.com)
If you like practising outside, you’ll want a mat that is sturdier and more durable than the standard. Yoga instructor Caragh Egan notes that this one is “heavy but great for cushioning, and it won’t blow away or let moisture through”, plus it can withstand “all kinds of outdoor terrain, including wet sand”.
Sustain Yoga Cork Mat
Best sustainable option: Sustain Yoga Cork Mat (€79.99, DuoIreland.com)
Most yoga mats are made using PVC, but brands are increasingly looking to organic and biodegradable materials including natural rubber and cork, which becomes more grippy as you sweat. This one, recommended by movement coach Charlotte Black, is fused with heat rather than glue, so it’s vegan-friendly too.
Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat
Best on a budget: Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat 4.5mm (€30, Yogamatters.com)
For a good quality non-slip mat at a wallet-friendly price, Dave Brocklebank of Burren Yoga Retreat names this as his favourite, and says he uses it himself “because it has good grip, it’s light for carrying and it’s great to throw in the washing machine to keep clean”.