There is a significant difference in yoga mats.  Before going into the specific factors, here is an explanation of the purpose of a mat. 

Why Use a Mat?

This is a great question, why use a yoga mat, versus just throwing down a towel, or simply having Mother Earth support you?  The biggest reasons are for safety and comfort.   

A mat provides stability for your practice.  You want to ensure the ground is not moving beneath your feet as you explore various balancing poses.  You also want a mat that you can get a good grip on with you feet, toes, or any other body part touching the earth.  Yoga poses are always built from the ground up, so you want to make sure you can root your body into a surface that can support the type of practice you have. 

Mats provide a more hygienic barrier than simply resting your face on the floor.  Of course this is only true if you wash it from time to time.  We recommend buying Yogi Toes to throw down between your mat and you to aid you in having a clean practice space.  They can be thrown in the washer to ensure they are always clean.

Your lifestyle and how you travel are other considerations.  If you primarily keep your mat in your car, then weight isn’t an issue.  However, if you travel frequently or ride a bike, then weight can become very significant. 

Finally, what kind of practice are you doing?  At Zuda, we offer a vinyasa practice where sweat is a natural byproduct.  This means you’re going to be getting your mat wet, and just like the tires on your car, wet rubber tends to be slippery. 

How to Choose a Yoga Mat

Here are the points to consider:

Stickiness
Mats are called “sticky” if they have a lot of grip to them.  Stickiness is derived largely from the material it’s mat our of.  Natural rubber mats tend to be sticky right away. 

Non-slip
Similar to stickiness, some mats are designed for practices producing more moisture because of the design or texture on the top.  PVC mats tend to be the smoothest and thus the most slippery.

Comfort
Not all of these factors are equal when choosing a mat.  For most people, comfort will trump all other factors.  You’re going to be on your mat for 75 minutes a day, anywhere from 3-5 days a week.  Think about all of those pigeons, frogs, and bows.  Then think about how you can best protect and cushion your bones and joints. 
Thickness is what makes a mat comfortable.  A “standard” mat is 1/8” thick.  The black mat from Manduka is ¼” or twice as thick. 

Weight
Because the Manduka is so thick, it weighs the most 7lbs.  As we mentioned above, this might not be a factor if you’re walking from your car to the studio.  But if you plan to throw your mat on your bike and ride to Folsom from Midtown, the situation can be different. 

Durable and Earth-Friendly
What do you consider “green”?  The Manduka mats come with a lifetime guarantee and can actually be heirlooms you pass onto your great grandchildren.  The Jade mats are made of natural rubber and are designing to break down eventually to leave no trace.  One mat stays out of landfills while the other becomes material for your compost.  Traditional PVC mats on the other hand wear out and do not biodegrade well. 

Cost
Standard PVC mats are the cheapest initially, but require replacement on a regular schedule. 
Jade mats are considered a premium mat, offer affordability, and will also require replacement from time to time.
Manduka mats cost roughly $30 more than a Jade mat, but have a lifetime guarantee. 
Remember, a high quality mat is the only piece of equipment you need for your yoga practice.  It makes sense to go with the best.

Now that you have a background in what to look for in a mat, here is what Zuda offers. 

First, we only offer three mats because they are simply the best mats we have ever used.  All three are characterized as being “premium mats” and will serve you well. 
Use the guidelines above to decide which is the best fit for you.

Manduka The Black Mat Pro
This is the mat all of the teachers at Zuda use. 

Specs:
71”L x 26W x ¼”D
Weight:  7.0 lbs.
Note:  Also available in an extra long mat size for people above 6’1”. 
Cost:  $90 ($95 for the extra long)

Pros:
It’s thick, stable and comfortable. 
Provides a larger practice surface than standard mats
Lifetime guarantee—stays out of landfills

Cons: 
Most upfront investment
Heaviest of the premium mats

Other:
This mat does have a break in period of approximately 3 months according to Manduka.  You can speed this up by scrubbing it with water and sea salt or leaving it in the sun for an afternoon.
The top of the mat is the smoother side.  The dotted side goes down on the floor. 

Manduka Prolite
If you want a lighter mat with a lifetime guarantee, this is the mat for you.  It’s also available in 6 colors.

Specs:
71 L x 24W x 3/16D
Weight:  4.0 lbs
Cost:  $75

Pros: 
Lifetime guarantee
Lightweight mat

Cons: 
Less comfort than a thicker mat

Jade Harmony Professional
This is a moderately priced, natural rubber premium mat balancing weight, stickiness and the environment.  Jade also plants a tree for every mat sold. 

Specs:
68L x 24W x 3/16
Weight:  4.5 lbs
Cost:  $58

Pros:
Affordably priced
Inherently stick

Cons: 
If you have a latex allergy, avoid this mat. 
Less comfort than a thick mat. 

Other:
This mat is made of sustainable natural rubber.  Natural rubber also acts as a sponge, so give it plenty of time to dry when you “deep clean” it using water.     
There is a smell associated with the natural rubber.  It will dissipate, typically in one or two weeks. 
Do not put this mat in direct sunlight. 

Standard PVC Mats
Note:  Zuda DOES NOT sell these mats.  This information is for comparison purposes only.

Specs:
68L x 24W x 1/8”D
Weight:  3.12 lbs.
Cost:  $20 Approximately

Pros:
Cheap 

Cons:
Breaks down regularly
Not environmentally friendly
Little cushion and support
Slippery when wet
This mat seems designed to be put in landfills.  This material is also known to leak toxins into the landfill once it’s there. 

Yogi Toes

Whichever mat you select you’ll want to also buy “Yogi Toes”, a super absorbent towel that is the size of your mat. 

We purposely heat Zuda to about 87 degrees F to encourage you to sweat and release toxins and other metabolic wastes from your system.  However all of that moisture can make your mat slippery very quickly.  Yogi Toes solves that problem by providing a unique non-slip surface.  Unlike a regular towel, Yogi Toes have non-skid silicone numbs on one side which provide grip.  In fact, Yogi Toes actually work better the wetter they become. 

After your practice, throw it in you washer so that you can always put a fresh hygienic layer between you and your mat. 

How to use:
Most students put their Yogi Toes towel in front of their mat, folded up.  As you begin to sweat you can unfold it and be ready to go.  Other students like having it on the mat from the start and put a little water where their hands and feet go to make the surface grippier. 

Yogi Toes are available in a variety of attractive colors and are eco-friendly.  We always advise you to wash it by itself the first time.  If you have a daily practice, it helps to have two. 

Mat carriers or mat bags:  Get one.  They will make carrying your mat so much easier.