If you’ve recently taken up yoga, you may have found that your new yoga mat feels slippery. Practicing yoga on a slippery mat can be tricky. You’ll be slipping and sliding all over the place, which at best will make getting into position trick and, at worse, could even cause injury.
Practicing yoga on a slippery mat can make it hard to hold positions or to focus. The good news is that there are many ways that you can make your yoga mat less slippery.
This article will tell you how to make a yoga mat less slippery so that you can concentrate on your practice without worry about whether you’re going to slip over.
Buy a Good Quality Yoga Mat
When choosing a yoga mat, you should invest in the highest-quality mat that you can afford. Many mats are advertised as being non-slip, and yoga mats made from natural materials are less likely to be slippery. Slippery yoga mats are most likely to be made from PVC.
It’s also good to remember that buying a yoga mat is a bit like buying a new pair of running shoes. When you first put them on, they may be a bit uncomfortable. Once you get used to them, you’ll feel comfortable and reap the benefits. After you’ve used your mat for a while, it will become the ideal surface for practicing yoga and will no longer be slippery.
It’s also a good idea to choose a yoga mat that has two sides. Many yoga mats have one side made from PVC or rubber and the other made from cotton. Practicing on the side with an upper cotton layer will reduce any unwanted movement and mean that you’ll be less likely to slip.
Do More Yoga
The best advice if you have a slippery yoga mat may be to do more yoga. Yoga mats are often slightly slippery when they are new, especially if you have a mat that’s made from PVC.
If you continue practicing yoga in time, your yoga mat is likely to become less slippery. This could likely take up to two weeks. It’s also a good idea to ensure that you always use the same side of your yoga mat.
This will mean that your yoga mat becomes less slippery quicker. If it’s not apparent which sides the top, you can use a marker pen to mark the corner. This guide to the best yoga mats for hardwood floors has some great mats that won’t slip easily.
Wash Your Yoga Mat
he quickest and easiest way to stop your yoga mat from being slippery is to wash it. You can either give your yoga mat a wipe with a damp cloth or put it in the washing machine. Alternatively, you may like to try submerging your yoga mat in cold water in the bath and then hang it outside to air dry.
Don’t squeeze, wring out or spin your yoga mat, as this could damage the layers. Applying water to the surface of your yoga mat will have a similar effect to using it for a while. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to clean a yoga mat.
Use a Towel With Your Yoga Mat
If your yoga mat is too slippery when it’s new, you may like to try using it with a cotton towel. By placing a towel over your yoga mat, you’ll avoid slipping during yoga practice. Here are our picks for best yoga towel.
Try Spraying Your Yoga Mat
If the top surface of your yoga mat feels slippery and you can’t get a good grip when practicing yoga, you can use a spray bottle to improve the situation. Gently spray the yoga mat with a little water and then pat it dry with a microfiber towel.
You could also try leaving the damp towel in place while you practice yoga, as this will stop you from slipping and may even make your yoga mat more comfortable.
Use Vinegar
White vinegar or apple cider vinegar is excellent as it will clean your yoga mat and make it less slippery. Apple cider vinegar is particularly good for cleaning yoga mats. White vinegar is more acid and can cause damage to yoga mats, so it should only be used sparingly.
If you’re using vinegar, you should make a water and vinegar solution rather than using neat vinegar. Add half a cup of apple cider vinegar and one cup of water to a spray bottle. Here’s a great apple cider vinegar yoga mat cleaner recipe.
You can also add some essential oils to make the solution smell great. Peppermint or eucalyptus oil smells nice and fresh. Spray the mixture onto your yoga mat and leave it for a couple of minutes before wiping down your mat. This should make your yoga mat less slippery.
Have a Shower Before Yoga
If you like to practice yoga as a cool down after exercising, it’s best to have a shower first to avoid getting sweat on your yoga mat. This will help you avoid slipping due to sweat.
Use Yoga Gloves and Socks
gThere are many yoga fingerless yoga gloves and yoga socks that have grips on the bottom. These have been specifically designed for use on slippery mats. Non slip yoga socks and yoga gloves are made from a material that will help your hands and feet breathe and will keep the sweat inside.
Spray Sea Salt Onto Your Yoga Mat
Another very effective spray that you can use on your yoga mat is a mixture of sea salt and water. The solution can be sprayed on the upper layer of your yoga mat to remove slipperiness.
Make a solution using one teaspoon of sea salt with a cup of water. This can then be sprayed over your mat and left to air dry for twelve to twenty-four hours. After this time, you can wipe the salt off using a damp cloth.
Conclusion
There are many things you can do to avoid slipping when you practice yoga. If you haven’t yet bought a yoga mat, choose one that’s made from natural material as this will be more likely to be non-slip.
Yoga mats that are made from PVC are likely to be slippery to start with, but this will wear off during time. Try washing your yoga mat or spraying it with water to reduce slipperiness.