Mat help please

[LakeFlyPie]

I'm relatively new to Yoga (gentle Hatha class 1 X week with good intentions to do some daily home practice which haven't materialised yet!).

I'd like to buy a mat but am totally confused about the difference between the < £10 versions and the widely recommended Manduka / Lululemon etc types.

I'm not sweating profusely or hopping between complicated asanas but do find my hands slide a bit in downward dog on the studio mat I'm using at the moment. I don't think I need an 'investment mat' at this stage.

Please could someone shed some light on the matter for me?

Thanks.

[VelvetGreen]

All the cheaper sticky mats i've tried over the years have been slippy - i actually did better when i just used to take my camping mat! I'm currently using a jute mat that i've borrowed from my teacher (a bit like this) - it is brilliant in terms of no slippage, but it does moult and cover me in hundreds of fibres.

I've heard good things about these, and am hoping for one for christmas, though Cote will no doubt be along shortly to convince you of the brilliance of Lululemon :)!

[CoteDAzur]

Oh yes, I love my Lululemon mat As I say often enough, I don't know which material it is magicked out of but It Just Won't Slip. At all.

Otherwise, wash your hands and face in the morning and don't touch any cream from then on. No hand cream, no face cream, and certainly no cream for your feet. That really helps stop slipping on the Maduka mats in the studio.

Hope this helps, OP. Do let us know how you do on the mat you choose.

[LakeFlyPie]

Sorry, I never returned to thank you for your replies
Well I chose an Annapurna mat (£25) and used it for the 1st time today and was OK in downward dog but slid towards box splits in an alarming fashion in the wide legged poses. Didn't have any creams or oils on feet.
Wondering whether washing it'll help or should I just give up and go for a Lululemon now (what's the saying? Buy cheap buy twice )

[Lumierelulu]

If you're not sure about shelling out on another mat just yet, you could buy a yoga grip towel to put down on your mat. Yogamatters sell them for around £20, but might be cheaper options on Amazon/ebay etc. Great if you think you might do hot yoga or bikram at some point. Or does your yoga teacher have lululemon/manduka etc mats you can borrow for a class? Try before you buy?