Yoga Mats

Aurorae yoga mats are new to the market, and without that many reviews we have done the research for you to bring our unbiased opinion.

Ultimately, we like yoga mats that bring sustainability and good materials to the marketplace. There is little value in buying a yoga mat if it’s costing the earth so dearly.

Aurorae Yoga Mat

We’ve road-tested quite a few yoga mats here at Yocean Yogi over the years. We’ve come to realize that not all of these yoga mats are created the same.

Some are expensive and others are cheap. Some appeal to the discount/coupon crowd while others appeal to the premium crowd who adore quality and performance over price.

The Aurorae yoga mat sits in the mid-way area. It isn’t the best yoga mat for everyone but it does serve the core demographic of yogis and teachers alike.

Aurorae has chosen to use eco-friendly materials. That’s a big plus in our books as we as a community strive to be more concious about the choices that we make when purchasing yoga equipment. How have they achieved this? By having their mats be biodegradable.

Unboxing experience

One of the worst things we experience is the excitement of unboxing a new yoga prop and then suddenly experiencing a toxic smell. Ewww! It really doesn’t give you confidence in the product or the manufacturer.

Like just imagine what the factory workers are experiencing each and everyday. If you’re anything like us, you’re against this practice. Yoga products are designed for the eco-friendly crowd and thus should have that experience from concept, ordering, unboxing and the actual lifetime use.

Luckily, we didn’t encounter any off-putting smells though there is a mild smell that you will encounter. In fact, this is the same with most other yoga mats on the market. Also, sometimes these yoga mats are rolled up while waiting to be sold for months so it did take a few weeks after receving to stop the edges to stop curling.

Over all, a good experience with basic packaging and it comes with a strap. Neat!

Using the mat

We really enjoyed using this mat. It’s 72″ by 24″ which is slightly longer than your typical yoga mat making this ideal for taller people as well as the general folk. They also have the Ultra yoga mat while is a whopping 78 by 26 inches in diameter. This is great if you’re doing wider poses.

While other mats weigh more in the 5 to 7 pound range, this mat is only 3.6lbs which makes this easy to carry around. Public transport or cycling are made so much easier if you have a light yoga mat as per our experiences.

We have used the Aurorae yoga mat for Bikram, Vinyasa, Yin and Ashtanga where it held up well. Needless to say, Hatha will be no problem at all, though it does slip a little. Unfortunately, you may have to wear yoga socks or gloves to get the best ‘stick’ in your far-reaching poses.

Cleaning this yoga mat was relatively easy and we haven’t yet had to do anything too difficult. We wrote a guide on how to clean Lululemon yoga mats and we can recommend the same practices for this mat too.

Overall thoughts

We believe they have found that sweet-spot between weight and functionality, as well as sustainability. There is a 2-year warranty here and we imagine very few people take them up on this offer.

The main complaints we read prior to purchasing surround the fact that you may slip if you’re in Vinyasa or Bikram classes and you may want to choose a different mat instead. Such negatives were mild and for us as it held up to expectations in 95% of asanas.

Aurorae have built a quality yoga mat here. It isn’t for everyone and doesn’t pretend to be, but if your’e looking for something that sits well in the mid-range…then you’ve found the right one.

Liforme yoga mats recently came to our attention, so we just had to look at what they have to offer and review their mat as a skeptical critic.

Many people would consider this to be an expensive yoga mat. After all, the price really is up there which begs the question: “Is the Liforme Yoga Mat worth it?” and that depends on a range of considerations including budget, needs, regularity of yoga classes and color preferences.

The Liforme yoga mat is a premium product for yoga studios who demand quality and performance. Its heavy-duty construction and the non-slip surface are ideal for experienced students seeking to get the very best out of their classes with reviews praising both of these design characteristics.

Ultimately though, it isn’t for everyone. Those needing something more affordable will find many other alternatives online that don’t break the budget.

Liforme Yoga Mat Review

We are like most people and will do our research before going forward with a purchase. It can be hard to know if things are merely a gimmick or are actually worth the money.

Luckily, after trying out the Liforme Yoga Mat, our concerns were put to rest after the first yoga class. This yoga mat simply performs as it claims!

Most yoga mats we’ve tried are fully rubber both bottom and top. While that’s great in one aspect, it isn’t as grippy as other materials. Liforme uses a rubber base and an eco-friendly polyurethane on the top. This is different than toxic PVC.

In fact, the more we were sweating with this yoga mat, the better it actually gripped. The prayers from the Vinyasa and Bikram students have finally been answered! Plus there is less smell than rubber and no sticky residue is left on the hands. There isn’t anything worse than shaking hands at the end of the class or driving home with a sticky residue on the steering wheel.

One challenge with other mats that claim to be non-slip is that they actually stick a bit too much. When you’re transitioning from one asana to the next, you risk getting ‘stuck’ and it takes some getting used to. At times with these mats, you might actually lift the entire mat off the wooden floor much to your embarrassment.

Fortunately, this isn’t the case with Liforme. They have *somehow* found a way to balance everything, thus leave us yogis to find balance both physically and mentally.

The real benefits

Have you noticed that yoga mats always have that ‘curl’ at the very ends? This doesn’t happen with this mat and it’s not something you immediately are able to know if you buy online. Essentially, it rolls out flat as if it has been on the yoga studio floor for weeks.

The next point is their sustainable approach. We are earth healers and praise companies who are doing their bit for the planet. Unfortunately, most yoga companies and certainly many of those on Amazon are cutting corners in order to sell cheap yoga products. These are made from inferior and eco-disasterous products.

Liforme has etched in their guide lines and uses no PVC in their construction. The base is natural tree rubber and the glues used are very friendly to the environment. They also source their materials sustainabily to reduce sea miles and thus reduce the cost to us as consumers.

Unlike many competitors, they use a closed-cell design. This stops bacteria from finding its way inside while also helping you grip incredibly well. Slidding around like a winter ski trip is now a thing of the past….because you can confidently do yoga.

A downside

Certainly all these benefits come with a downside and that’s the price. The Liforme yoga mats are certainly expensive and you’ll rarely find discounts or sales happening. There is a high manufacturing cost unlike many other cheaper options on the market.

Also, the thickness is a little on the lower side. If you need more cushioning then look for yoga mats in the 5mm to 6mm range. That said – this is built as a high-performance yoga mat for those more established and have been practising for 3+ months, though we have seen beginners bringing these mats to class recently too.

With the high price, you are paying for ethics. You’re paying a company that lives and breathes yoga and who understands design, aethistics and functionality. Certainly there are plenty of cheap yoga mats online but these are often discarded after a few months and students stop their practice.

To see it in another light – if you spend up on quality, you’re more likely to want to use your new yoga mat. It’s something to look forward to during times of the month when you need to ‘escape’ from the hectic nature of everyday life.

The ultimate choice

While certainly at the top end of the market, Liforme has done an excellent job to bring a quality product to the market. You won’t need to bring a towel nor will you be replacing this at all next year.

For those committed towards their yoga journey, we do recommend these premium mats. Perhaps Liforme is the ideal mat for you, or perhaps their competitors might be better suited.

Either way – spend up on quality for the sake of your journey and that of the environment!

The Hugger Mugger Yoga Mat is one that we recently purchased and here’s our review. Essentially, we wanted to see how good it is for hot yoga.

There are just so many good options out there that it’s hard to actually decide what is right for you. Should you go for something expensive which will last for years, or something cheap and discounted to get you sorted for a little while?

Tough question and this comes down to your budget and regularity of yoga classes, as well as some element of how you want to be judged. Sadly, yoga has become a place of judgemental bias due to social media influence.

Hugger Mugger Yoga Mat Review

The two most popular yoga mats from Hugger Mugger are the Para Rubber and the Tapas. We’re going to break down each of these two so you can make a conclusive decision.

Remember that such decisions are based on some important considerations. These include:

• Will you use the yoga mat in hot yoga classes?
• Is the thickness and padding important to you?
• How often do you actually attend classes and retreats?
• What is your price point? Hugger Mugger yoga mats are expensive due to their high quality.

So let’s look at the Para Rubber vs Tapas mats from Hugger Mugger and help you make a firm decision.

Para Rubber Yoga Mat Review

Certainly in the yoga space, the Para Rubber is considered to be up there at the top shelf. It’s made from 6.3mm natural tree rubber with fantastic cushioning and grip for the user. We generally recommend people away from such yoga mats due to their weight and high cushioning, but this mat is perfect.

Those who are over 6 feet tall will love this mat. It’s available in men’s colors which is perfect to get more men stretching out those tight muscles.

When picking this yoga mat up, it really feels quite sturdy. The type of thing that will last a lifetime. If you’re eco-conscious like us, then you’ll appreciate this viewpoint because we’ve become quite the throw-away society.

A real downside here and a common complaint about the Hugger Mugger Para Rubber is the lower volume of sweat sbsorbency. For those who love Vinyasa Flow and Bikram, then you’ll need some yoga socks or a towel to help with your grip. That said – it still has great grip but not as good as other mats we’ve tried.

The depth of cushioning is what sets this mat apart. Those who are older and are doing yoga at home in their 50’s will love this given how well it accommodates those sensitive joints. While it’s not quite like doing yoga on the carpet or on your bed, it’s still inviting.

Ultimately, a yoga mat for cushioning.

If you’re the type of person getting into yoga for the first time or re-joining after some absence, then the amount of thickness here will be complimentary. Many people soon take a hiatus on their yoga journey as their feet and ankles hurt given that other mats just don’t offer the same depth of cushioning. Remember – most yoga mats are designed for those who are practicing already and need something thin where they can feel and grip the floor more easily.

Another downside is the weight. If you’re not used to the weight of rubber yoga mats, then be warned! This isn’t the type of yoga mat that you’ll want to be lugging on the subway, tram, bus or train. It will even be tough to cycle more than a few blocks with this given how much it weighs, plus the smell of rubber might affect others nearby.

Overall though, it’s an excellent yoga mat with great grip and ideal for those wanting high quality that will last for years without the cheap feel that we often find with bargain-basement products on Amazon.

Tapas Yoga Mat Review

If the Para Rubber above serves those with more sensitivity in their feet, then the Tapas is essentially the opposite. It’s not only affordable but it’s also very grippy but doesn’t have the cushioning, unlike many others. After all, it’s only slightly above 3mm.

One thing that we noticed right away is how much we actually stick to the mat. Even our hands got stuck a little and it comes as a little surprise. The slimmer thickness and excellent grip comes in handy for the experienced yogis who are excelling in their studio or at-home yoga practice.

Compared to the Para Rubber, the Tapas, unfortunately, is yet another yoga mat made from PVC which we aren’t a fan of. We would say a thinner rubber yoga mat is much more eco-conscious than this mat, though if grip means a lot to you, then it’s hard to find very grippy rubber mats which is surprising.

Ultimately, a yoga mat for grip.

If you’re lugging this yoga mat around on public transport then it’s much lighter and more akin to yoga mats you may have used before. It’s also a bit bendy and will fit on a bicycle, plus it doesn’t have that rude rubber smell.

As far as sizes go, you can get this in standard length (68″) or extra long (74″) though the width remains the same at 24″. It’s less than half the weight of the Para Rubber.

We’re actually more inclined to recommend the Jade Harmony more than the Hugger Mugger actually. It’s a natural rubber mat which isn’t sourced from the rainforests of the Amazon.

Final Para Rubber vs Tapas Comparison

So ultimately what’s your best option here between the Para Rubber and the Tapas? Choose the Para Rubber if you need cushioning and the Taps if you need to feel the floor under your feet.

Hugger Mugger yoga mats have a solid reputation with many customer experiences and positive reviews online. No doubt you’ll find these in yoga studios across the world.

Either way, you’ll be well looked after by a customer and their warranty period is very generous.

Yogitoes Towel is one that we recently purchased. In this review, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about using this product.

One thing we’re big on here at Yocean Yogi is sustainability in the holistic healing space. Where’s the value in healing our lives if we aren’t healing the environment too? When we come across a company who puts such values first, we’re excited.

And thus, this adventure was born.

Yogitoes Towel Review

The towel itself is very good quality despite being made from recycled plastic water bottles. There aren’t any harmful dyes that you would otherwise find in mainstream yoga products. After all, those products are from Chinese factories.

One great advantage is that the Yogitoes towel is skidless. There are hundreds of small silicone nodules that stop it from slipping even in the most aggressive of asanas. The towel itself is made from nylon and polyester blend while being perfectly washable.

Now, do you need one? Not really…but with so many funky designs and styles on offer…you’ll easily want one! If not for the simple fact that this towel will stop you slipping around meaning you can hold those asanas for much longer.

As with any good yogi, you’re probably collecting quite a few props for your quiver. If that’s the case – we wouldn’t go past this towel at all.

Who makes Yogitoes?

Manduka makes Yogitoes and they hold the patent on the technology found within the towel. Therefore, you’re just not going to find the same pattern or material makeup in any other towel on the market.

It doesn’t surprise us that Manduka makes these towels. After all, they have high ethics and were one of the original pioneers in the sustainability of yoga products. By using the recycled water bottles, they can use less than half the energy of the equilavent towels on the market.

Also, they stand for quality and longevity. You’ll find no lead or other heavy materials in their products and they aspire to always have their products outlasting the lifetime of the consumer. That’s ethics that we’ll stand by!

Benefits of the Towel

The towel has quite a number of benefits:

1. It’s comfy! It feels like microfiber but isn’t, yet it doesn’t attract the same odors as cotton or wool.
2. No smell! We hate opening up a new yoga prop and having that whiff of the factory. Imagine what the factory workers are suffering from! The only non-natural part is the silicone nodules on the bottom.
3. Sustainability. Yes – we gotta mention this one again. We love products that aren’t polluting the oceans or even better, re-using products that would otherwise go to landfill.
4. Quality. Most yoga towels start fraying after just a few weeks of use in a yoga studio, but this one has stood up to several months now of constant use.
5. Grip. You don’t think of grip when you think of a yoga towel and indeed some people are sceptical of such claims, but this does a pretty fine job of helping build confidence in poses!

All these benefits are what ultimately what got us across the line to purchase the towel. The thing that held us back? The price. As the biggest complaints go…The Yogitoes towel is quite expensive compared to many other similar yoga products on the market.

In Summary

No one needs a yoga towel, but if you were shopping around – we believe you’ve come across one of the best offers on the market. Their blend of durability and sustainabily are closely aligned with our values too.

It’s much less likely to bunch up unlike a beach towel so you won’t be slipping and sliding around during yoga classes. In fact, this is a great way to practice yoga on carpet if you don’t want to buy a proper yoga mat.

So does this get our ticket of approval? Absolutely.

Yoga Mats on the carpet is something that sounds weird, but it isn’t. Some people are just put off by the thought especially after seeing most mats used on wooden floors.

Which then begs the question: “Can you use yoga mats on carpet?” And well, that answer is pretty easy:

You can certainly use yoga mats on the carpet if you don’t have wooden flooring. They work well though there is more cushioning and padding on the surface. It does depend on the style of yoga that you’re doing on the carpet, as using your yoga mat on the carpet is perfectly fine for Yin Yoga but very challenging for Vinyasa Flow and Ashtanga since stability is reduced.

Indeed there are still exceptions to the rule and certainly times when you’ll gain benefits.

Using Yoga Mats on Carpet

While we may think the cushioning is working towards our benefit, it isn’t. What we need is a strong foundation, not a soft surface to perform our stretches with. This is why yoga mats are typically 3mm with mild variances. By having a yoga mat on the carpet, you’re effectively creating super soft padding which feels like a little odd.

The question is best answered when knowing how thick your carpet actually is. If you’re using very thin office carpet, then using a yoga mat on top of this happens to be no problem at all. You’ll feel a very mild difference between this and a wooden floor.

Where the problem really comes to the surface is those thick woollen carpets. If you live in a colder climate where your carpet is very thick (0.5″ or greater), then that softness is wonderful to walk on but terrible to use a yoga mat on. Strangely, some people’s mattresses can be harder than their own carpets.

Yoga When You Have No Wooden Floors

Essentially, you’re looking for a way to practice yoga at home when all you have is carpetted floors. Well, you have several options:

1. Use the kitchen! Often we see on Instagram experienced teachers merely using their kitchen as the floor is hard. Mop and dry the area first before using.
2. Find a spot outside. You may have a balcony or concreted area in your backyard. We’ve even seen some people using their own garages!
3. Buy a project panel sheet. Your local hardware store will have long flat boards used for construction workers and those who build houses. These are very light but will need a large car to bring home. These shouldn’t cost more than $30 and you can find them in 4 feet x 7 feet sizing which is ideal for common yoga mat sizes. While they will have some mild flex, they will certainly stop the padding sensation that you’ll feel under your toes and make you more confident
4. Buy rubber matting. Gym buffs have been using this stuff for years. One unfortunate downside is that the rubber does smell quite offensively for the first few weeks and could stain your carpet too. The real upside is that it’s easy to roll up and store away under the bed.
5. Buy office chair carpet protectors. These are perfect for yoga mats as they don’t slip and can be stored away super easily. You’ll need to buy 3 or 4 and line them up for best results.

We have even seen a situation where someone took down their old door and used it as a yoga board. Others use their surf or SUP boards too! Either way, you have some options if you don’t want to venture out of the studio.

Using Carpet Only for Yoga

You can do yoga on the carpet and skip the use of a yoga mat entirely. By doing so, you’ll have direct contact with the ground. It does depend on the thickness of your carpet and its type.

Remember that regular use in one specific place in your home will start to ‘etch’ the carpet and leave marks. It’s akin to your furniture being in the same position for months and leaving a crease behind. You’ll be creating wear and tear on your carpet if you keep doing yoga in the same spot.

For those who are renting/leasing their home then this is a real cause of concern. The carpet has a real risk of fading and the replacement costs are very expensive. Let’s not forget the carpet burns you can accidently acquire if you come landing down hard from a downward dog, nor the slipping that often happens.

We recommend against doing yoga purely on the carpet. It’s OK to do ocassionally if you simply need to flex out, but shouldn’t become part of your regular practice.

Also remember that some people do yoga perfectly fine on the grass. With the rise of outdoor yoga classes which encourage students to bring mats, the asanas are changed to avoid those which could risk personal injury to students due to the instable base.

Going Forward

It’s best to do yoga with a yoga mat. This is what they are designed for. Now – not all of us have the luxury of a wooden floor at our disposal but hopefully we’ve shown you some cool tricks and ideas to have you stretching out without needing to worry about the carpet.

To close, this is only a small part of the bigger picture. Focus on bringing together all the pieces in your yoga and spiritual journey. Start with this loving, nurturing and safe space and begin to expand holistically.

Lululemon Yoga mats can get smelly after a Bikram or Vinyasa class, so in this guide, we’re going to help you clean your yoga mat properly.

Cleaning Lululemon Yoga Mats

Cleaning a yoga mat is hugely beneficial for limiting the spread of bacteria. This is especially important in open-cell PVC mats as they have pores where the fungi can grow and multiply. That might sound gross but it’s certainly true and something that you need to be mindful of especially when you’re buying a new yoga mat.

We also recommend that you always bring your own yoga mat to a studio. Avoid renting or using mats already in the studio as you won’t be entirely sure if they are clean or have germs, bacteria or diseases.

When it comes to Lululemon, their yoga mats are of high quality and generally don’t require as much cleaning as cheaper yoga mats. However, as you want your mat to last years and years, it’s something that you should really be focused on maintaining so has to not trash the earth.

How to clean Lululemon Yoga Mats

It’s actually quite easy to clean the most popular Lululemon yoga mats. Here are 3 great ways:

1. Use yoga mat wash spray

There are numerous types of mat wash sprays which are natural and won’t ruin your mat. Unfortunately, Lululemon doesn’t actually makes their own yoga mat spray but there are other commercial alternatives in the market such as Mind Over Lather, Manduka and Black Diamond Stoneworks which is USDA Certified BIOBASED.

2. Use natural disinfectant

There are numerous types of natural disinfectant that you can use. We can recommend Australian eucalyptus oil spray though there will be a strange (yet natural) smelling odor that’s left afterwards. These plant-derived sprays are perfect for the vegan yoga enthusiasts who are looking for a cruelty-free way to clean their Lululemon Yoga mat without commercial solvents with chemicals which are tested on animals.

3. Use Lavender and Tea Tree Oil

You can also buy these two essential oils and mix them together while diluting them in a lot of water. Essentially you’re merely creating an organic spray with the resources you probably have in your quiver of natural healing scents and oils.

Things not to do

Now that we’ve covered the 3 core ways to clean your mat, let’s cover things you shouldn’t do.

• Never leave it in the sun. Never leave your Lululemon yoga mat in direct sunlight for an extended period of time. 10 to 20 minutes maximum just to kill bacteria is enough.
• Never use harsh chemicals. Don’t use harsh chemicals on any type of yoga mat. This isn’t necessary to kill germs and the natural alternatives in the market do just fine.
• Never throw your mat in the shower. You don’t need to get your yoga mat wet. if it’s sandy, simply look for a vacuum cleaner or simply brush it all off. If it’s muddy, then again just use a damp cloth to clean the mud and dirt away.
• Never use a carpet cleaner. Don’t use carpet cleaner on a yoga mat. These chemicals aren’t necessary and will only degrade the surface of your yoga mat in the coming weeks.
• Never use a towel. Wiping your yoga mat with your towel is unnecessary and often pointless. If it’s the same towel you just used in a yoga class, you’re potentially transferring bacteria on to your yoga mat which isn’t helping the situation.

How often should I clean my Lululemon Yoga Mat?

After every sweaty yoga class, you should be cleaning any yoga mat. The sweat and bacteria will be present and will be alive when you next go into a class. For slow flow or Yin Yoga classes, cleaning your yoga mat will in most instances be unnecessary as you’re merely stretching.

Also – avoid over cleaning your mat. It shouldn’t take more than 30 sections of spraying with a natural yoga mat wash spray to get the desired result. We prefer these products the most as they are unscented and you’re less likely to annoy others nearby at your next yoga class which might be sensitive to smells.

Where do you get yoga mat spray from?

You can buy natural yoga mat spray from Amazon and eBay in the United States as well as most other countries, but it’s often easier to buy some from your local yoga studio. They often stock it. Likewise, local sports stores will have similar products that work well.

As an alternative, use the essential oils or natural disinfectant spray that we’ve mentioned here. You’ll find them available in most supermarkets and some convenience stores. Be mindful to check their ingredients first.

In summary

The proper hygiene and cleaning of a yoga mat is important but not something that you should spend much time thinking about. Your main focus should be on enjoying yoga for health and vitality, and a quick spray after each class is more than necessary to do the job.

Got questions? Let us know in the comments! 🙂