No matter how many yogis tell us a good-quality mat will make all the difference between a smooth session and a slippy (or overly grippy) one, it can still be hard to justify the higher cost of a premium option. Which is why we always keep an eye out for when those premium mats go on sale, like this one from Manduka — a favorite brand of six professional yoga instructors we’ve talked to — that’s now almost 30 percent off. Like the brand’s other instructor-approved mats, Manduka’s eKO Lite mat has a nonabsorbent surface the pros rave about for its ability to stay box-fresh over time. That nonporous surface has also made Manduka mats a favorite of amateur yogis, too, with one Amazon reviewer writing that “whether it’s sweat, somewhat dirty feet, or just dirt from daily use, I can make this yoga mat as good as new by cleaning it with a damp cloth and letting it air-dry.” Beyond being durable and easy to clean, Manduka mats are slightly slipperier to the touch — which is a good thing, according to yoga teacher Alexandria Brzenk: “I prefer the texture over rubber mats because it makes flowing through transitions smoother, while also offering enough traction that my hands don’t slip in down dog.”
Backcountry has the mat on sale for 19 percent off in the sage color shown. But over at Anthropologie, you can get it in pink or a stylish lavender (that skews light gray) for even less.
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