One thing I can say, with 15 years of yoga experience, I have employed many a mat. My first mat love was purple. My instructor, Jennifer, purchased an industrial sized roll of mat material. From the roll she cut a mat for each of her students. She charged us $11. A hefty investment I thought. Just like lovers, you remember your first mat. I remembered rolling it up and tucking it under my arm with pride. I learned to stand on my head, bind my arms in parsvottonasana, I cried on that mat and laughed as well. We traveled and explored new yoga venues together I stretched, flexed and grew strong on that mat, so much so I wore it out.
I spent time after the break-up trying left over mats at the gym and studios. Like one night romances, not fulfilling, not practice sustaining. Years later, I began to invest in mats with fancy yoga labels, like Gaiam, Barefoot Yoga and Lululemon to name a few. None lasted, some I lost, some frayed and others weren’t able to keep up with my ever evolving practice. Then I found the one I wanted to stay with forever. The PrAna Eco Mat. Oh, I was in love. We shared environmental ideals. The color was green, like spring moss. When I was in down dog my hands and feet felt buoyant as if I was practicing on moss. Such a sturdy mat, yet light weight enough to travel anywhere. This was the height of my practice; I practiced 3 times a day, lots of sweat, lots of omms. Eventually, after tens of thousands of upward facing dogs, my toenails finally carved a path so deep in the moss, my feet would get stuck. Sadly, this mat began to bio degrade on the studio floors. It need replacing. I purchased a new PrAna. This was like dating your ex love’s sibling. Not quite the same but familiar. Something had happened, maybe PrAna had a new manufacturing credo. The purple/pink color was awesome, but this mat was flimsy, unlike the original.
Manduka was like a first marriage. Oh my! Environmentally manufactured, sturdy, sticky, name recognition- like dating a model, this was home. Manduka was there for me as my practice changed, ripened and began to mature, It met the needs of the yogini I had become, In a devotion act of love I washed Manduka, but not knowing this to be dangerous I left it out in the sun (never do that) to dry I was never forgiven, it was a reprehensible act. The mat began to peel away from itself and it’s edged fringed in dismay.
After I consoled myself with austere thoughts of not needing any one mat in my life. I began to mostly rely on my studio’s loaner mats. After the Manduka, I thought of all my previous mat loves. How we worked together, grew together and eventually grew apart. I was sad, I felt loss. Practicing on the Yoga Loft’s thin, ultra used but super sticky non-designer mats, was humbling. The mat was not inspiring, the inspiration had to grow from within.
I thought of starting a new mat relationship, but mostly I was content with practicing on those well worn ones at the studio.
Not long ago a newer company, Jade, sent me a calender and an email wanting to know if I wanted a demo mat. Sure.
It was the color of my old Manduka, the one I had ruined by hanging in the sun. I found it to be sturdy and sure of itself. I began to date it. I didn’t completely rely on it, but gradually got to know it and began a deep appreciation of it.
Like all my previous loves, the manufacturer’s source and produce the mat with minimal environmental impact. Very little packaging and biodegradable.
Today my Jade and I are together always. It’s the second marriage, the lasting marriage, the mat I will grow ever old with.
We now stock Jade’s Harmony mats at the Yoga Loft. They are $56. Yes, costly but FYI, cheaper than you can find them anywhere, anywhere!
The Jade is a mat for those with serious, dedicated practices. You earn a Jade! They are sticky, skid resistant, sturdy and thick but light weight. Great performance.
I invite you to meet mine, give it your best downdog and see what you think.
Cherie