Item #37 in Yoga

Tapas Ultra "Extra Thick" Yoga Mat

Made by Hugger Mugger

Sales Rank on Amazon.com: 1359

Average Review: 4.5 stars

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See more items in: Sports & Outdoors: Yoga

Amazon.com Reviews

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

The following review received 109 helpful votes out of 125 total votes:
Review Date: 2005-03-28
"Two Sides to All Yoga Mats; Know Which Side is Up"

Yoga mats come in three basic thicknesses with a newer fourth thickness becoming increasingly available. At 1/4 inch, this mat is one of the latter kind that tops even the "thick" mats (3/16" thick) designed for those who need or want extra cushion. It is exactly two times thicker than the average mat. At 24" x 68" it is also the standard width and length. Mats that are about one fourth as thick as this one (1/16") are good for travel or placing under a thicker mat to provide more traction. The average mats are about 1/8."

There are two sides to this and nearly all yoga mats. Look carefully at the 'bumps' on each side of the mat. The larger bumps are designed to face upwards to cushion your hands, feet, and knees during poses while keeping your body from dangerously slipping out of alignment. The smaller bumps are designed to face downwards to grip the floor and keep the yoga mat from sliding. Many mats have a label on one end with the name of the brand. This is typically, but not always, located on the 'up' side. The bumps will tell you for sure.

This yoga mat will increase in softness and stickiness with use. (So do most mats.) They start out mildly sticky and increase in stickiness the more they are used. You will want to wash your mat when it first arrives so as to remove the thin film they get on their surface during the manufacturing process. Instructions for washing the mat are included. Once you've washed and dried your mat you're ready to begin! After using it for a while, if you find the mat decreasing in stickiness each time you pull it out, this is the typical sign that a light coating of dust or too much body sweat has accumulated on your mat and it needs a light hand washing with very diluted soap and water. After washing, roll your mat in a thick towel to squeeze out the excess water, otherwise it will take forever to dry in the air. Then, air dry your mat unrolled, inside, and away from sunlight. (Hanging over the shower bar works nicely.)

When you first unroll your mat you will find one end to be a bit curled. Simply alternate the direction you roll your mat (top outside once, then bottom outside next) or the end you start from (curled end once, flat end next time) and you'll find it straightening out more or less over time.

I recommend buying your own yoga mat even if your yoga studio or gym provides them for you. I've worked in many studios and gyms over the years. Sometimes management has mats cleaned often, sometimes not. If you bring your own mat you always know where it's been. :o) Plus, owning your own mat may encourage you to begin valuable practice at home.

For my students who have trouble with their knees in some of the poses requiring the body weight to rest on a knee, I recommend temporarily folding over one end of the mat to get double cushion under the knee while still leaving one layer under the rest of the body. This saves you having to haul more than one mat out each time you practice which can be discouraging especially to the beginner. 5 stars

The following review received 13 helpful votes out of 13 total votes:
Review Date: 2006-06-12
"This mat rocks!"

I just started doing yoga again and was using another mat that made my feet slip all over the place if I perspired at all. It was a bummer because I couldn't keep my focus during class because I was constantly adjusting my stance. This mat is fantastic because not only is it non-slip, but it is very well cushioned for comfort and durability. 5 stars

The following review received 5 helpful votes out of 6 total votes:
Review Date: 2007-03-18
"Great Quality for the Price"

I really like this mat by Hugger Mugger. The thickness is really nice especially if practicing on hardwood or tile floor. I actually purchased mine at TJ Maxx for $10 buck less than the selling price here. The color selection is very nice too. My one complaint is that I had to wash it several times to rid the mat of a chemical odor. I recommend using an organic soap or spray whenever washing a yoga mat. This one in my experience, needs to be washed & completely dried several times for it to have a fresh scent. All in all I say this is a fine product. However, the very best mat imho are Ecomats which are made from jute plant. Much more expensive than this one but well worth the price. 4 stars

The following review received 2 helpful votes out of 3 total votes:
Review Date: 2007-11-11
"Yoga Mat just OK - nothing special"

The mat is thick enough and long enough but for HOT YOGA you still slip. If you are doing HOT YOGA I would recommend that you purchase a yoga towel to go with it. 3 stars

The following review received 1 helpful votes out of 1 total votes:
Review Date: 2008-05-14
"Good product; does not last"

I really liked this mat--loved the thickness and the stickiness--.. but it only lasted for about a year of twice weekly use. Now the ears where my hands and feet hit most often have worn down and have very little traction :( 4 stars