Gaiam Yoga Mat – Premium 5mm Solid Thick Non Slip Exercise & Fitness Mat for All Types of Yoga, Pilates & Floor Workouts (68″ x 24″ x 5mm) by Gaiam

I love this mat. Love the colour. Love the quality. I use it every day.

Cushy and well made.

Excellent mat recommended to me by a yogi. I didn’t think it would be this much better than my old $10 mat but it is. Still firm for balance but more cushioning somehow from the density of the material. Excellent stickiness and seems significantly durable.

Main reason I bought was the color, instead of hiding mat in a closet ive incorporated to complement my decor and it was hard to find cream/white mats! The material is very thin could use a few more millimeters to be more comfortable since I use on hard tile flooring. Overall very happy w purchase!

Firstly, I am a beginner. Brand new to yoga.
So it comes rolled up with the upside rolled away for a reason. If you forcibly flatten it by rolling it the other way or simply rolling it as you would any other mat, then you get creases. I would say if you are buying this for travelling or looking to store it rolled up, be careful with it. I have left my mat flat and simply keep it to the side when I don’t need it. After initially learning about the mat and how to use it, I have practised with it for five hours or so and have to say it is lovely. Here is what you must understand: you have to wet it with a damp towel or cloth every time you use it, and I would say for hot yoga, get it especially wet. You can wait a bit for the water to soak into the cork, but the cork needs the dampness to be extra grippy, as any other plastic mat would be. As the water is being soaked into the cork, it can also look like it’s drying, but it is still there, don’t worry. Once this is done, it can be very secure and comfortable. I find my hands less rough and my skin feeling taught when I use the mat correctly. The thickness is mostly in the underlayers, as the cork is only 1-2 mm. The size of the mat is slightly smaller then that of the yoga mat I had previously, but honestly, I don’t see any loss in the shorter cork mat as I am short myself. Another thing to be aware of is that the smell will go away in a few hours or if you wet it a couple of times. If you bring it to a studio and there happens to be a break in the session, take that time to re-dampen the mat. My joints feel very supported and protected as I use this mat where whereas my other yoga mat just sinks and impresses with my body weight. I actually find the whole process and use of the mat to be very methodical, and love the organic design the cork naturally makes as a pattern. I would highly recommend this to other beginners.