How to Break in a Manduka Yoga Mat. Getting Rid of the "slip" on a Manduka Yoga Mat.

The Manduka yoga mat is often referred to as the "Rolls Royce" of yoga mats. The Manduka mats themselves are thick, deep cushioned, equipped with a non-slip bottom, and a separate finger gripping practicing side, which make them a dream to do down dog on. Manduka mats however are also notorious for needing to be broken in before they become the perfect practicing mat. According to Manduka, their zero emissions manufacturing process can leave a slippery film on the surface of the mat, and until you're able to remove that, you may notice your hands slip a bit during your yoga practice. 

After some trial and error, we think we've perfected and shortened the break in process, and its really pretty simple. To break in your Manduka yoga mat, there are 3 easy steps.

#1 - Put your mat in the sun and let it get nice and warm (maybe even hot)! We are lucky here in AZ, we can pretty much find a warm sunny day anytime. You want your mat to heat up so that the oils from the manufacturing process can come to the surface. We recommend at least an a couple hours, but it may take a little bit more time, even up to a full day. 

#2 - Rub your mat with a coarse salt. Doing this after you've let the mat heat up is the important part. Once the mat's had time to release its oils, you can use a nice coarse salt to gently rub down the surface of your mat. This helps remove the oils and any remaining film residue from the manufacturing process. 

#3 Get on your mat and practice! Once you've completed steps 1 and 2, your mat will be ready to practice on, but it will also get better and better with each use. Unlike most mats, Manduka mats don't wear out, they get better with age, so each time you get on your mat, you'll know your mat is practicing with you!

That it. It's really that simple!

How to Break in a Manduka Mat. from Vibetality on Vimeo.


Looking for the perfect the perfect salt to break in your Manduka? Here's a link to a salt we found, and love! Its only $6.95, and you'll have plenty of leftovers to enjoy!