How To Make A Yoga Mat Less Slippery

After all the time and money spent on getting a high-quality yoga mat for practice, it is quite frustrating and tiring to discover that your yoga mat is slippery when you perform a downward facing dog, spread your hands, bend your knees, and press your toes on the floor for practice.

Typically, yoga mats are meant to have a good grip that prevents you from hurting yourself during practice. However, slippery yoga mats are dangerous and could hurt you when practicing yoga. Therefore, your yoga mats must be sticky and grippy enough for you to enjoy your practice.

Below, we'll explain why it is important to identify the cause of the slipperiness, why your yoga mat doesn't feel tacky or slightly sticky, and the best solutions on how to make a yoga mat less slippery.

Related post: Best Yoga Mats For Sweaty Hands and Feet

Common Reasons Why Yoga Mats May Be Slippery

1. New mats 

New yoga mats can become slippery due to a material called polyvinyl chloride. Initially, this material provides a good grip for yoga mats. At the same time, it can also cause a new yoga mat to be slippery.

However, the new yoga mat becomes stickier after some time due to constant usage. Thus, to enjoy a new yoga mat, you must familiarize yourself with its usage.

2. Mat Material

Materials for yoga mats are more slippery than materials used for Rubber and TPE mats. Rubber mats and TPE mats usually have a different slipperiness than yoga mats.

Well, this may be due to the materials used in creating the mats. Therefore, the materials used can determine a new slippery yoga mat.

3. Skin oil or lotion

Skin oil or lotion could cause you to fall on a mat. Moisturizers could cause you to slip on a new mat when practicing yoga after using lotion on your palm, skin, or feet. If caution is not taken, it may be very dangerous for you.

Also, you can slip on a yoga mat even when it isn't new for the same reasons. However, it is more frequent when you practice yoga on a new mat.

4. Excessive sweat

Sweating can also cause a slippery yoga mat. Sweaty palms or feet can cause you to slip more frequently than others during yoga sessions.

This may be due to the nature of your body. However, there are several solutions to the problems. For example, you can design special yoga gloves and socks for personal use during yoga sessions.

Difficulty level of some poses

There are about 84 positions in yoga. Depending on the pose and the person doing it, these poses may range from easy to difficult.

However, some positions in yoga sessions can cause the yoga mat to be slippery due to the difficulty involved in practicing them. Therefore, these poses may become too difficult, causing you to slip out of the mat.

How To Make Yoga Mats Less Slippery

There are about 12 easy techniques employed to make yoga mats less slippery. These are:

1. Continuous Practice

One way to prevent your yoga mat's slipperiness is by continuously using the mat. A new mat will eventually become less slippery with frequent usage.

This is because the thin surface film used to make the mat less sticky when rolled up for sale has gradually become stale due to constant yoga practice over time.

2. Wash your mat

Another thing that could make a yoga mat less slippery is by washing your mat. You can use a washing machine to wash your new yoga mat if you don't add soap. 

Also, it is required that you dry it outdoors for a few days. In addition, it is better to avoid using acidic cleaners that could damage the mat materials; instead, use organic surface cleaner for a desirable outcome. 

Also, sea salt and apple cider vinegar are natural cleansers that can serve as an alternative. You can apply sea salt to the mat's surface and then gently scrubs with a wet cloth to help eliminate the thin surface film causing the mat to slip.

Note: Using natural sea salt cleaner doesn't apply to all mats. It applies only to specific yoga mats.

Finally, you can apply sea salt to the mat's surface and then rinse it with water after 24 hours. Remember to air dry the mat after washing it with appropriate cleansers or washing machine.

If you want to know How To Clean A Yoga Mat At Home Properly, make sure you read our in-depth guides here!

3. Placing microfiber towels on the mat

You can rid your yoga mat of its slipperiness by placing a cotton towel under your palms and feet to prevent you from slipping out of the mat during yoga sessions.

This is usually done by placing your hands or feet on the cotton towel or drying your hands or feet after each yoga pose.

In addition, you can use a quick-drying microfiber yoga towel to improve your yoga poses while practicing different positions. Naturally, some people sweat more than others, making microfiber towels helpful by increasing your grip while practicing yoga.

Related post: 10 Best Yoga Mat Towels

4. Practice on one side of the mat

Another excellent solution to a slippery yoga mat is by practicing on one side of the mat. You can practice on one side of the mat every time you practice to have a firm grip on the mat.

After about 10-14days, the mat will wear down as you practice on the same side daily. In addition, we recommend that you mark a particular space on the mat where you will practice consistently.

5. Go for double-sided yoga mats

One way to make your yoga mat less slippery is to get a double-sided one. As the name implies, a double-sided yoga mat has two sides.

One side is made of mat materials like PVC, while the other is made of cotton or other materials. You can start your practice on the side with the cotton material and proceed to the latter after some time.

6. Proper layering

Some yoga mats come with a slippery upper layer which can be tiring and frustrating. However, you can rectify this issue by spraying the upper layer with water to make it soggy and then placing a quick-drying microfiber towel on the layer to produce a proper grip for your mat.

7. Use white vinegar

Using white vinegar to eliminate yoga mat slipperiness is another excellent solution to preventing danger during yoga sessions. You can use this substance to wash a new mat by adding white vinegar to a cup of water, mix it and apply on the mat.

This can be done with a supplement of essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus to enhance the smell and accelerate the dryness of the mat's surface.

8. Take a shower before every yoga session

One thing that can make a mat's surface slippery is practicing yoga without a shower. The oil and sweat from your skin, palm, or feet could make the mat slippery and dangerous.

So, we recommend that you take a shower before performing yoga poses. Also, taking a shower before yoga could help ease energy flow through the body. 

9. Use gloves and socks

You can include accessories like yoga gloves and socks in your yoga session to protect yourself from getting injured in practice.

Also, the material helps you properly grip your hands and feet. In addition, you can reduce the slipperiness of a new yoga mat by using yoga straps to ensure you feel comfortable during yoga sessions. 

10. Switch mat materials

You could switch from yoga mats to natural rubber or PU top mats for a better yoga experience. PVC and other materials are more slippery than rubber and PU mats. Therefore, you can change the mat material from PVC to PU top mat for personal use. 

11. Leave the mat in a busy place

You can also place the mat where a lot of movement occurs. For example, the yoga mat can be laid at the kitchen entrance, where many activities happen. 

Also, it can be placed at the entrance of a house where visitors and householders operate for most of the day. 

These strategic spots will wear and tear the yoga mat quicker than you alone stepping on it in a few days. You can decide to clean it up and use it here.

12. Stay calm and be focused

Another reason your yoga mat may be slippery is that you are nervous or anxious to learn. It may seem basic from afar, but yoga sessions require a lot of strength, focus, and energy to learn.

However, some newcomers may experience anxiety in their first yoga sessions, which may cause them to slip during practice. Therefore, you need to stay calm, focus, and take the lessons one step at a time. 

Common Pitfalls To Avoid To Prolong Yoga Mat Lifespan

There are about 4 things you shouldn't do to keep your mat in good shape while trying to remove dirt or slipperiness. These are:

1. Avoid using sandpaper

You will damage your yoga mat if you use sandpaper on it. Therefore, use something other than sandpaper when trying to remove slipperiness. 

2. Avoid tumble dryers

Refrain from using tumble dryers after washing your slippery mats. This may ruin your mats.

3. Avoid keeping we yoga mats

Generally, mats need sunlight and air to dry properly. This may require that you dry your mat outside. Ensure that the mat dries because any signs of wetness could result in mold growth. 

4. Avoid the use of harsh chemicals

One may be tempted to use acidic substances, detergents, or strong chemicals when washing the mat's upper layer. This could pose serious problems to the mat in the long run. In addition, this can also be unhealthy for the people using the mat.

Final Thoughts

Yoga has many benefits. It improves health, balance, and muscle tone. In addition, researchers have discovered that yoga reduces stress, anxiety, pain, and depression. It also helps you sleep better and improves the quality of your life.

However, a slippery mat is bad for you because you could lose balance and injure yourself. Therefore, it is important to prioritize safety when practicing yoga.