Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Jade Yoga Mats

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Jade Yoga Mats

By Erica Harris

The Jade Yoga Mat challenge!  I have been using a plastic-based yoga mat for my entire yoga practice.  Some mats were thicker like Wai Lana, and others were beautiful designed such as Gaiam (my mat boasts of a stretched out white tree and soft green hues).  Still, if you have ever done yoga in a heated studio (or in your basement) you may find yourself slipping and sliding.  This seems to be a common question among students: how to stop sliding around or reduce mat bunching.  

I had heard of Jade mats but had never felt one or tried it.  To make such a $60 investment (sold at Mighty Yoga) I had to investigate.  Jade boasts of being "Nature's best yoga mat".  Why you ask?  Jade mats are environmentally friendly-"made in the U.S. of natural rubber containing no PVC or other synthetic rubber". Because of Jade's unusual ingredient, rubber, Jade's mat's won't slip and guarantees maximum grip when you're standing in the powerful warrior pose or hovering over the mat in crow pose.  Jade mats will also be comfortable--the optimum amount of cushion making it easier on the knees or feet in standing positions.

On the Jade website, the company boasts of Jade mat users such as Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, and other famous yogis.  And to top icing on this rubber cake, Jade Yoga company will plant a tree for each mat purchased.

During the month of September I am going to take the Jade Yoga mat challenge.  Starting September 1st, this yogi is going to switch to Jade!  I'm thinking the purple mat is calling my name!