How to Make Yoga Mat Less Slippery? (10 Foolproof Tips)

Has your yoga class ever been hampered by a sweaty, slick mat? Do you have a mat that keeps slipping around on the floor when doing poses like downward dog or standing on one leg in tree pose? If so, it’s time for you to learn how to make the yoga mat less slippery.

Yoga is a rewarding yet formidable practice. Making it through one yoga session, let alone a full-fledged yoga practice, requires great strength, willpower, focus, and endurance.

One thing that hinders many new yogis is the slipperiness of their yoga mats, which makes it hard to do all your poses correctly. Not to mention that an overly-slippery mat also prevents you from sweating enough during some poses.

The first time I began practicing yoga, I struggled with the slippery mats. They kept sliding out from beneath me. Eventually, I got used to it, but it’s come back to haunt me with the change of seasons. It made me realize there must be a better way to deal with this pesky issue.

This guide will show you how to fix a slippery yoga mat so that you can practice yoga more safely and securely.

Why is My Yoga Mat Slippery?

There’s nothing more annoying than sweating hands slipping on a yoga mat. A slippery yoga mat is like a car with bald tires; you can’t go anywhere. Why does your yoga mat get so slick?

It’s because they’re made of different materials or coated differently. It could be done, so the mats don’t absorb sweat and stink up. However, this is not the only reason you slip on your mat during some poses. Look at the following points to know why your yoga mat is slippery.

1. Your Yoga Mat is Brand New

Many manufacturers recommend you wash your new yoga mat before using it to remove any slippery substances that might still be on it. It is crucial to follow this advice if you buy your new mat online without touching or feeling it.

Manufacturers often recommend using mild soap after you wash the mat with water to ensure that it won’t be too slippery when you use it.

2. Materials Used in Yoga Mat

The type of material your yoga mat is made of will hugely affect how slippery your mat will be. Hence, if you are searching for a non-slip yoga mat, look for one with a little grip.

3. You Sweat Enough to Make Your Yoga Mat Slippery

When you do yoga, you’re supposed to get your heart rate up and lose a lot of sweat. If your hands slip off your yoga mat, or you fall into a downward dog with one foot on the mat instead of two, it can quickly become frustrating.

4. Slippery Effect Coming from the Oil

Many people use lotion or oil to moisturize their skin. When these oils contact your yoga mat, they create a slippery effect. If you find yourself having difficulty holding poses or slipping around while practicing yoga, then it’s likely that oil has built up on your mat over time.

5. Specific Yoga Poses Cause You to Slip

Certain poses, such as a tripod headstand, require you to stand on your head while placing your hands on the ground and lifting your feet off the ground. If not careful, these poses could lead to slipping.

How to Make Yoga Mat Less Slippery?

The following tips will help you learn how to make rubber mats less slippery without buying new equipment.

1. Get More Practice

Sticking on your yoga mat may be hard for a beginner. It’s not surprising. Due to the slippery nature of yoga mats, especially those made from PVC, it isn’t easy to put your hands or feet on them without slipping off.

The best way to ensure you stay on your mat is to practice more until the top layer of your mat wears off. The more you practice, the more the mat will become less slippery, and the better the poses will feel. The better they feel, the easier they are to execute.

2. Wash Your Mat

Washing a Yoga Mat to Make it Less Slippery

Wash it with mild soap and lukewarm water when you get your mat. Rinse it thoroughly with clean water and dry it properly. Be careful not to use high-pressure water streams on your mat, as it might damage the delicate surface of your mat.

Dry the mat in the shade; don’t expose it to direct sunlight for too long. By applying water to your mats, they will slowly become sticky.

3. Try a Towel

Some people recommend placing towels under each foot or hand to prevent slipping. Use a non-slip yoga mat liner underneath your regular yoga mat.

Choose a towel made of natural cotton, linen, or hemp. Synthetic textiles made from nylon or polyester are slippery when wet, so stay away from them.

Avoid towels with graphic prints and designs, as these can distract you during practice. Solid colors or prints that match your style and do not distract you during training are the best options.

4. Practice on One Side

If you want to prevent slippage, you should practice on one side of the mat. Unroll the side with no downward-facing arrows, the one facing up. Because it is designed to be slick and smooth, you don’t slip while doing poses like warrior II or downward-facing dog.

5. Consider a Double-Sided Yoga Mat

In addition to the standard yoga mats, there are other options for those who tend to slip and slide during their practice. A double-sided yoga mat has a non-slip surface on both sides.

This non-slip yoga mat is designed for a sticky grip and good traction, while its second side mimics the feel of actually being on the ground. It prevents you from slipping while doing your workout routines.

6. A Proper Layering

Proper Layering of a Yoga Mat by Applying Water

You can create a microfiber towel backing for a yoga mat to make it less slippery. It is possible to do this by spraying water onto the top of the yoga mat and then laying a towel over the upper side. As a result, you will practice more comfortably and reduce slipperiness.

7. Wear Gloves and Socks

One of the best ways to prevent yourself from slipping is to wear a pair of non-slip gloves. A better grip on the mat will make it easier to perform the poses without worrying about accidentally falling off in the middle of your practice.

Another way to avoid slipping is to wear socks. In addition to providing an added layer of security, these socks usually prevent you from slipping even further during your yoga class.

8. Apply Sea Salt

Apply Sea Salt on a Yoga Mat to Avoid Slipperiness

Sea salt is a cheap, helpful ingredient for making your yoga mat less slippery. It helps keep the grip in place over time and is better for you than many commercial sprays or oils.

Sprinkle sea salt on your mat, scrub it with a towel, and then wipe it off. As soon as you do that, you’ll be surprised at the ease with which you can get traction. The salt acts as an abrasive to break down residue build-up and roughen the surface area.

It can reduce slipping even if you don’t keep using it. However, when you do, you’ll have a surface that is non-stick and resists sweat and other contaminants.

9. Apply Vinegar on the Yoga Mat

The acetic acid in the vinegar helps dissolve oil and sweat on your mat, making it less slippery. You may spray it directly on the mat or use a clean cloth to spread it evenly. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes, then wipe the area with a clean cloth.

10. Use Baby Powder on Your Yoga Mat

You can sprinkle some powder on the yoga mat and rub it in with your hands. It will help absorb moisture and keep your mat from slipping.

Remember, do not spray too much of the baby powder, especially before doing sun salutation poses that involve sweating, as you may slip and fall while facing down.

How to Test for Slipperiness?

The coefficient of friction determines the mat’s slip resistance. The higher the value, the more secure one feels while practicing yoga on a mat. It is achieved using a non-synthetic material to make the mat, which can be done with natural rubber or jute fibers.

A simple way to test for slipperiness is to grab the mat with one hand and pull it toward you as you slide your foot across it. If your foot is hard to move, the mat is not slippery enough. If you can move your foot easily, the mat is too slippery.

A general rule of thumb is that the harder it is for your foot to move across the mat, the better.

When you test a mat for slipperiness, ensure your hands are dry and that nothing is on your feet’s soles. Additionally, you should wear socks or stockings when testing for slipperiness, as they will increase your grip on the mat.

Final Words

Following the above methods will prevent your yoga mat from sliding and increase your grip even in the sweatiest conditions.

A non-slip solution will not only improve your experience but will also prolong the life of your yoga mat. Unsurprisingly, more people prefer a sticky mat to one that slides all over the place, making it much easier to stay steady and stable during your practice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

More sticky mats are better for yoga, right? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. Some yogis like sticky mats because they offer a bit of extra cushion and traction for balance poses.

An important factor in determining the stickiness of a yoga mat is its material composition. A combination of natural rubber’s high resilience and the tacky surface gives it its natural stickiness. Companies sometimes use less expensive synthetic rubber that is less sticky.

A second factor is the material’s thickness. Thick mats are generally stickier than thin ones because the extra material provides more surface area for bonding with sweat, creating a sticky layer on top of the mat.

In contrast, sticky yoga mats are indicators of a mat that has not been adequately cleaned or is too old. It could also mean you will need to replace your mat soon.

Sticky mats are more likely to have germs, fungus, bacteria, and dirt trapped between the fibers. You should clean your yoga mat regularly if you often practice, as a sticky mat can make you sick.

Carefully choosing your poses will help you break into a new yoga mat. Yoga poses that require the most stretching are ideal, as they allow the oils on your skin to penetrate the mat and soften it. The best poses for breaking in a new mat are a downward dog, plank, boat pose, and cat/cow.

There are two sides to a yoga mat, a rough side and a smooth side. Which side you start with depends on your comfort level. If you are learning the poses, beginning with the rough side up is recommended since it provides better traction.

As you become more advanced, you can switch to the smooth side so the rest of your body remains comfortable.

If your yoga mat has stickers or graphics, then the side without printing is the right side. Therefore, if you were to look at the mat from above, you would see that one side is completely blank, while the other has small letters or designs printed on it.

The side without printing is the natural or blank side, whereas the printing side is called the label or sticker.

Many people roll their mats incorrectly because they see others doing it that way. That’s not to say you shouldn’t experiment with different ways to roll your mat to make your practice more comfortable.

If you’re unsure, unroll the mat completely. Gently smooth out any rips or creases. Place the mat flat on the floor. Fold the mat over itself so that the sticky side is facing up. Roll up the mat from both ends toward the center point. The result should look like a burrito.

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How to Make Yoga Mat Less Slippery? (10 Foolproof Tips)