Among the numerous brands of yoga mats to choose from, Manduka and Lululemon mats are the two popular names associated with yoga mats. Both are excellent mats since I have tried using them for quiet some time! Before shifting to branded and expensive mats, I tried using no-brand mats as a beginner and I did not have any regrets when I finally bought branded, good quality yoga mats. These are the things to consider before choosing which one to buy:
Manduka Yoga Mat:
I bought THE PROlite71" 5mm Manduka yoga mat online since physical stores in my town is not available. It was a bit pricey for me and I bought it for P4,350 + P300 for shipping fee. It is a good choice for yogis who wants a lightweight, excellent quality and comfortable yoga practice. The 5mm thickness provides cushion on your knees, wrist/palms and heads during practice. The only downside of this mat is that if you are using it for the first time you have to break in your mat which means you will have to finds ways how (I will be posting a post regarding this soon). My sweaty hands keeps on slipping to the new mat. It has a closed-cell surface that prevents sweat from seeping through the mat. For my own personal experience, I did not like the this mat because of the tendency to slip whenever I practice. You can check the manduka website for more information.
Lululemon Yoga Mat
I owned the 3mm Lululemon Reversible Mat and it was the best mat I've ever used so far. I bought mine in Hongkong Lululemon Store for 450HKD (so about 3,500PHP). It is lightweight and ideal for yogis who are always on the go. It is the best mat for me because my hands do not slip during practice! It is made of durable polyurethane that is easy to clean and absorbs moisture.
Overall, both mats have good quality that provides comfort during practice. Each person has their own personal preference and yoga mats are tools to a significant yoga journey. NAMASTE!
