Customer Reviews

Self-Guiding Womens Yoga Mat (EA)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a first generation product that has some issues. Here are my comments to help you decide for yourself if you should buy it.

The pluses:
- 28 illustrations of yoga poses
- Rounded corners seem more "finished" than square-cut corners
- Size is generous (24 in x 72 in)
- Velcro strap included (but no carry handle or bag)
- Density of the material is a bit above average (but mat is not thick)
- Reversible green/pink colors.

The minuses:
- Standard stink of most yoga mats. Unroll and let it off-gas for a week in the garage
- Thickness is mediocre - just a bit over 1/8 in. Persons using it on a hard floor might want a thicker mat
- No plastic recycling ID symbols on either side of the mat. (It is made from PTE.)
- Issues with illustrations and instructions. See below.

Illustrations probably appeal most to the beginning student. However, there are mistakes (11/09).
* The Plough pose is misidentified as Shoulder Stand
* Instructions to hold Cat and Cow poses for 30-60 seconds contrast with the normal practice of moving from one to the other on each exhale and inhale
* Some poses are difficult for beginners and require instruction for safe execution.

An illustrated mat seems like an appealing gift for a beginning student. And, I would buy it for a beginner only if that person also obtained some guidance for safe execution of the more difficult postures (either from an instructor or a good DVD).

Bottom Line: An appealing concept with some errors in execution. Material is thin. MSRP of $49.95 is high ($30-35 for a TPE mat would we more reasonable). Not bad, but hopefully a second version will address some concerns. I personally would be inclined to buy more as gifts if a thicker version were available.

I like this mat because it is very "sticky" so your hands and feet don't slide and the mat doesn't slide around the floor. Sometimes I'd say it's too sticky, but when you're holding downward dog for any length of time and you don't like your sweaty hands and feet sliding out from under you - this is the mat to have under you. Transitioning from downward dog or table to a lunge, well, your feet can get caught by the sticky-ness of this mat. The guy/girl versions of this don't matter, just a different color set. The pink/green would have made me puke, so I bought the blue/gray (guy's mat) of this. And my yoga instructor thought the positions printed right on the mat were a cool idea and they helped me learn the poses faster when I started because they were right in front of my face as a reminder.

I do have to agree with the other reviewer that if you don't know how to properly move into some of those poses you could really hurt yourself. At least it doesn't show Crane position.

i love my new yoga mat. LOVE it. comes with tube to store mat in and velcro strap to hold it in place. and some online workout planner thing i haven't checked out yet. (I know enough yoga to direct my own routine)AND it's pink and green, WOO HOO! The depictions of yoga ladies on it make me smile and remind me of poses I like while I'm yoga-ing

I purchased this mat as I know nothing about yoga. This mat makes it very easy! I would recommend to anyone wanting to do some effective stretching!

My girlfriend has wanted a yoga mat for a while. I came across this one, and she's obsessed with it. It is especially good for her because she is a beginner. She is learning all types of yoga poses. It's a perfect gift for for the holidays coming up, and it arrived extremely fast. Enjoy!

I really enjoyed the pictures. It was nice to be able to practice yoga while looking at the pictures instead of trying to follow a DVD or something. I have a HUGE complaint with the thickness though. According to the website it is supposed to be 1.5inch thick, this mat did not even make half an inch. Not to say the mat isn't comfy to do some positions it, I was expecting something much thicker. I am also looking forward to the smell going away. I understand eco-friendly mat means rubber smell, but its still going to be nice when it goes away.