This is one of two high-quality yoga mats that people seem to recommend both here and on other sites. I initially purchased the other one after learning that it was very durable and guaranteed for life, but found it to be quite slippery. That has not been a problem with the Jade Harmony Professional yoga mat.
The surface of this mat almost reminds me of a cat's tongue. It feels somewhat rough, especially if you drag a bare elbow or knee across it, but it has excellent grip right from the start. The grip can make sliding transitions from one pose to another more difficult to execute smoothly, but I really do not mind this because of the confidence that I have in Downward Dog, where I feel rock solid with no slipping. I'm six feet tall, and opted for the 74-inch version which gives me plenty of room from head to toe when lying on the mat. I also love the midnight blue color.
The rough surface is also more difficult to clean, which you'll need to do more frequently because of its stickiness. The natural rubber also does a fine job of holding a static charge, which makes it prone to attracting whatever is loose on the floor. The mat has a very strong rubber smell, which I'm told goes away over time. It's also not good to leave the mat in direct sunlight, because that can cause the natural rubber to break down. This mat does not come with a lifetime guarantee like the other mat that I purchased, so if I stick with it I will need to plan on buying a new one after a year or two.
This mat strikes a good balance between thickness, weight, and portability. It seems like it will be a good mat for use both at home, and when I head to a class. While definitely not as cushy as the other mat that I tried, I'm perfectly happy with it so far. It's definitely a big improvement over the yoga mats that you'll find at a typical big-box store.
I may keep the other mat that I bought to give it more time to break in, but based on my initial reaction I can already tell that this one will probably be my favorite. I also think it's great that the manufacturer plants a tree for every mat they sell. We need more of those :)
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 24 x 4 x 4 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 2.34 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 68 x 24 x 0.19 inches |
| Item Weight | 4.2 Pounds |
| Brand Name | JadeYoga |
| Warranty Description | Jade Harmony |
| Model Name | Harmony |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Natural Rubber |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Jade Yoga |
| Part Number | 368BK |
| Included Components | Jade Yoga - Harmony 68" Mat |
| Size | 68" |
