Best Yoga Mat for Hot Yoga: The Ultimate favorites of Expert Yogis

Ah, hot yoga—the steamy dance between sweat and serenity. It's like regular yoga turned up to eleven, where you find your inner peace and discover just how much you can perspire in a single session. As a seasoned yogi who's spent more time in the downward dog than in actual conversations, I assure you that the right mat is your best friend in this heated journey.

Imagine this: you're gracefully transitioning into Warrior II, the room's warmth enveloping you like a cozy (albeit slightly sweltering) blanket, when suddenly—slip! Your mat has turned into a Slip 'N Slide. Not the zen experience you signed up for, right?

That's why choosing a mat specifically designed for hot yoga is crucial. These mats are the unsung heroes, engineered to handle the heat and humidity, providing the grip and support you need to hold that pose without unintended acrobatics.

In this guide, i have curated the best mats to keep you grounded and comfortable and maybe even make you look forward to sweating buckets.

The Best Yoga Mat for Hot Yoga

1. Sensu Large Yoga Mat

Here’s a yoga mat that checks all the boxes. Sensu’s premium Large Yoga Mat has everything you need for hot yoga:

• It’s spacious, allowing you to explore more poses

• It’s 9mm thick, giving you enough cushion to protect your joints and prevent injuries

• It has a non-slip surface for more grip during sweaty sessions

• It has sticky mat grips that protect the corners from curling and provide more stability during a workout

• It’s made of eco-friendly, non-toxic, and phthalates-free material

• It’s durable with an anti-tear mesh layer that protects the shape

• It comes with a travel bag, making it easy for you to bring around

• A bonus point? It’s 100% odorless and antimicrobial. Something that can become an issue with other mats when doing hot yoga.  

We received overwhelmingly good reviews on this mat, especially regarding its non-slip feature and thickness. You can even use it for other exercises, such as pilates, cardio, and stretching, without worrying about wearing it out! It’s truly an all-in-one solution for your active lifestyle. 

2. Sensu Large Exercise Mat

When selecting a yoga mat for hot yoga, it's essential to consider factors like size, thickness, material, and grip to ensure comfort and stability during intense sessions. The Sensu Large Exercise Mat is a notable option that meets these criteria.

Specifications

Pros and Cons

Price Consideration

The Sensu Large Exercise Mat is priced at approximately $99.00

For practitioners dedicated to hot yoga, the enhanced cushioning and non-slip features can significantly improve the practice quality, making it a worthwhile consideration.

In summary, the Sensu Large Exercise Mat offers a spacious, comfortable surface ideal for hot yoga enthusiasts. Its eco-friendly materials and thoughtful design features contribute to a safer and more enjoyable practice, aligning well with the needs of those engaging in high-intensity yoga sessions.

Extra Accessories That Come With The Sensu Large Yoga Mat

Yoga Mat Towel

Another must-have accessory for hot yoga? A yoga mat towel. Nothing is worse than having a slippery surface that takes your attention away from your practice. That’s when a yoga towel comes in handy. 

Yoga towels are used on your mats to catch the sweat and maintain your grip during your sessions. Want to hear the good news?

The Sensu Large Yoga Mat package already comes with its yoga towel made from super-absorbent microfiber that provides a healthier surface to practice on. 

Tips and Tricks for Taking Care of Your Hot Yoga Mat

Hot yoga means higher temperature and sweatier sessions, so you must be even more mindful of hygiene. A hotter and more moist environment equals a breeding ground for bacteria, so try to clean your yoga mat regularly.

We have a thorough cleaning guideline, but here’s a few short tips:

• Clean it regularly or after every session by rubbing it with a cleaning solution

• Hang the mats dry indoors after sessions to avoid mold

• Deep clean your yoga mats at least every month to remove accumulating dirt by soaking your yoga mat with soap water if it’s an open-cell yoga mat or rub it with soap water if it’s a closed-cell mat. 

• Store it properly by rolling tightly to avoid creases, then put it inside the yoga mat bag to keep it in prime condition 

Best Yoga Mat for Hot Yoga: Why the Right One Matters

If you’re unfamiliar with hot yoga, it’s a different yoga style in a warm, heated studio that creates a more intense workout. The heat was intended to replicate India’s climate, the birthplace of yoga. This form of yoga has been shown to help improve flexibility, cardiovascular health, sleep, weight management, and even mental health.

Adding heat to the equation presents different challenges for yoga practitioners. The increase in temperature leads to higher moisture content, both due to the higher relative humidity in the room and more sweat production. This requires a material that can stay dry during classes. 

Sweating would also make Your hot yoga experience more slippery than regular ones. Can you imagine slipping and sliding while trying to concentrate on your poses? You want a stonker mat that allows you to stay stable and avoid injuries. 

Another factor affecting mat choice in hot yoga is its heat tolerance. Will your mat change its structure at a higher temperature? Heat can affect your mat’s structural integrity, changing its thickness and shape. 

You need a mat that can withstand high heat and humidity to get the most out of your hot yoga session. In the next section, we’ll share all the features you need in a good hot yoga mat. 

What Makes a Yoga Mat Good for Hot Yoga?

Indoor Bikram Yoga Practice

Now that you know the challenges of a hot yoga session, let’s examine the features we need to create the perfect mat. 

A Non-Slip Surface

One of the most essential features of a good hot yoga mat is to have a non-slip surface. With a sweatier session, you’ll need a mat that retains its non-slip properties even when wet. 

Look for mats made of materials that can still be “sticky” during hot yoga sessions, such as natural rubber, jute, or TPE mats. A textured surface would also add more grip and stability during intense movements. 

Moisture Wicking

Another feature you need to have is a mat that’s able to absorb sweat and stays dry during sessions. Some mats would have coatings that can absorb sweat and eliminate odors. 

Getting an open-cell mat allows it to better absorb sweat, but the downside is that it can also be a breeding ground for bacteria. The middle ground is to clean your open-cell mat regularly to avoid contamination. 

If you want to get a closed-cell mat, please know it may be more slippery as it doesn’t absorb sweat. The upside is, you won’t have to worry about the cleanliness of your yoga mat. To counteract a closed-cell mat, you’ll need a yoga towel to act as an absorbent or a wipe during your classes. 

Thickness and Cushioning

Regardless of the style of yoga you’re practicing, getting the right thickness is important to provide enough cushion and stability. Thinner mats are great for stability, but can be hard on your joints. However, the slippery nature of a hot yoga session means that a cushion is important for preventing injuries. 

You need to choose a mat that can provide both protection and stability. Hot yoga can be a challenging form of workout, and we don’t want our joints to pay the price. Go with thicker yoga mats that provide more comfort and protect your joints. 

Durability

The heat from hot yoga sessions could also affect the durability of your mats. Higher temperatures will likely change the structure of mats made from nondurable materials. The thickness decreases when they stretch and change shapes,and you’ll be more likely to get injuries.

The high heat could also affect the mat’s anti-slip feature. Getting a cheaper and less durable mat could mean the anti-slip layers might be stripped off after just a few practices. There’s nothing worse than buying new mats because you decided to skimp on quality.

Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic

We will be in close contact with our mats throughout our sessions, so getting a mat with eco-friendly and non-toxic material is essential. You need to avoid yoga mats made of PVC or vinyl they can expose you to carcinogenic materials. 

One tip is to check the label and choose the ones that clearly state non-toxic or phthalate-free.  

FAQs

Do You Need a Yoga Mat for Hot Yoga?

Yes, you need a yoga mat for hot yoga. You’re going to practice several challenging poses that require joint protection. A mat will also serve as a barrier for a more hygienic surface and provide more grip during the sweaty sessions. 

What Type of Yoga Mat is Best for Hot Yoga?

The best yoga mat for hot yoga will have a non-slip surface, moisture-wicking feature, proper thickness, durability, and non-toxic material. 

Why Do Some Yoga Mats Have a Strong Odor?

The pungent odor may be due to the materials used, such as the rubbery smell of an NBR mat. This can worsen in hot yoga, when you’re exposed to heat and sweat. You might want to invest in a yoga towel or an odorless mat like the Sensu Large Yoga Mat to deal with the smell.

How Thick Should a Yoga Mat Be for Hot Yoga?

The perfect hot yoga mat should be thick enough to support joints, provide stability, and be durable. Our Sensu Large Yoga Mat is 9mm thick, perfect for protecting joints during challenging poses. Its premium material also holds its shape in high heat, giving it more stability. 

How Do I Keep My Yoga Mat Clean After Hot Yoga?

Follow our cleaning tutorial to keep your yoga mat clean. Spray the mat with a cleaning solution, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, and hand dry it indoors.  

Final Take

Hot yoga requires a particular type of mat due to the high heat and moisture content in the very hot studio. Your mat should be non-slip, moisture-wicking, of proper thickness, durable, and non-toxic to support your practice. 

Consider adding a yoga towel for more grip and a dryer surface. The Sensu Large Yoga Mat offers a hygienic surface that offers both cushion and stability. Last, remember to clean your mats regularly for a healthier practice and long-lasting mat!