Trying to work out with a yoga mat that won’t stay put is not only frustrating and tiring but also dangerous. One slip can send you crashing to the floor mid-workout pose, this is very risky and could harm you in many ways possible.
If you got a new mat, you are likely to experience such an issue but thankfully there are easy ways on how to stop yoga mat from sliding on floor, that doesn’t involve getting a new mat. You can fix a slippery mat and utilize its full potential.
How to Stop Yoga Mat from Sliding on Floor
Table of Contents
Add No-Slip Backing
Installing a no-skid rug backing underneath your yoga mat will help to reduce its slipperiness. No-slip backing is designed to hold area rugs in one place, but due to their sticky texture, they can also be used underneath your yoga mat for this same function and it works perfectly to keep your yoga mat from sliding around while you’re exercising.
Read: Best Rug Pad for Hardwood Floors
If you think that placing no-slip backing underneath your yoga mat might be damaging or not fully functional you can place it underneath an area rug or large towel and place your yoga mat on top of the rug or towel when you work out. You can find no-slip backings at flooring stores and many home improvement stores as well.
Break in the Mat
No, I don’t mean cut your yoga mat, it’s just like with a new pair of shoes that takes a couple of wears for it to become accustomed to your feet. You should break in your yoga mat before use and this may take about a week of frequent use for the mat to be broken in completely.
Even after breaking in some mats, they may still retain their slipperiness, so you may need to use other methods to fix it. To break in your yoga mat it is recommended to use it on a daily basis for at least 1 week.
Grinding the yoga mat against the floor with your movement helps to break down the chemical particles present on the mat surface. Doing this continuously for one week will definitely improve the state of your yoga mat.
Read: How to Make Floor Less Slippert
Opt for Double-Sided Mats
If you didn’t achieve much success with the breaking in, you need to scout for other options. Most times the mat is simply unfixable and you may have to switch to a new mat. When choosing a new mat it is best to opt for a double-sided one, as they have better traction.
Double-sided mats have a regular yoga mat on one side, while the other side consists of a cotton or polyester blend that helps to keep the mat tightly secured to the floor while you workout.
Use a Towel
If you can’t afford the extra cost of purchasing another yoga mat, you can use a towel and place it on top of your slippery yoga mat to give it a better grip.
To use your towel, you have to simply spray your mat with some water making sure not to over-saturate the mat with moisture then place a thin towel directly on top of your mat.
This provides the mat with additional traction which keeps your feet and hands from slipping. If you don’t already own a yoga towel you might have to make that purchase but at least it is cheaper than buying another yoga mat.
The downside to this method is that you have to repeat the process for every yoga session, which can be an extra workout.
Using Microfiber Towels
If the regular yoga towel fix didn’t provide as much traction as you would like, you can up the game by using a microfiber towel. They are thinner than regular yoga towels, and this helps to provide additional traction.
Using a microfiber towel follows the same process as a regular yoga towel, simply spray some water on your yoga mat and place your new microfiber towel on top of the mat. It should provide better traction than a regular yoga towel.
Removing the Chemical Layer
Using towels or placing no-slip backings underneath your yoga mats are only temporary fixes. If you don’t want to replace your yoga mat and you are looking for a permanent fix, you can try removing the outer chemical finish.
Most yoga mats have a chemical layer to protect it against knocks and scrapes, but this chemical layer is responsible for its slippery surface.
Removing this chemical layer is the ultimate fix to slippery mats but the process can be trial and error, but here is one way of achieving it.
You will need to Use some organic soap to thoroughly clean the mat exterior, then mix one part of apple cider vinegar, with five parts of water and use a towel to apply the mix on the protective layer rubbing it in as you apply it. You may need to repeat this process until you achieve results then rub the mat dry with a clean towel.
Read: Easy Homemade Floor Cleaner
Wash your Mat
If you have a yoga mat made out of PVC materials, you can wash it. You can either hand wash the mat by scrubbing it with a brush and soapy water, or you can place the yoga mat in a washing machine and wash it on a gentle cycle, in order to not damage the mat.
After washing your yoga mat, make sure to leave it out to air dry. Do not try to tumble dry your yoga mat because this could ruin the material altogether.
Using Sea Salt
This is a popular method for fixing slippery mats and all you need is some salt. Simply Place a quantity of large-grained sea salt on the center of your yoga mat, then spread it out while rubbing down the surface of the mat.
Then, allow the yoga mat to sit for at least 24 hours before rinsing off the salt using some warm water and a soft sponge.
Opt for a Quality Mat
There are many yoga mats specifically designed to stay in place when you exercise. There are also different accessories you can place on your yoga mat to keep it in place.
Some of these accessories include strips of hook-and-eye-type material that sticks to carpet and squares of vinyl-type material which are designed to stick to shiny surfaces like hardwood and tile floors. You can get any of These products at most sports and recreation stores.
Conclusion
Knowing how to stop yoga mat from sliding on floor will help to prevent accidents that occur with a slippery mat while you exercise. Aside from the risk of injury it poses, having to stop your workout midway to position a yoga mat can be quite a buzz kill and can affect your overall ability to exercise.
