Yoga Mat vs. Yoga Towel | Which Should You Use?

Practicing yoga is a fantastic method to enhance both physical and mental well-being, and having the proper equipment is key to a successful practice. Among the essential yoga gear are the yoga mat and the yoga towel.

This article will help you discover the differences between yoga mats and yoga towels, their respective uses, and help you determine which might be the better choice for your needs. Let’s get started!

What is a Yoga Mat?

A yoga mat is crafted specifically for yoga sessions, usually made from PVC or natural rubber. They come in various thicknesses, lengths, and patterns. These mats offer a stable, non-slip surface, ensuring you maintain balance during poses. Additionally, the cushioning provides essential support and comfort for your joints throughout your practice.

What Are Yoga Mats Made Of?

Natural rubber: This material is both natural and sustainable, providing superior grip and cushioning. However, it can have a strong odor and may not be suitable for individuals with latex allergies.

Cork: Known for being sustainable and eco-friendly, cork offers excellent grip and cushioning. Its antimicrobial properties make it easy to clean and maintain.

Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE): As a more eco-friendly and biodegradable option, TPE offers good cushioning and grip. It's often chosen as a sustainable alternative to PVC.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Popular for its durability, affordability, and excellent grip, PVC is the most common material for yoga mats. Despite its advantages, PVC is not biodegradable and its production can release harmful chemicals into the environment.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Yoga Mats

Benefits:

• Hygienic: Using your yoga mat helps keep germs and bacteria at bay, ensuring you stay healthy when practicing on shared surfaces.
• Lightweight: Yoga mats are portable and easy to roll up, making them perfect for practicing at home, in a studio, or on the go.
• Reliable Surface: A yoga mat offers a reliable surface for practicing, which is crucial for maintaining balance and correct alignment during poses.
• Cushioning: Yoga mats are designed with cushioning to support your joints, providing extra comfort, especially for those with sensitive knees or wrists.
• Non-Slip: Most yoga mats feature a non-slip texture, ensuring you remain steady and secure during your practice, even if you're sweating.

Drawbacks

• Environmental Impact: Some yoga mats are made from non-eco-friendly materials like PVC. To minimize your environmental footprint, consider choosing a mat made from natural or recycled substances.
• Can be time-consuming to clean: Yoga mats can vary in how easy they are to clean, depending on their material. Regular cleaning is essential to prevent the buildup of bacteria and other microorganisms that can pose health risks.
• Durability: The lifespan of a yoga mat depends on its material and quality. Over time, it may wear out or develop holes, compromising its grip and cushioning.
• Slippery When Wet: Despite their design, many yoga mats can become slippery when wet from sweat, spills, or rain, which can be problematic during practice.
• Odors: Frequent use and the material of the mat can lead to unpleasant odors over time. This can be particularly bothersome in a studio or shared space.

Yoga mats have few downsides compared to their many benefits. Maintaining and caring for your mat can avoid these small difficulties and maximize the benefits of practicing yoga on a superior mat.

When Is It Suitable To Use a Yoga Mat?

A yoga mat is often utilized for yoga or other floor exercises that need a stable, non-slip surface and cushioning for your joints. Here are a few instances when a yoga mat can be particularly useful:

• Stretching: Using a yoga mat for stretching, whether it's pre or post-workout, offers a comfortable and supportive base for your body. It minimizes the risk of slipping, enabling you to concentrate on your form and alignment without distraction.
• Yoga: A yoga mat is crucial for any yoga practice, providing a stable and cushioned surface for your feet, hands, and body. It prevents slipping during poses, ensuring safety and enhancing your practice, whether you're doing gentle stretches or intense hot yoga sessions.
• Pilates: In Pilates, which often includes floor exercises and poses, a yoga mat serves as a supportive and non-slip surface, enhancing comfort and stability during your routine.
• Home Workouts: For any floor-based exercises in your home workout routine, a yoga mat offers a stable and comfortable surface. It also protects your floors from potential damage caused by exercise equipment, ensuring your workout space remains in good condition.

Some people like to use exercise mats and yoga rugs as well. We recommend you learn the difference between yoga mats and exercise mats and rugs since they’re each meant for specific occasions. 

Read More: Yoga Mats vs. Yoga Rugs

What is a Yoga Towel?

A yoga towel is crafted specifically for yoga sessions, using absorbent materials such as microfiber or cotton to soak up sweat and create a non-slip surface for hands and feet. In addition to absorbing moisture, these towels grip the floor securely, offering a stable base for various exercises.

If you want to learn more about the product, read our ultimate guide on yoga towels. 

What Are Yoga Towels Made Of?

Yoga towels are crafted from materials that are gentle on the skin. Speck highlights the commonly used materials for yoga towels as follows:

Cotton: A natural, soft material frequently used in yoga towels. Cotton towels offer good absorbency but may not dry as swiftly as microfiber options.

Microfiber: A synthetic material renowned for its high absorbency and rapid drying capabilities. Microfiber yoga towels are excellent for soaking up sweat during yoga sessions.

Hemp: A natural and sustainable material favored for yoga towels. Hemp is durable, absorbent, and has antimicrobial properties, making it ideal for hot yoga practices.

Bamboo: A natural and eco-friendly material used in making yoga towels. Bamboo towels are lightweight, absorbent, and soft, with the added benefit of being environmentally sustainable.

Combination Materials: Some yoga towels are made from a blend of materials, such as microfiber and cotton, to harness the benefits of both. These blends can also be more cost-effective.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Yoga Towel

Benefits:

• Versatility: Yoga towels are incredibly versatile beyond their primary use in yoga. They are used across different settings and activities.
• Slip-resistant Foundation: A yoga towel enhances your grip during practice, ensuring a secure surface for both hands and feet, which is particularly beneficial for those prone to heavy perspiration.
• Lightweight: Yoga towels are designed to be lightweight and effortlessly portable, making them an excellent addition to your yoga gear for classes or travel.
• Hygienic: Using a yoga towel on a communal or rented studio mat creates a hygienic layer that separates your body from the mat surface, effectively minimizing the potential for infection transmission.

Drawbacks:

• Pricey: Investing in high-quality yoga towels can be pricier than opting for regular towels. If you practice yoga often, you might find yourself needing several, which adds to the expense.
• Maintenance: To keep yoga towels fresh and free from bacteria and odors, they need to be washed and dried regularly. This routine can be time-consuming, and some towels might require special care based on their material.
• Slippage: Although yoga towels are designed to be non-slip, they can still shift or bunch up during practice if not properly positioned or if placed on an uneven surface. This movement can be distracting and even hazardous, particularly during complex poses.
• Environmental impact: The eco-friendliness of yoga towels varies with their material. Towels made from synthetic fibers like polyester may not decompose or recycle easily, posing environmental concerns.
• Inappropriate for some practices: Yoga towels are beneficial for specific types of yoga but might not be needed for every practice. For instance, styles that focus on standing poses may not require a towel as much as those involving seated or lying-down postures.

When Is It Suitable To Use a Yoga Towel?

You should use yoga towels during yoga sessions to soak up sweat and enhance grip and stability. Similar to yoga mats, they serve multiple purposes, offering extra traction and sweat absorption whenever needed to prevent slipping on a wet surface.

• Outdoor yoga: Performing yoga outdoors can mean dealing with uneven or slippery surfaces. A yoga towel offers additional grip and stability while also protecting you from dirt and debris.
• Vinyasa yoga: These yoga forms involve continuous, flowing movements that often induce sweating. A yoga towel keeps your hands and feet dry, enhancing your grip and stability throughout the session.
• Bikram yoga: Practiced in a heated environment, these yoga styles lead to heavy sweating. Using a yoga towel helps absorb the moisture, ensuring you don't slip on a wet mat.
• Shared yoga mats: When practicing on a communal mat, a yoga towel acts as a sanitary barrier between you and the mat, maintaining cleanliness.

In What Ways Do Yoga Towels and Mats Differ?

The primary distinctions between a yoga mat and a yoga towel lie in their specific uses and functionalities. Although both are utilized in yoga sessions, they cater to different needs and provide unique advantages.

Absorption of Sweat

Yoga mats are generally constructed from sturdy materials like PVC or natural rubber. In contrast, yoga towels use softer, more absorbent fabrics such as microfiber or cotton. Yoga mats are designed to withstand regular use and provide a stable surface for various poses, while yoga towels excel in soaking up sweat and adding extra grip during intense sessions.

Convenience and Portability

Yoga towels are lightweight and easy to carry, making them perfect for use on the go. They are compact and can be easily folded into a gym bag or backpack. On the other hand, yoga mats are usually heavier and bulkier, posing a challenge for transportation. This added weight and size make mats less convenient for travel or commuting to a yoga class.

Cushioning

Yoga mats offer a dense and stable foundation ideal for practicing yoga poses with comfort and support. In contrast, yoga towels are thinner but enhance stability and grip, especially useful during sweaty sessions or on surfaces where extra traction is needed.

Material

Yoga mats are commonly crafted from robust materials like PVC or natural rubber, chosen for their durability and ability to provide a stable surface for yoga practice. In contrast, yoga towels are designed from softer, highly absorbent fabrics such as microfiber or cotton. This construction not only enhances comfort but also improves grip and helps absorb sweat during intensive workouts, making them a versatile accessory for yoga enthusiasts.

Yoga Mats or Yoga Towel?

Yoga mats and yoga towels each come with their own set of benefits and drawbacks. The ideal choice for you depends on various factors, including your experience level, the style of yoga you practice, your budget, and your personal preferences. It's advisable to experiment with both options to determine which one suits you best.