I bought my first Manduka mat approximately 8 years or so ago and I had no problem with slipping from day one. I loved the thickness and the durability as well. Once I starting teaching approximately 4 years ago, I recommended the mat to my students who, to my disappointment, told me that they were slipping all over the place. I also witnessed them slipping in class so I started adding a caveat to my recommendation. "This mat will last you forever but you have to break it in." My students started searching the internet for ways to get the coating off. They used vinegar, soaked it in the tub and just straight up used it. All of these helped but the mat was still annoyingly slippery for a long time before officially being "broken in". So I decided to send Manduka a tweet. Here is the conversation. I am "wellnessyogini".
So, to sum it up:
- Leave it in the sun
- Salt Scrub
- Use it
You guys go ahead and do that and let me know what happens. Maybe they will see this and do something about the annoying coating. After paying that much money, you shouldn't have to "break it in". I have a better idea, why don't they "break it in" before they ship them. If they don't want to be bothered with getting the coating off, we don't either especially after the price increase. I am sure that they can find some type of process or environmentally friendly solution that will do it.
Don't get me wrong, I still love Manduka & it is the only mat I will buy....wait...maybe that is why they are unconcerned with the coating....they have cornered the market.....hmmmm
Video of the Day
Perfect timing to read this. I am hoping to buy the Manduka Pro in the next few days. After 8 years of using a "cheap" mat (if $40 is a "cheap" mat), it's showing some wear, but it's perfectly broken in. I feel like it's time to "graduate" to Manduka. My hesitation is 1,000% about the slip-factor. You're totally right: ppl will keep buying these mats--even if they are not "ready" for use--since it's *THE MAT*. I have to admit I'm frightened off by that breaking-in period; I want to focus on the yoga, not my mat!
Posted by: Sara | February 08, 2012 at 11:25 AM
I love my Manduka mat. It is worth the temporary aggravation but I do wish they would fix it.
Posted by: Shanna Small | February 09, 2012 at 04:31 AM
I bought it, salted it FOUR times and returned it. Slippery.
Posted by: anne | October 18, 2012 at 12:05 PM
Wow, I actually do like mine.
Posted by: Shanna Small | October 19, 2012 at 03:44 AM
Thanks for posting this. I bought my Manduka and I've been slipping out of down dog for 2 months.. Off to go buy salt!
Posted by: katt | October 19, 2012 at 08:27 PM
Let me know how it works!
Posted by: Shanna Small | October 22, 2012 at 06:03 AM
I had been using a Jade mat, which I absolutely loved but it was starting to become too stretched out. Bought a manduka and I'm so sad! I've tried scrubbing with salt and leaving it in the sun but it is still too slippery. I've been using my old jade mat in the meantime as I can't even hold downward dog with my new mat. I wish manduka would figure out this slippery issue! In the meantime, and to the dismay of my bank account... I might just end up getting another jade mat.
Posted by: Michelle | September 21, 2013 at 08:51 PM
Sorry to hear that. I love my Manduka though. Have you tried using a mat towel?
Posted by: Shanna Small | September 22, 2013 at 02:58 AM
Nothing seems to work! I have salted mine 4 different times and used it 8 day's in a row leaving in unrolled in the sun when I am not using it and it is still just as slippery. I am so sad because my husband got it for me as a gift and now I have to send it back. It is not worth hurting yourself to break it in. I am a yoga teacher and I slid out of down dog and landed on my face. It is too bad!
Posted by: Rae | January 17, 2014 at 09:53 AM
Sorry to hear that Rae :(
Posted by: Shanna Small | January 19, 2014 at 01:46 PM
so glad to see this thread...i got a manduka yoga mat as recommended by my instructor and first day on it slipped in down dog EVERY TIME! so frustrating, especially paying that much. was considering returning it-still am. thought it was me:)
Posted by: perrin | January 25, 2014 at 01:08 PM
That sucks
Posted by: Shanna Small | January 26, 2014 at 03:44 PM
I agree, just used my new Manduka black today and it was so slippery. I couldn't believe it. I retired an old Jade that I never had any slippage problem with ever. What's up with this Manduka. The "breaking in" I'm reading about seems a tad silly, for a mat of that price. And I did in fact do the wash prior to use and tonight have scrubbed it with salt twice. Not prepared to slip around for the next couple month s and I practice at least 5 days week. It may have to be returned I'm sad to say.
Posted by: Marilyn Bourget | February 01, 2014 at 07:43 PM
I've practiced 4+ days per week for two months on my Manduka extra long... still too slippery to use once you have any sweat on your feet or hands. I tried toweling it off, but now I'm just using a yogitoes towel on top (regular cotton towel slips off.)
It's winter here, so once we get warmer out I'll try leaving it out in the sun, but seriously I may just have to return this or figure something else out.
Posted by: Ryan Sinn | February 13, 2014 at 03:55 PM
I have been having a real problem with my manduka as well. I've been trying to break my mat in for the past 2 months by using it nearly every day. I have tried scrubbing it with the salts multiple times. My mat is still slippery. I got grip gloves because I literally couldn't hold poses--in downward dog, I slipped and almost fell right on my face. I didn't want to get grip socks because I rather have bare feet, but it's come to the point where I'll need them just to use my mat. Even in standing poses, it's so slippery that it's dangerous. My 6 buck travel mat is more enjoyable to practice on at this point. I'm shocked to be having this problem since so many people regard it as the best mat they've ever had. Unfortunately, so far, it's only been frustrating, dangerous, and problematic. Every other feature it has is lovely, though. The only thing wrong is the coating. It makes the mat unbearable and certainly not worth the $108.
Posted by: Harley | February 25, 2014 at 12:40 PM
I buy at Internet the black manduka. And I used and im disappointed because rhis slippery in thw yoga position... very expensive mat ...I start to use may old mat lotus is better
Posted by: karla | March 18, 2014 at 10:11 AM
I bought a Manduka Blackmat Pro and have been using it daily for half a year. I tried scrubbing it with almost anything just to get the coating off. In my view, this company should be forced to warn people about the issue, as it is potentially dangerous, and could cause injury. Imagine if someone switched to this mat, didn't realise they were going to slip, tried a complex position, and fell awkwardly. Awful product, which should never be recommended by anyone while they know its flaws, however good its previous reputation was.
Posted by: YogaTed | June 19, 2014 at 06:14 AM
I just received my mat as a gift from my husband. It's very slippery. I was so excited because this was going to be my first upgrade mat since using a cheaper mat for a year. I'm taking the mat back tonight and going back to my old mat until I find something else.
Posted by: Amanda | August 13, 2014 at 02:18 PM
ACK! Has anyone figured this out yet? Like most of you, I splurged and "graduated" from a Jade to an extra-long Manduka Black Pro. I tested out other yogis' mats first before I bought (of course none of them were slippery). So far I've salted and sunned twice. Slipped in class and had to use a towel. I don't see the point in covering an expensive mat with a towel every time. I don't want a towel, I want a sticky mat! I thought this one was the best! So frustrated!
Posted by: Dragonfly | September 11, 2014 at 06:21 PM
I've also salted twice but it did not work. So now I use liquid chalk on hands and feet, works like a charm :) Hopefully it will have a sandpaper-effect to so the mat will wear in faster.
Posted by: Linn | November 08, 2014 at 11:51 AM
Wow - I'm concerned - has ANYONE worn their new mat in? Just got mine for Christmas. I feel bad because I gave my husband the exact model I wanted and I don't want him disappointed. Used it today in a hot class. Had my sweat towel under my hands the entire time to keep from slipping.
Posted by: Sabrina | January 03, 2015 at 06:54 PM
If I can add my pinch of salt to this, I've had my manduka prolite for a couple of months now, and when I got it, I saw your article. Did the salt scrub twice, and then took it to the studio. I practice daily and about two days in, I was in total blissful love. Obviously, in hot yoga, any mat will slip form my own experience. But in a regular class, for me, it's now a no-brainer thing. I spray it from time to time with water, salt and tea tree oil to clean it but otherwise, I'm already contemplating the purchase of a second one.
So... if you're concerned and you read this, don't get discouraged just yet!
Posted by: Dominique | January 09, 2015 at 06:19 AM
I've scrubbed my mat down with salt (twice), wiped it down with a vinegar/warm water solution, placed it in the sun and it's still a bit slippery. I've been using my mat on both ends to speed up the "breaking in" process. That seems to help. After slipping when I tried to do full wheel in class yesterday, I finally broke down and bought a hand towel on Manduka's website today. It is a great mat but I wish you didn't have to keep fussing with it to break it in properly.
Posted by: Julie | January 12, 2015 at 07:39 AM
Same with me. My daughters got me for Christmas Manduka Pro Majestic mat. It is so slippery I don't want them to see that I would rather use my old cheap mat, which was good for years......I blame myself that I did not read this before. Everyone was talking how good Manduka mats are, now I see only haw slippery they are.........
Very disappointed.
Posted by: Hala | February 23, 2015 at 12:53 PM
Finally got my Pro Lite yesterday.. so following its instructions to speed up the "breaking in" process, I sprinkled it with a fine grind Sea Salt, gently wiped it with a damp cloth (treated it like a baby, LOL), tried it last night and I was slipping...
Sooo, just this morning, I placed it under the sun, sprinkled water, added the sea salt, and scrubbed it with all efforts using my Scoth Brite Scouring Pad (since treating it like a baby didn't work), and waited it to dry a bit.. it startled me when I noticed it's having this white thingy like discoloration. I checked the scouring pad I used and it also has such white thingies so I assume that is the "thin film" already.. I grabbed a damp cloth, wiped it with all efforts to remove those sticky like dirt and waited for it to dry.. tried it with Downward Facing Dog..and VOILA! no slipping at all!! I'm just so happy right now that I want to share how it worked for me :)
Posted by: Teza | March 13, 2015 at 08:49 PM