Why does my yoga mat slip? The most common reasons

1. Sweat and moisture

When you sweat, a thin layer of moisture forms on the surface of your palms and soles. This causes the surface of many traditional yoga mats to become smoother, reduce grip, and “give way” to the mat. This is especially common in Vinyasa, Flow, and hot yoga practices.

2. Improper surface treatment

Not all carpets that claim to be non-slip are actually non-slip. Cheaper, low-density carpets often only have anti-slip properties when dry, but they lose their anti-slip properties when you sweat.

3. The bottom of the carpet slips, not the top.

Often it's not your hands that are slipping on the carpet, but the carpet itself that is moving on the floor. This mainly happens on smooth parquet, laminate or tiles if the bottom layer is not sticky enough.

4. Missing the “initiation” of a new yoga mat

Some carpets, especially PVC-based ones, may be smoother when new. After some practice, light cleaning or use, their surface will “mature” and the grip will improve.

Why isn't "holding on tighter" a solution?

When you slide, your body instinctively tenses up. You grip harder, straining your wrists, shoulders, and neck. This may help you stay in the pose in the short term, but in the long term, it creates pain and poor movement patterns .

One of the most important tasks of a good yoga mat would be to relieve this unnecessary tension.

When is a supplement enough, and when do you need a real solution?

Temporary or additional solutions

These work well if your carpet is basically good, but just slips in certain situations.

• Yoga towel : provides extra grip when sweating, especially during hot or dynamic classes.

• Yoga gloves : reduce wrist strain and help with stability if your hand slips.

• Anti-slip yoga socks : useful if your feet are cold but you feel unstable in socks.

These are good stopgap solutions, but they are not always sufficient.

When the type of carpet is the issue

If you regularly slip, especially when sweating, it's probably not the accessories you're missing , but your mat isn't suited to your practice.

What kind of yoga mat doesn't slip - and why?

Cork yoga mat

The cork surface is activated by perspiration. It does not repel moisture, but rather disperses it, so grip often improves in heat and sweat. This makes it especially good for hot yoga and dynamic flow.

Velour surface carpet

It feels like a towel and works similarly: it becomes more stable when wet. A good choice for those who don't want to use a separate towel.

Quality PVC yoga mat

In dry environments, good quality PVC mats are very stable. The problem is usually not with the material, but with the cheap workmanship. High-density, well-surfaced PVC mats (such as Gaiam yoga mats) provide reliable traction and do not become dangerous during use.

What to avoid

• Cheap, unverified sourced carpets that slip when you sweat.

• Mats with too smooth a surface for dynamic practice.

• Solutions where you have to constantly "trick" for stability (layering, watering, management, grip, street socks...).

If you have to adapt to the mat every class, it's not sustainable in the long run.

Ayuna Ritual tip – this is how you can quickly decide what the solution is

If you only slide during certain classes, try a yoga towel or yoga gloves first.
If you always have trouble sweating, it's worth switching to a carpet with a cork or suede surface .
If you're not sweating, but the mat is still unstable, check to see if the bottom layer is slipping - quality is key in this case.

Closing

A slipping yoga mat is not your fault. A well-chosen mat doesn't require constant compensation, doesn't drain energy from your practice, and doesn't force you into unnecessary tension. If your mat holds, your body will also let go more easily.