I'm very pleased with this mat. With the included rosin bag, I get a very good grip with my hands, which was a problem with other mats. I dust the rosin onto the part of the mat where my hands usually go in down dog and it works very well. The mat is thick and easy on the knees. The material compresses a bit, sort of like memory foam, which lets my fingers and toes press in.I have trouble getting my feet into a good position for some poses, and the thickness of this mat and the way it compresses a bit actually lets me see where the pressure in my feet was so I can adjust it. Not the perfect mat for everyone just because of the thickness, which some people may not like. If you do hot yoga and use a towel over your mat, this will probably be too thick. For me it's very satisfactory. It didn't need a lot of breaking in, doesn't have a bad smell, and feels nice to use.

I am very happy with this purchase. I am relatively new to yoga but have taken classes/used various mats. This one is definitely high quality. I read so many reviews about every yoga mat Amazon has and tried really hard to make the best overall decision, taking into consideration quality and price. Obviously a $15 yoga mat sounds awesome but it's just not going to hold up or work well. On the other hand, spending over $100 on a mat seems ridiculous (for me personally). This yoga mat is priced well for the quality it is. It also had pretty much the best rating overall. I read through some of the complaints other people had before buying it so I wanted to address those now that I own this mat. I saw a few other reviews saying it moved/stretched in downward dog. It really doesn't. I weigh less than 120 pounds, so I wondered if it stretches for people who weigh more, so I had my over 200 pound boyfriend do a yoga class on it and it didn't budge. My hands and feet don't slip at all EXCEPT towards the end of the class when I'm getting a little clammy, which can easily be fixed with a towel. Also I noticed that when you press with the end of your palms you may slip some but when you actually press down into your fingertips [like you're supposed to] you don't (so maybe some of those complaints are from improper form/usage). I was concerned about a strong smell when it arrived so once I un-packaged it I immediately pressed my nose against the mat and inhaled. There was virtually no smell, and I used it the same day it arrived. Also the mat provides proper cushioning. My house is entirely hardwood so I was very worried my knees would hurt but the mat really does provide support. After staying in table top for a really long time I may feel it some but it's not bad at all. The mat has a sort of memory foam quality about it which I personally like. It helps you grip and you can see where your hands and knees were briefly once you change positions which is pretty cool. Finally, if you're like me and have cats and dogs that join your yoga session, this mat holds up well to their claw marks. I try to keep my animals off it but they walk across occasionally- it happens- and there are not marks thus far, so I'm happy with that.

Overall- I recommend this mat. It's high quality and gets the job done. Any issues with slipping hands can be fixed with keeping them dry and remembering to press down into your fingers NOT the heels of your hands (because who wouldn't slip like this?) and it's a very fair price for a mat that is quality and will hopefully last a while!

This is a great yoga mat. I've owned two - one for about five years and the one that I just received a few days ago. The older one is still going strong, but I like to keep it clean so I've bought another so I can rotate them out while they are washing and air drying.

These mats are very thick so they are easy on your body when used on a wood floor, nice stickiness, and they are quite durable.

I've been machine washing my old one with no spin cycle. The only problem with that is that it takes several days to dry, but now that I have a spare I'm covered. Aurorae does make a cleaning solution - which I just ordered but haven't tried yet - so that might be a better option than the washing machine.

Update: I have washed this mat twice more, with a natural soap that does not contain harsh chemicals. I have also dried in the dryer because it just takes so long in my humid climate otherwise. But it's still a bit slippery. I use the rosin and it helps a lot. I've decided to start using diatamaceous earth, baby powder, etc.I am sure it won't hurt the mat. Which is why I am keeping it. It's a tough, comfortable mat and I love the extra length which just gives a lot of freedom when your'e moving from one pose to the other. I never run out of mat. It's very durable, will last for years. If there is a thick mat that is less slippery, I'd love to know about it, but not having found one, this one is just fine. I was also impressed with the customer service. Not that I spoke with them, but they contacted me weeks after the purchase to see how it was. They seem very responsive to questions as well.

To be clear, I'll be using this for yoga - mostly Ashtanga or Iyengar. I've had this mat a few days, have washed and dried it, which does get rid of the oiliness. Minimal slippage in down dog, though not as sticky as I would like. Still, it's comfortable and I am encouraged by the improvement in it after washing, so I'll keep it. As those with much greater expertise have written, all mats will have some slippage due to what they are made of. I will wash it again after a little use to see if I can't get it squeaky-free of oils and slip. Right now, when I plant my hands and feet, they are not going to go anywhere.
I have not yet tried the rosin bag which was included, however, I have confidence in this mfr because of the detailed instructions, including their admission that this mat will be slippery before it is washed because of how it's manufactured, and because it improved so much after I washed it. I therefore believe them when they assert that the rosin will help.
3,000+ positive reviews certainly also makes me anticipate good success with this mat for the long haul.

This mat is long, comfortable, and non skid. But it was pretty slippery the first few times. My feet and hands would very slowly start to slip (probably wouldn't be noticeable to anyone else, its something you can feel rather than see). This wasn't hot yoga and I certainly wasn't sweating - just the sheer body heat from my bare hands and feet against the mat caused the sliding. However, I contacted the company and the owner, Dennis, responded right away. Here are some tips he included in his email, and maybe they will help you too. I am so glad I didn't return it, because after only washing it twice, it made a huge difference. I also love how it has sort of a memory foam quality. You can see the imprints your hands and feet make in the mat, yet once you're finished, it goes right back to its original state.

"I hope you don't mind me contacting you directly, but I read your e mail and I want to make sure we do everything possible to help you with your slipping issue. This is not an uncommon problem with new mats. There is a certain amount of resin (oil) they use to make mats. This is in all synthetic materials and you will even get in most natural rubbers. When you perspire it will activate the resin and bring to the top of the mat and create slipping. Why we tell you to wash your mat is that it helps expedite the aging process, which will eventually eliminate most of the resin. It's like a pair of jeans. They are very stiff in its natural state and we spend a fortune for all these expensive washing processes to soften and make the jean more comfy. The same thing happens with a mat. The more you use it the less slippery it will get.

Please continue to follow the washing instructions below it may take a few washes and use. I understand how frustrating it could be, but this is not unusual with a new mat.

* Wash your mat in the washing machine alone with detergent on gentle, warm water and extra rinse cycle. This will help break in your mat. Repeat as needed. If you have an older top loader machine with an agitator I recommend washing by hand with a brush or coarse sponge to avoid any damage to the mat.

* After rinsing your mat wrap your mat in a bath towel and squeeze excess water out.

* Hang dry outside in the sun if possible. DO NOT PUT IN DRYER. The sun will help dry up the resins in your mat

* Hang dry over shower rod if you can't dry outside. Make sure mat is completely dry before using."

The fact that he responded directly and was so helpful was very impressive to me. They obviously care about their product and service. Apparently these instructions came with the mat and of course I discarded it, not realizing. Don't hesitate to buy this mat, and don't give up if you feel yourself "slipping" on first try. Doesn't take long to break in!