Sweat is the great equalizer of mat quality. A standard PVC mat that works fine in a temperate vinyasa class becomes a slip hazard the moment humidity climbs above 90 degrees and your palms start pooling. Hot yoga — whether you're practicing Bikram's 26-and-2 series, Baptiste power flow, or a heated vinyasa class — puts specific and unforgiving demands on your equipment that most general-purpose mats simply aren't designed to meet.
What Actually Makes a Hot Yoga Mat Worth Buying
Not all mats survive the sweat test — here's what separates the five worth owning from the dozens that don't make the cut.
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