Very Quick
"Though it has not gone flat on me, I have discovered that many other reviewers on those thick mats are absolutely correct about this being a TERRIBLE mat for actual yoga."
"When I'm on my back, sweating profusely from my work out, and doing crunches, the sweat and the mat create this vacuum that makes (for lack of a better word) farting noises."
"This one seemed to have the least amount of negative reviews out of the ones I read, and a couple of people used the mat as I am using it and they were very satisfied with it."
"Also, maybe it's just really hot in my room, but my hands a sweat enough that they slide around all over the mat."
"While it's very comfortable on your head, hands and feet during poses, it's so squishy there is a noticeable difficulty in trying to balance."
"That may be, but if you need a mat this soft for your joints, then your joints don't allow you to do yoga."
"My yoga teacher even said to me that when I use this mat I started to wobble more coming out of some poses--- or for anything that requires a lot of balance."
BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose 1/2-Inch Extra Thick High Density Anti-Tear Exercise Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap (Pink) (Compare Deals from $16.50)
Quick
"Though it has not gone flat on me, I have discovered that many other reviewers on those thick mats are absolutely correct about this being a TERRIBLE mat for actual yoga. First off, it doesn't grip the floor AT ALL so if you're moving around (because you're exercising, duh) the mat slides all over the place and ruins your balance... Second, the thickness of it is a problem because A) you're not really doing much balancing on your own if their is puffy foam around you helping to support you and B) that same "puffiness" means that the mat stretches with you (i."
"I knew the dimensions going into the purchase, but once I got on the mat, it felt like it wasn't that wide... When I'm on my back, sweating profusely from my work out, and doing crunches, the sweat and the mat create this vacuum that makes (for lack of a better word) farting noises... Also, since this is my first (and only) yoga mat, I am ignorant as to whether or not this happens on all yoga mats."
"This one seemed to have the least amount of negative reviews out of the ones I read, and a couple of people used the mat as I am using it and they were very satisfied with it... I do place a blanket over the mat during the classes just because the blanket has a nicer texture to the touch, but it's not necessary... Just to make sure, I put it outside to air out for a few hours, but I don't think that was necessary."
"However, the mat does not seem to be wide enough for my hands when doing push ups (and I'm not a large person). Also, maybe it's just really hot in my room, but my hands a sweat enough that they slide around all over the mat... The carrying strap that comes with it, is a nice addition and compared to prices of other mats on Amazaon (with bad reviews), this is a decent deal."
"While it's very comfortable on your head, hands and feet during poses, it's so squishy there is a noticeable difficulty in trying to balance... I've smelled a new yoga mat before, but this thing stinks like when you mix epoxy together... The price is good, the handle works great, but I definitely want something with better traction, that offers a bit more firmness, and doesn't reek."
"While I did read the reviews and did notice a couple of people mentioning that it was soft, most people were too focused on how good it was for their joints. That may be, but if you need a mat this soft for your joints, then your joints don't allow you to do yoga... Two stars may be a little harsh, because it is a soft, properly sized mat, but I can't give it three stars simply because it's essentially useless as a true yoga mat."
"I have been using this yoga mat for about a month now and I wanted to share my experience... When you get into a posture like warrior 2 you can feel the mat stretching and to me it's kind of annoying... My yoga teacher even said to me that when I use this mat I started to wobble more coming out of some poses--- or for anything that requires a lot of balance."
Less Quick
"So after several times of trying this mat, I would definitely NOT recommend it. Though it has not gone flat on me, I have discovered that many other reviewers on those thick mats are absolutely correct about this being a TERRIBLE mat for actual yoga. First off, it doesn't grip the floor AT ALL so if you're moving around (because you're exercising, duh) the mat slides all over the place and ruins your balance. For example, I was trying to do a power yoga sequence that included jump lunges and it was a DISASTER, not to mention dangerous. Second, the thickness of it is a problem because A) you're not really doing much balancing on your own if their is puffy foam around you helping to support you and B) that same "puffiness" means that the mat stretches with you (i... when going from cobra to downward-facing dog the mat actually lengthens and slides with your feet). The thickness really isn't a great selling point because when there is actual human weight pressing down on it, it flattens out to about 1/16"."
"It's thick, squishy, easy on my back, knees, stomach, hands, etc..... I knew the dimensions going into the purchase, but once I got on the mat, it felt like it wasn't that wide. Not a huge con, but if it had like 3 more inches on each side, it would be perfect... When I'm on my back, sweating profusely from my work out, and doing crunches, the sweat and the mat create this vacuum that makes (for lack of a better word) farting noises... I work out alone, so this isn't a huge issue for me (except for the weird slimy feeling), but it could be for someone else... Also, since this is my first (and only) yoga mat, I am ignorant as to whether or not this happens on all yoga mats. I just wanted to throw it out there just in case this is unique to this mat."
"The mat arrived this week, so I have only had an opportunity to use it once, but it works great... This one seemed to have the least amount of negative reviews out of the ones I read, and a couple of people used the mat as I am using it and they were very satisfied with it... The yoga is helping both issues, and BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose mat is great for the yoga classes... I chose the gray color because the mat is used on the floor and kept in the car, and I thought gray would show dirt the least. I do place a blanket over the mat during the classes just because the blanket has a nicer texture to the touch, but it's not necessary... Just to make sure, I put it outside to air out for a few hours, but I don't think that was necessary. I am very happy with my purchase so far and am looking forward to using the mat during my yoga classes each week for a long time to come."
"This mat is certainly extra thick, a solid half inch of squishy foam. I am using this for sit ups, push ups, etc, more so than yoga. However, the mat does not seem to be wide enough for my hands when doing push ups (and I'm not a large person). Also, maybe it's just really hot in my room, but my hands a sweat enough that they slide around all over the mat. The mat seems to stay put on the floor, which is helpful, and it is much longer than I thought it would be. The foam, while thick, feels a bit soft and seems to take lasting dents and bumps easily, though I have had no problems with it ripping so far. The carrying strap that comes with it, is a nice addition and compared to prices of other mats on Amazaon (with bad reviews), this is a decent deal."
"I wanted to like this mat, but unfortunately it had too many things working against it: 1... The bottom of the mat is completely smooth, and the top only has ridges that run length-wise. This made for a lot of awkward squeaking against the floor when shifting between poses... While it's very comfortable on your head, hands and feet during poses, it's so squishy there is a noticeable difficulty in trying to balance. My feet were suddenly very wobbly, because they were sinking into the material like a marshmallow... I've smelled a new yoga mat before, but this thing stinks like when you mix epoxy together... The price is good, the handle works great, but I definitely want something with better traction, that offers a bit more firmness, and doesn't reek."
"While I did read the reviews and did notice a couple of people mentioning that it was soft, most people were too focused on how good it was for their joints. That may be, but if you need a mat this soft for your joints, then your joints don't allow you to do yoga... It's probably fine if all you do is three or four point stances, but otherwise much too soft... It is not the traditional material you think of when you think of yoga mats (i... , it is NOT like the Gaiam mats that many of us use. I suppose I should have been forewarned based on the reviews, but I wasn't. Two stars may be a little harsh, because it is a soft, properly sized mat, but I can't give it three stars simply because it's essentially useless as a true yoga mat."
"I have been using this yoga mat for about a month now and I wanted to share my experience. I have an old heal injury that started to flair back up when I started practicing yoga so I wanted to buy a thicker mat. For someone with sensitive feet or an injury like myself, this mat is fantastic--- a lot of cushion and support... When you get into a posture like warrior 2 you can feel the mat stretching and to me it's kind of annoying. Also, it is tougher to balance on such a thick mat. My yoga teacher even said to me that when I use this mat I started to wobble more coming out of some poses--- or for anything that requires a lot of balance. So, on the positive side- my heals never hurt during or after my practice anymore, but it is harder to balance."
