9 Best Yoga Mats for Seniors in 2020

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With the yoga practice becoming more and more popular in the 21st century, it’s become a hit fitness routine for people of all ages. In particular, yoga has the potential to be exceptionally helpful for people who are in their later years. If you’re a senior looking to start practicing yoga, you’re going to need the perfect mat, and I’ve got just the ones for you.

The best yoga mats for seniors offer a non-slip material that you can grip onto when practicing. They also need to have at least a few millimeters of cushioning to support potentially sensitive or injured joints. Other factors to keep in mind are portability, affordability, and eco-friendliness.

If you’re on the market for a new yoga mat for your practice and you need a little more support than the average yogi because of your age, you’ve found the perfect resource. Keep reading on for more information on the nine best yoga mats for seniors.

Manduka PRO Yoga Mat

If you are looking for a yoga mat that is helpful for cushioning hands, feet, and knees as well as absorbing sweat and reducing slippage, the Manduka PRO mat is the best option for you because of its ability to pad the joints without being so squishy that you can’t balance when you’re standing up.

This mat is made out of natural rubber, which means that it is made from plant-based materials that won’t cause more waste than is necessary. This natural rubber is what makes this Manduka mat so ideal for seniors – the amount of padding it has is ideal for people who struggle to prop themselves up on their knees or take kneeling poses like the hero’s pose or camel pose.

Because of its natural rubber texture, this mat is also excellent for those senior yogis who want to try a more vigorous style of yoga every now and again. Because of the natural rubber material, this PRO mat is able to keep you from slipping around. The unique design of the mat absorbs sweat as you are moving and wicks it away from the surface, keeping you stable and grounded through your yoga class.

Retrospec Solana Yoga Mat

If you’re looking for a yoga mat that is pillowy soft and ideal for gentler yoga practices, this mat is the best choice for you. This ultra-comfy yoga mat is a great choice for people who need more padding than usual underneath them when they’re practicing yoga. Especially if you do a lot of knee-down lunges in your practice, you will find that this mat from Retrospec works wonders on protecting your body.

With 1” of padding, this mat is one of the thickest on the market. It is comfy enough that you can practice for an hour or two without getting any joint sensitivity, but is also light and easy to carry, particularly since it comes with its own carrying strap. This makes it easy to bring to class or carry with you on a hike if you’re looking to do some outdoor yoga.

Reviewers on Amazon say that this mat is perfect for people who have hardwood floors in their homes but still want to feel comfortable and supported in their yoga practice. The inch of cushioning puts just the right amount of padding between you and the floor so you can enjoy your yoga in peace. It feels almost as though you’re practicing on a cloud with that much pillow-like mat underneath you.

This thick yoga mat is also great for people watching their budget, ringing in at only $30.

Balancefrom GoYoga All Purpose Mat With Carrying Strap

If you’re new to practicing yoga and are just looking for a yoga mat that won’t break the bank, this All-Purpose mat from GoYoga is the best choice for you – it will only run you $13 on Amazon. This is a great choice if you’re working on a fixed income and don’t have the option of buying an expensive mat. It also makes great gifts for your family members, friends, and neighbors if you’ve been trying to convince them to practice yoga with you.

One of the best features of this mat is that it’s lightweight and portable. It is easy to roll up and carry around if you’re bringing it with you to a studio or on a trip but isn’t so thin that it doesn’t provide any support for the joints. The strap that is included with the mat makes it easy to tote around and won’t hurt your shoulders. All you have to do is wrap the bands around the mat, sling it over your shoulder, and be on your way.

Another perk of this mat is that it is lightly slip-resistant. This mat makes a great option if you focus more on gentle, yin, or restorative yoga practices that don’t cause you to sweat as much, but if you do happen to take a class that warms you up a bit more, this mat will keep you stable and safe.

Try out this mat if you’re just getting into yoga and aren’t quite sure if you want to commit to the practice yet. Turn on your favorite yoga DVD and follow along in your own home on a cozy new mat.

Jade Harmony Yoga Mat

This Harmony yoga mat from Jade Yoga is the best option for those of us who like to make purchases that are good for the environment, and who like to spend money on companies that give back to the world.

This mat is an awesome option for people who are more ecologically minded and want to make a purchase that not only supports their body and their yoga practice but the Earth as well. This mat is made out of 100% natural rubber, meaning that it wasn’t made with any synthetic materials.

This Jade mat is wildly popular not just because of how good for the environment it is but also because of its grippy-ness. Because it’s made of natural rubber, it is much more sweat-resistant than mats that are made out of synthetic materials. This makes the Harmony mat an ideal choice for senior yogis who may have trouble finding balance in poses like the downward-facing dog or those of us who have trouble keeping our hands from slipping around.

One of the best parts about this Harmony mat is the fact that it was manufactured in America. The Jade yoga mat company is dedicated to bringing jobs to American workers, so consider buying this mat if you try to keep your purchases to American-made products.

Another fun element of this style of yoga mat from Jade is that it comes in a variety of colors that are inspired by the natural world. Some of their most popular colors include Olive Green, Midnight Blue, and Tibetan Orange.

Liforme Biodegradable Yoga Mat With Alignment Lines

This Liforme yoga mat is another option that’s perfect for those of us who are trying our best to be environmentally conscientious and who want to make purchases that support the Earth. The Liforme original mat is unique in that it is 100% biodegradable, meaning that it goes back to the earth and won’t sit in a landfill indefinitely once you are done using it.

This mat is also unique in its texture – while most other yoga mats have small grooves or ridges, this mat is completely smooth, so it’s easy to balance on.

Even though this mat is smooth, because of its natural rubber makeup, it is one of the grippy-est mats on the market and has a reputation for being exceptionally helpful for faster vinyasa yoga practices. Still, it gives you enough support for your limbs and joints in a softer, slower practice as well. Try it out for a restorative class with long-held postures and just see how comfortable it is.

One of the trademark aspects of the Liforme line of yoga mats is their patented AlignForMe system, which helps the student to position themselves properly on the mat. This tool is helpful for when you’re practicing at home and don’t have someone around to adjust your poses and postures – all you have to do is simply look down at the mat and realign your stance with the markings provided.

Not having a teacher around can be hard, but with this mat, you’ll be able to help yourself learn new poses easily.

Aurorae Synergy 2 in 1 Yoga Mat

If you are someone who practices more vigorous styles of yoga, such as vinyasa flow, Ashtanga, or Bikram, you likely need a mat that has some serious traction, as well as something that absorbs sweat. And if you’re a senior yoga practitioner, you’ll also need a bit of cushioning on the joints. Luckily, you can get both of these benefits in a yoga mat that’s convenient and affordable.

The Aurorae Synergy mat is a great option if you practice hot yoga because it’s actually a yoga mat and a towel bonded together into one super-absorbent mega-mat. It’s also lightly cushioned, meaning that your joints will get a break as well. Most people have to combine a separate mat and towel to keep themselves from sliding around on the mat, so this Synergy mat is an easy-to-use alternative.

Even if you don’t practice more vigorous yoga styles, this mat is great as the top “towel” layer helps to absorb any sweat from your hands and allows you to stay in place when you’re practicing poses like downward-facing dog, and keeps your wrists and knees safely cushioned in planks, tabletop, and hero’s pose. Consider trying this mat out if you live in a warmer climate or just tend to have sweaty hands – you won’t regret trying out the unique bonded-towel technology.

Gaiam Extra Thick Yoga Mat

If you’re looking for an option that covers all your bases for yoga practice, this Gaiam Extra Thick yoga mat is the one for you. This mat is a great middle-ground if you’re looking for a mat that’s supportive, good looking, and helps you avoid slippage in certain poses.

What’s nice about this Gaiam mat is that it’s everything you need wrapped into one. With 6mm of cushioning, it’s easy on the knees and wrists, meaning that you won’t feel stiff and achy after one gentle class.

Even though it’s dense, this mat is light enough to transport around your house or to a studio or gym. Because it’s made of non-toxic PVC, it’s a cinch to pick up and move around. This material is also what gives it that non-slip grip. This material, combined with the classic nubby texture of the mat, makes it ideal for wobbly yogis. You won’t have to worry about showing up to a yoga class and feeling like everyone’s staring at you because you’re feeling shaky or unstable.

Another advantage of the Gaiam mat is that it comes in a variety of vibrant designs. Some of their most popular designs include River of Strength (a blue-green Amazonian river pattern), Soft Paisley (a muted blue and pink swirl design), and Grey Peony (a large, steel-colored floral motif).

Picking a yoga mat with a unique pattern is a great way to break up the monotony of the usual black or grey yoga mats you’ll find in most studios. You can own a practical yoga mat while still expressing your unique personality.

Gorilla Mats Extra Large Yoga Mat

If you’re someone who is taller or larger than the average yogi, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your comfort and safety just to fit on an average-sized yoga mat. Don’t feel pressured to buy a smaller mat just because that’s what your friends, family, or neighbors are using. There are plenty of options available for yogis who don’t fit the stereotypical mold. One of the best mats for people who want more space to spread out on is the Extra Large yoga mat from Gorilla Mats.

This extra-big mat is unique because of its proportions. While most yoga mats are approximately 6 feet by 2 feet, this sprawling mat is 7 feet by 5 feet, giving you more legroom and space for your arms. Even if you are not a larger person, this mat is great for spreading out during savasana (resting corpse pose) and is helpful for people with longer arms and legs in poses like the downward-facing dog.

With this much room, you won’t have to worry about stepping off onto the wood floor or carpet underneath you.

Along with being a spacious mat, this Gorilla Mat is also made of high-quality materials that will keep your joints protected as well as make sure you don’t slip and slide around while you’re trying to do your cat and cow stretches. It even comes with a microfiber towel for sweat resistance, a carrying strap for portability, and a lifetime guarantee, meaning that you can trust this mat to last forever.

NewMe Fitness Instructional Yoga Mat

This Instructional mat from NewMe is the best option for beginner yogis and yogis who may be forgetful. This mat is so unique because it’s not only made of good-quality materials, but also features 70 different poses on it to help you remember how to properly align yourself, what the poses are named, and how to guide yourself into different postures with ease.

This mat is made out of non-toxic materials and offers you a little bit of cushioning, making it great for people who like just a little bit of support under the hands and feet. It is supposed to help you stay in place without slipping around, which is great for practicing vinyasas.

Aside from the instructional illustrations provided on the face of the mat, the best feature of the mat is its affordability. At only $30, you get a mat that’s designed to make yoga accessible to people who can’t afford in-person classes. By simply flowing along with the poses that are provided on the face of the mat, you’ll be a wise yogi in no time.

Summary

The best yoga mats for seniors are the ones that allow you to move around freely without fear of slipping, falling, or hurting your joints. For a mat to meet these criteria, it needs to be made with at least a little bit of cushioning underneath the hands, knees, and feet.

Another aspect that many seniors like in a yoga mat is grippy-ness. The best yoga mats for seniors are the ones that allow a little bit of traction so you don’t end up slipping and falling when you’re trying to take a downward-facing dog.

Finally, many seniors want to look for other specifications, such as how travel-friendly a mat is, how affordable it is, and how environmentally friendly it is. With this extensive list of the nine best yoga mats for seniors, you’re bound to find one that fits your needs perfectly. Happy practicing!

9 Best Yoga Mats for Seniors