JADE YOGA Raspberry Yoga Mat 3/16 in x 68 in, 1 EA

I am in love with my new mat! Service was speedy, and my mat is everything I expected it to be! The color is true to the picture shown (I bought the raspberry colored mat) which I was concerned about at first. It's amazing! There is definitely a smell to it so it will need some airing out, but that is expected.UPDATE :This mat is still everything I dreamed it would be! I figured now that I have practiced on it I would give it some pros and cons.PROS:The grip is phenomenal! This mat has definitely allowed me to take my head and handstands to a new level. The 68" length is perfect for my 5'5" frame. My head and feet do not touch the floor when I am stretched out for savasana. The cushion on the mat is pretty minimal, and perfect for balance poses. It is not too hard on my knees either because of the slight spring it provides since it is rubber. The mat rolls out nicely for each practice and I don't have to roll it under like my old cheap walmart mat just to make it lay flat. So far there is no wear on the mat, and I bought my mat about 5 months ago (I practice vinyasa and hatha yoga for an hour each practice 4-5 days a week).CONS:The grip on the mat is definitely something to get used to. Starting out, I had to completely rethink how to move my feet from warrior one to warrior two. What was once a simple sliding movement turned into lifting and placing of my foot. I have figured out how to get back to the sliding movement I did before, but it was definitely a transition. Also, because of the good grip, anything and everything likes to stick to this mat. Lint, hair, whatever is on the floor of your studio, your mat now has. So lint rollers are definitely nice to have on occasion.And lastly, the smell! I was warned ahead of time that the mat would smell like a goodyear tire, but I didn't realize how long it would last (it does fade a lot though!). Even after 5 months of use it still has a faint rubber smell. I am probably at fault for it still smelling like that though, because I keep it in a bag all the time. So word of advice: when you get it, wash it and let it air out unrolled for a few weeks if you really want the smell gone for good. I'm talking about even after each practice, let it air out! A spritz of essential oils mixed with water is also a good idea.

Fantastic mat with a dense cushioning for you throughout your workout.

I've been an avid yoga-lover for a number of years now but have never taken the leap to buy a quality mat. I'm so glad I did!! When I took it out of the package I expected to be overwhelmed by rubber or 'mat' smell but I was not! It has a very light natural odor that has already dissipated over a few days. I wiped it down with some natural yoga mat cleaner and got to practicing!Pros: sturdy, doesn't stretch when doing poses like warrior II, low scent, just the right weight (not super light, not really heavy like the Manduka mats I've seen), and easy to clean. I did a super hardcore sweaty yoga practice yesterday and it held just great! No slippage at all - although if I were to do a hot yoga class I would probably chose to invest in one of those yoga towels.Cons: honestly I only have one - it's winter here in northern MN and we have pets, heat with a wood stove, and have two active kids...which means that no matter how many times a day we sweep and vacuum, there's always something on the floor, and it does get attracted to the mat a bit. However, I have found this super easy to manage as I just wipe the mat after every use and roll it up.

This has absolutely changed my yoga practice for the better. The mat is super grippy, and without slipping on my own sweat I can actually attempt good form and work the proper muscles instead of just working hard not to slip and fall.The raspberry color is much darker and more purply than it appears in the picture but it's still beautiful!Slight cons/warnings: there is a strong rubber smell to this mat and hasn't gone away although I've been using it for several months. I don't mind but I could see it being a problem for some people. Also, this mat is so sticky that it does pick up dust/hair on the floor pretty easily. I've solved this by folding it in half bottom-side-in when I roll it up in order to keep the "bottom" side isolated and the top/usable side clean.

Since I started yoga a few months ago and already shredded through my first mat, I wanted a mat for more longer term and something more of quality. The qualities that I was looking for were grip (number 1 priority) and comfort/cushioning. I didn't really care too much about open cell or closed cell or ecofriendliness. I started my quest with the Jade Harmony and didn't really like it at first but have come to appreciate it by now. With the Jade I also ordered a Manduka prolite, a Kurma and the Lululemon "The Mat". Out of all 4 I liked the Lulu mat the best, as I'm really not slipping at all. The Jade comes in second, as it has good grip in the beginning but once I really started sweating I slipped on this mat as well. I thought the rubber would soak in more of the sweat but eventually it's staying on the surface and you start to slip too. The Manduka and Kurma came in last, as I slipped on them as soon as I stepped on them.The Jade has quite the rubber smell at first but after only 2 weeks it started to fade. It's still there now (have the mat for 3 weeks now) but definitely less pungent. I think if you leave it sitting unrolled in a room for a bit it will dissipate much quicker.It's a nice mat, wish it was a smidgen thicker to better protect my knees but I'm fine putting a towel underneath for more cushioning.

I've got three Jade mats, and I swear by them. I've tried other brands, but none come close. This one is hands down the best. It's got incredible grip and stability. Originally bought it for my daughter, but I find myself using it more often than not. Highly recommend it!

I bought this mat 3 months ago and the smell just does not go away. And if you leave the mat in your car over night - your car smells. Plus everything sticks to it. If the floor isn't squeaky clean, whatever is on the floor is stuck to the mat. I'm sorry that I spent the money and now I'm shopping for a new mat.