Yoga mats come in a variety of materials suited for different needs and comfort, and choosing between them will be based on how absorbent, thick, or slip-resistant you need it to be, as well what kind of yoga you practice, and how often you practice. Whether you are a seasoned yogi or just starting out, the perfect yoga mat is out there waiting for you. To help you find it, here are the main types of yoga mats for you to compare:

PVC Yoga Mats: Cost effective, PVC yoga mats offer practitioners the most amount of slip resistance. Widely available in an array of thicknesses, colors, and brands, these types of mats are ideal for beginners wanting to give yoga a try with minimal commitment.

Rubber Yoga Mats: These are comfortable mats that make changing positions easy. Their smooth surfaces allow for more comfortable, quicker movements and they are great for yoga buffs that do faster practices with a lot of quicker movements where stability is key.

Jute Yoga Mats: Ashtanga jute yoga mats are absorbent and eco-friendly. Offering intermediate users a more natural, environmentally friendly option that can handle high-impact disciplines and a lot of sweat, jute mats are suitable for Ashtanga, bikram, and other high-impact types of yoga.

Cotton Yoga Mats: A natural option favored by many yogis, cotton yoga mats are very absorbents and eco-friendly and are usually the prefered mat for high impact yoga disciplines because of the stability they create for standing poses. Their absorbent nature also makes them an ideal choice for hot yoga classes.