Yoga Review: JadeYoga yoga mat

June 27, 7:44 PMYoga ExaminerJordann Rawls

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For every yoga mat sold, JadeYoga plants a tree. (Source)

Yoga events and shopping malls have one thing in common - Tons of duds and props to check out. Sort of a "try before you buy". Earlier this year, one yoga event and one shopping trip later, I became the proud owner of a once-envied-now-mine JadeYoga yoga mat.

Jade has developed one of the first eco-friendly yoga mats. It wasn't a hard sell since Jade plants a tree for every mat sold. Not to mention, Jade mats are made of natural rubber and free from synthetics (like PVC). Developed by a former lawyer for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Dean Jerrehian resisted production in China (where he claims "most other mats are made today") and made a mat born from a "tree". What else is amazing?

Jade mats come in two different sizes and two different "thicknesses", an oftentimes plus for those with sensitive knees. Mats are offered in 1/8, 3/16 and 5/16 of an inch with two available lengths, 68" and 74". Match that with a rainbow of colors and Jade has something for you. They even have travel mats, kids mats and mats with different edges (see photo). I found a perfect fit on the extra-long 74" of mat space and loved I could match my black mat with my yoga pants. So what's not to love?

As a proud-wouldn't-return-it-for-the-world JadeYoga mat owner, I do have some qualms. Face down on your mat should be peaceful, but with a Jade, it kind of smells like a rubber tire. While the smell has faded after several washes, I've gotten used to picking up other smells. Because the mat is made from open-cell rubber, there are tiny open pores in the mat that take anything you sweat out. If you're worried why this matters, click here. One last thing, I can't practice on my Jade without a towel. The mat is uber grippy but it still doesn't keep it from bunching when hopping to the front of my mat or swiveling my feet.

Would I return it? No way. Would I recommend it? Yes. Would I buy another one? Probably not.

Overall score: B+ 

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