Gaiam Essentials Yoga Mat

very cute! thick too and i love the black strap that came with it!

No unpleasant odor, it is indeed 1" thick unlike other mats claiming to be that thick but fall short, and it arrived with a carrying strap unlike other brands where the strap is repeatedly reported to be missing.

Good very Soft ! Only cons is not looking new ! It’s has some defects ! Its knee support is there ! Grip is good . Easy to use ! Good its coming with a carry

Great yoga mat non slip and perfect amount of cushion

Perfect thickness but had to return cause orthopedic told me not to do back exercises until I see neurologist. Once I get the okay I will buy again.

Very comfortable! I’m 79 and had a broken hip, but I can do floor exercises in comfort and practice getting down on the floor and up 5 times every day easily on this mat.

Great item. It is really soft and big.

Extremely comfortable as someone without much padding natural padding over my tailbone. It stays put on wood floors well too.

This mat has been great for my home workouts. The extra thick cushioning really makes a difference for my knees and hips during floor exercises and stretching, so much more comfortable than my old thin mat. The surface has just the right amount of grip too, no slipping around even during more active sessions. There was a slight foam smell when I first unrolled it, but it went away after airing it out for a day or two like expected. It rolls up easily with the strap for storage, super convenient.

Nice and thick, but still has good stability. The ridges are really nice - they give the mat a nice feel and they help with grip. I've only had it for a month with light use, so I cannot speak to longevity.

First time getting a yoga mat and I am pleased with it. Easy to clean and wipe down. Had a miniature horse step on it, no damage to the mat (yes, I did yoga with the horses). Price was reasonable.

I just moved into an apt with luxury vinyl plank floors. It’s basically like a layer of plastic over concrete. Doing exercises on my usual yoga mats hurt my knees, back, tailbone, and pubic bone so much I was avoiding doing yoga and floor work. Got this thicker mat and it has allowed me to get back on the floor without pain. It’s also longer than my normal Gaiam mats which I totally appreciate. I’m only 5’3” but used to find myself with head or feet hanging off my mat after doing some asanas. Not anymore. It can be tougher to hold balancing poses with this extra thickness but that just adds some extra challenge to ny yoga practice, so no big deal. Very happy with this purchase.

This mat is long enough and comfortable, I wish it was a little thicker but I like it

I liked it. Thick and durable. Pretty standard pad. Safe choice. Pretty purple color. I appreciate the black carrying strap. Great price. Similar black ones for $35 at Target.

I've been using this mat for both hot yoga classes and Pilates workouts at home, and it's been a great balance of comfort and support.The extra thickness makes a noticeable difference, especially during exercises where my knees or elbows are on the floor. It has enough cushioning that longer sessions are much more comfortable without feeling overly soft or unstable.I also like that it comes with a carrying strap. It's simple, but it makes transporting the mat to and from yoga class much easier and keeps it rolled up neatly when I'm not using it.The one downside is that it has a fairly noticeable chemical smell when it's first opened. Mine needed a few days to air out before the odor mostly disappeared. It wasn't a dealbreaker, but it's something to expect if you're sensitive to smells.The surface has provided enough grip for my workouts, and it's held up well with regular use. I usually wipe it down after hot yoga classes, and it has cleaned up without any issues.Overall, it's a comfortable, well-cushioned mat that's worked well for both yoga and Pilates. As long as you don't mind airing it out for a few days when it's new, I think it's a good value.

This is thick and cushiony. This is great for doing your stretching at home. This is a good price for what you get as Gaiam is a great name in health. This is another good product.

Gaiam Yoga Mat is a great product and I will highly recommend this yoga mat to anyone who is looking for an affordable yoga mat with great quality. Firstly, this yoga mat is incredibly soft and smooth. It is a perfect addition if you have hardwood floors. Secondly, you don't have to worry about slipping around everywhere on the yoga mat. Thirdly, it has a perfect amount of thickness to it. If a yoga mat being thick is a top priority for you then I will highly recommend this particular brand. Lastly, the color is beautiful. As someone who enjoys doing yoga and is starting to slowly get back into it I am glad that I was able to buy this product and have a good experience with it. I'm still testing out the yoga mat so I'm hoping that it last a while.Reminder: Although some people may have bad experiences with this yoga mat I would still recommend you try it for yourself to see how you like it. Everyone's experience is different.

The good:- It sure is comfortable! I have a bad right knee, and I can't kneel on a 5mm mat even for 5 seconds without significant discomfort. On THIS mat, by knee is absolutely fine.- It's sufficient "grounding" -- Although the mat is significantly thicker than "regular" yoga mats, I have no trouble doing balance poses, AND I feel sufficient contact with the ground.- It's SUPER light weight, and so it's portable -- How can a yoga mat weigh this little? Impossible! Makes it soo easy to carry around. But, see below :-)- Sticky... enough -- This mat is odd when it comes to stickiness: My feet in general seem to stick to it just fine. And it MOSTLY sticks to the floor OK, too... But, see below :-)- Super good price.Less Than Good:- It's very "squishy" and NOT very dense -- I tend to sink into it a lot. And it doesn't provide much impact padding. I really wouldn't want to fall into this mat from, say, a headstand.- It stretches REALLY easily in use. Do a downward dog (for example) and my feet stretch the mat lengthwise. As a result, the mat slips on the floor (even though my feet stay planted) with a loud squeak.- After doing exactly 2 yoga practices (40 minutes each) there are very obvious wear marks on the mat at points where I length to leave my hands, knees, and feet. This does NOT bode well for long-term sturdiness. I feel like if I used this mat every day, I'd have it beat to death or torn in a couple of months.- The carrying strap is poor and, really, kind of silly.Summary: Good and bad points. For what I paid, I'm happy enough I bought it: I'm keeping it. It helped me determine that 10mm might be thick enough to cushion my right knee. I can use it as a travel or outdoor mat. But I ordered a (far more expensive) Airex 10mm mat that I'm hoping will become my everyday mat.If you're new to yoga, need a mat with some extra cushioning than the ones you typically get at the studio, you're not sure you'll stick with it in the long run, and/or you only practice occasionally (like your once a week class), this might be the mat for you. But, at some point, you kinda DO get what you pay for.

I've been through a few yoga and exercise mats over the years, and this one genuinely stands out. The 10mm thickness is no gimmick — you really feel the difference the moment you get down on the floor. My knees and hips thank me every single session, especially on hard wood and tile surfaces where thinner mats just don't cut it.What also surprised me is the length. It gives you that extra room to move freely without constantly repositioning yourself mid-workout — something I didn't realize I was missing until I had it.Rolling it up and storing it is effortless. It folds down nicely and the included carrying strap keeps everything tidy. Whether I'm moving it between rooms or tossing it in the car for a class, it's never a hassle.The surface has a light texture that keeps things controlled during floor exercises and low-impact routines. It's more comfort-focused than grip-focused, so if you're doing hot yoga or intense flows, keep that in mind — but for Pilates, stretching, core work, and everyday home workouts, it's a perfect fit.One minor note: there's a faint foam smell when you first open it. It aired out within a day or two, so nothing to be concerned about.All in all, great value for what you get. Comfortable, well-sized, easy to carry, and built for everyday use. Absolutely worth it.

I needed the thickest yoga mat I could find because I have terrible balance and I was sure to take a tumble sooner not later. I shopped diligently. I checked out Costco - great price but the thickness wasn't there. I scoured Amazon comparing price and thickness. Turns out the thicker mats were priced significantly higher than Gaiam. Now who knows what deal will make my results obsolete.Well I unpacked the mat and checked it out with a few poses. Yup, right then and there within one minute I took a tumble. Luckily I landed on the mat. It did it's job and only my dignity was hurt. No bruises except to my ego.But with my horrid balance it could easily have turned out differently.I think I should buy at least two more. Cuz I ain't going to land perfectly every time. And no more standing balance poses for me.With the critical safety feature well demonstrated and cost effective come other issues.The mat is a relatively standard size for a quality yoga mat. I have certainly tried to save money and ended up with smaller and thinner mats. But back then my balance was significantly better and the trade off seemed reasonable.It seems to have a permanent curve in the mat. Makes it easy to roll but there is definitely an up and down surface spreading the mat. The harness to hold the mat is very secure, holds well but not the most convenient on the planet.The surface is nice and grippy very important to me. The mat has just enough give that you can sink your toes in a little bit. Excellent! Boy do I need that.Assuming I can stay balanced the whole time this is a comfortable (!) mat and if I just bounce off then you should not experience pain from extended standing poses.