Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat Blue :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review
The Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat is perfect for those workouts that demand more from your back and your mat. Designed for demanding Ashtanga and power yoga sessions, or just when you need extra cushioning, the Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat is twice as thick as the standard mat, and it features the same non-slip surface. So when you need a mat that can handle the demands of your power workouts, the Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat is your best bet.

About Gaiam
Gaiam was created as a lifestyle company with the vision that, given a choice, people would choose a lifestyle that is healthy and life enhancing, for themselves, their families and the Earth. The Gaiam lifestyle is a vote for individual health as well as the future sustainability of the Earth’s resources. Gaiam strives to provide customers with alternatives to traditional products by offering natural, eco-friendly or healthy versions that compare with the style, quality and price of conventional products.

Gaiam’s goal is to become the trusted source and unifying brand for Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) participants. They understand that the opportunity to affect people’s lives with information and products is both a privilege and a responsibility. Gaiam believes in the concept of Conscious Commerce, the practice of making purchasing decisions based on personal values and beliefs. It takes into consideration all the aspects of our lives and the impact we have upon the planet. Research indicates this concept appeals to approximately 50 million people in the U.S. alone. Gaiam's strategy in delivering the distinctive quality for which they are known is to partner with experts in health/wellness, eco-living and personal development to develop proprietary products that meet our customers’ needs with meaningful solutions.

The name GAIAM is a fusion of the words Gaia (the name of Mother Earth from the Minoan civilization in ancient Crete), and I am reminds us that we are all interconnected with the Earth, the air and water, and very much a part of this living system that sustains us all.

What's in the Box?
Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat

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Customer Reviews

Wash the Mat before 1st use=a great non-slip mat (just follow its instructions)

2008-06-18
Great padding for your shins and knees etc. Wash it to remove the initial slippery coating and it will be a terrific mat.

Sliding Dog

2007-10-27
So, I wish I had read the reviews on this item before I bought my Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat. My first down dog on this mat nearly ended in a face plant. As it comes out of the wrapper, it is slippery indeed. Note, I was using the mat with the "big bump," logo side up and the small bumps toward the floor.

After consulting with my teacher, I decided to give the mat one more chance but only after spraying both surfaces with Formula 409 and scrubbing thoroughly with a coarse Scotch Brite pad. That was enough to make the pad at least usable on a second try. Right now I plan to proceed with caution, but if I slip again this sucker is going back to the store.

Using a yoga mat would seem to be a no brainer, but not so in this case. If Gaiam plans to continue selling this model they need to include some instructions about how to prepare and place the mat for safe use.

Downward Dog and I didn't slip...

2007-07-20
Don't know if maybe I got a better quality mat than the other reviewers, but I have no problems with this mat. I don't slip during downward dog and I wear SOCKS during my yoga, I also happen to use it for my Pilates workouts. It's very well cushioned, pops back to shape no matter how hard I press into it and, as mentioned earlier, it's fantastic with grip. I've no choice but to give this mat 5 stars, I'd give more if I could and will be buying another when this one wears out.

SLIPPERY! Don't waste money

2006-04-29
I bought htis mat thinking it would be great, it is a well known name brand of quality yoga products. Well, my first class using this mat was horrible. It is the most slippery mat you could ever imagine. Downward dog is the most challenging with this mat because your hands slip forward at record speeds! I had to adjust my hands so much that I eventually used one of the gym's mats over this one. You can get a great work out with this mat becasue of the amount of time you spend adjusting yourself. For the price you would think it would be a nice mat. I ended up buying a WONDERFUL mat by Nike for $19, its made with antislip material and comes in great colors! I recommend the Nike mat or any other mat than this one!

If you're looking for a slippery yoga mat...

2006-02-25
then this is for you. I can't stay in downward dog without my hands and feet slipping from under me. The mats at my gym don't do this. I'm going to have to buy one of those. This Gaiam mat is well-cushioned so if you want to just sit or lay down on it, then it probably is sufficient for you.