We only recommend things we love, however we might earn a small commission if you choose to buy something.

A YOGA MAT FOR EACH ESSENTIAL YOGA POSE

Especially for International Yoga Day

21.06.2021

By Heather Gwyther

Save

Share the story

Link copied

recommended

MEET THE YOGA TEACHER

It's International Yoga Day! On that note, here are the best yoga mats available to buy in the UK. And a reminder of some essential poses in case you'd forgotten them.

1/10

DOWNWARD DOG

(Adho Mukah Svanasana)

@gus_n_moo

NO KA' OI GUMMED LOGO YOGA MAT, £189 AT FARFETCH

Everyone’s heard of Downward Dog, haven’t they? Even if they don’t know the first thing about yoga. A classic yoga pose requires a classic yoga mat – in black, of course. And this one by No Ka Oi provides both deep cushioning for comfort and a non-slip finish for stability.

2/10

MOUNTAIN POSE

(Tadasana)

@yoginhistory

LULULEMON THE REVERSIBLE (BIG) MAT, £88

Mountain Pose is the foundation of all standing poses, but it can also be used for rest or to improve posture. You don’t need a mountain of a yoga mat to do it, though if you need an excuse to invest in this one by Lululemon: yes, yes you do.

3/10

WARRIOR I

(Virabhadrasana I)

@happydayhealthandwellness

ALO YOGA ALO WARRIOR YOGA MAT, £115 AT NET-A-PORTER

An Alo Yoga Warrior Mat for Warrior I? Is that too obvious? Perhaps, but you'll have plenty of opportunities to be subtle elsewhere throughout your yoga practice.

4/10

WARRIOR II

(Virabhadrasana II)

@nadaelghoneimy

NIKE MASTERY YOGA MAT, £99.95

Warrior II often develops from Warrior I. How convenient, then, that Nike should make a 'Mastery' yoga mat.

ADVERTISEMENT. CONTINUE READING BELOW

recommended

WHICH FITNESS TRIBE DO YOU BELONG TO?

5/10

EXTENDED TRIANGLE POSE

(Utthita Trikonasana)

@leapoffaith.yoga

MANDUKA eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat, £39 AT THE SPORTS EDIT

Therapeutic for both anxiety and flat feet (amongst other things), an Extended Triangle Pose is worth doing. And what better for it than a triband yoga mat?

6/10

CAT-COW

(Chakravakasana)

@jednorthyoga

GAIAM REVERSIBLE YOGA MYSTIC SKY 6MM YOGA MAT, £49.99 AT JOHN LEWIS

Doing Cat-Cow can make even an exhibitionist feel self-conscious, but who cares about looking silly when it provides untold benefits for your spine? In terms of yoga mats, Gaiam's has two printed sides: one for cat and one for cow.

7/10

CHILD'S POSE

(Balasana)

@byalexandradawn

FABLE YOGA PRO GRIP STUDIO YOGA MAT, £69 AT SELFRIDGES

Do you ever want to subside into a state devoid of all responsibilities? There's a yoga pose for that: Child's Pose. And we imagine it's even more relaxing to do on Fable's peach Pro Grip Studio yoga mat.

8/10

TREE POSE

(Vrksasana)

@e.yunna

YOGI BARE WILD PAWS YOGA MAT, £78 AT ANTHROPOLOGIE

Don't worry if your Tree Pose is unstable – real trees wobble too. For each mat sold by Yogi Bare, one tree is planted via Hometree. And this one has trees on it – how fitting!

9/10

HAPPY BABY

(Ananda Balasana)

@dynamic_yoga_by_design

YOGAMATTERS ORGANIC COTTON YOGA MAT, £28

Happy Baby: the cute pose. On a level with Cat-Cow in terms of potentially self-conscious silliness (but significantly less sensual), it is a delight to be in Happy Baby. So much of a delight, in fact, that you probably won't even notice what yoga mat you're on. Although – in general – we'd be proud to practice on this Yogamatters number.

10/10

CORPSE POSE

(Savasana)

@gilbertoyogai

SWEATY BETTY GREY ECO WARRIOR MAT, £40 AT BROWNS

We may or may not be partial to a slogan t-shirt that says 'I ONLY CAME HERE FOR SAVASANA' – the bit of a yoga class where you lay in Corpse Pose and do nothing at all. Sink into it with a muted grey yoga mat from Sweaty Betty.