Would you pay £100 for a yoga mat?
I did.
It’s a Liforme yoga mat.
Was it worth it? Here are my thoughts……
As someone who used to suffer from REALLY sweaty hands and feet, yoga was often a challenge for me.
There was the dreaded moment when I’d go into downward dog and feared I’d end up flat on my tummy because my hands and feet would slip further and further apart, pulling and tugging the mat as I slipped.
Then there was the wide leg forward fold that could have potentially turned into the box splits (if I had the flexibility).
Hearing about Liforme and it’s £100 price tag, I was intrigued. In my experience, an item with
Having owned my previous yoga mat for about 8 years, I decided to take the plunge and upgrade. (I also donated my old mat to my yoga class and was delighted that someone was able to upgrade their mat.)
What does the Liforme Yoga Mat offer?
- Super Sticky
Over and beyond any of the other benefits, the stickiness of this mat is what makes Liforme exceptional.
No matter how hot and sweaty I get, I NEVER slip! It has transformed my practice and I would go as far as to say I have improved more in the past year than I have the past 8 years because of the grip and stability this mat provides.
The top layer absorbs perspiration and seems to get grippier throughout the session sweatier I get. Incredible! Reading other reviews, other people are saying the same.
The Liforme website says “we believe our revolutionary ‘GripForMe’ material is the grippiest Yoga mat material currently available on earth. And it stays grippy even when ‘sweaty wet’.”
- Mat Markings
At first, I was a bit naive to think the £100 price tag was exclusively related to the ‘AlignForMe’ markings on the mat. I thought they were a gimmick. It turns out they are really useful.
When I first started using the mat, I was a little obsessive over where to place my feet and hands with regards to the lines, but over time, I’ve found the positions that
Liforme states – ‘Just like a map, the AlignForMe system is a ‘guide’ – how you use it is up to you.’
Read more about the markings here.
- Eco-Friendly
Purchasing any product that is eco-friendly always gets a big tick from me, and Liforme’s ethical practise was enough to convince me to go ahead with my purchase.
The mat is made from naturally sourced sustainable rubber which is PVC-free and contains no heavy metals such as lead or cadmium.
Each layer is joined together using a method that eliminates the need for toxic glues and the packaging is fully recyclable.
Even the ink used for the markings is non-toxic and body-friendly.
- Dimensions – Longer & Wider
Measuring 185cm long by 68cm wide, the Liforme mat is longer and wider than most yoga mats, allowing plenty of room to stretch and relax into poses.
The extra space makes for a wonderful Shavasana at the end of your practice as well : )
- Supportive & Cushioned
At 4.2mm thick, it provides plenty of support and cushioning for those ‘hips-digging-into-the-ground’ poses like Bow Pose, yet it is firm enough to comfortably go into a headstand without being on an unstable surface.
- Other Notes
The bag the mat comes with is small and only fits the mat in, so I have opted for a bigger yoga bag as I like to pack a blanket and some yoga blocks.
On days where I cannot take my Liforme mat to class because I am away from home or on holiday, I realise how remarkable it is. I use a mat provided in the class and end up back where I used to be, slipping and sliding around on a lower quality mat, unable to hold poses due to a sweaty
CONCLUSION
For me, the Liforme yoga mat was worth every penny.
£100 is a lot of money, but it has added so much value to my life; it has improved my yoga practise tenfold, allowing me to hold poses for longer, explore deeper poses and have the confidence to increase my asana repertoire.
If sweaty hands and feet affect your practice, definitely get involved with Liforme.
Update: I wrote this post in October 2015. It is now January 2021 and my mat is still going strong! It looks a bit grubby but has got years left in it.