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You are such a light! Thank you for sharing! I will be buying my first Manduka as I've been practicing for 11 years on a cheap standard that's been hiding under my YogiToes towel. It's completely disintegrated and it's time to finally upgrade. I had an attachment to my first mat because of everything we've been through together but it's time to move on to new experiences and a fresh mat :) Thank you fo sharing how to break it in. Can't wait to get on my new mat soon!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

You are so welcome! I really hope you enjoy your new Manduka mat :-) Eleven years with a cheap mat is quite the accomplishment!

Haven’t had a ton of luck with a couple different mandukas - I have just order a cork one and hope it turns out great

Wow, that's amazing!! Thank you so much!!!

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Happy to have helped :-)

This is genius! Thanks

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped! It's definitely a messy process, but totally worth it :-)

Thank you so much!!

watching this just before starting my morning yoga practice

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Yay! Did you ever break in your mat or were you patient like me?!

Thank you so much for making this video. I've been going insane with my pro mat.

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

(sorry for late reply) I do hope you are able to now enjoy your Manduka Pro!

I just got my Manduka today , and this vlog helps alot Thank you 🙏🏾

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

I'm so happy to hear! Breaking in in really does help improve the grip :-)

Thank you so much for this video! I dont have coarse sea salt and just "fine" sea salt is that ok to use? Thank you!!!

I'm just like you! I also was very patient till it finally had good grip. Wish I knew about the salt method back then..!

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

I know right? I think it was a few weeks till I finally broke it in!

Very excited to use my Manduka Prolite! Your videos really helped me a lot in decided whether or not I should invest in a great quality mat. I am just a baby yogi and I hope that this mat investment helps me in committing to my practice! My previous mat provided so little support on my knees they bruised 😢

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Tricia I’m happy to hear my videos helped you! Best of luck on keeping up your yoga practice :-)

My Mandela Pro arrived today, thanks to your guidance in Choosing a mat. It is currently on my deck , with sea salt on it, basking in the sun ☀️. Can’t wait to use it !! Thank you, again, for all your help🙏

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

That's great to hear! Manduka Pro really is a mat for life, and once you've finished with your salt sunbathing, you'll love it :-)

@KM-tq8yf

3 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga Used it for the first time last night and I am completely in love! ❤️

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

@@KM-tq8yf yay!!! That’s great to hear :-)

I put salt to my new manduka mat and was afraid to scrub :D I gently remove the salt and of course I slided yesterday hahaah. I will do this process correctly. Thank you!

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Hihi yes don't worry about scrubbing a little! Manduka mats are made for life so they can take some tough love! I hope you enjoy the grip after your next attempt!

Thank you!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

You are very welcome!

I wish someone had shown me that earlier!!

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

You and me both!

I’m happy with my manduka pro mat; It’s excellent.

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

It really is!

Hello, can I use Himalayan sea salt to break?

Thank you I got a mandukapro and a sugarmat . All from your reviews!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic! I hope you enjoy them both :-)

@SuperSmileyd

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga just need to break in the manduka pro! Sugarmat is a dream

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

@@SuperSmileyd oh yes Sugarmat is such a joy to practice on! Have fun with the Manduka breaking in process :-)

I had a Manduka Pro years ago and I never knew about breaking it in. I found it slippery and eventually it ended up in storage when I started using my two favorite mats, the Lululemon and Jade. I recently got another Manduka Pro to try and give it a go again since I do think it's a high-quality mat. We'll see if it works this time! At least I can always use a towel on top if needed. Thank you for such an informative video!

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Such a shame! Though I will say that Jade and Lululemon are also excellent mats. But definitely give the salt method a go as the Manduka Pro really is a fantastic mat! Once you have broken it in you will notice that you'll need a towel on top only if you sweat a lot. Good luck! And thank you for watching :-)

@teasylaraa

3 жыл бұрын

What did you do with the first one? throw it away? :O

@empoweryourwellness

3 жыл бұрын

@@teasylaraa No, it's deep in a storage unit not near me at the moment. Not sure of the condition when I eventually get it back. Maybe it will have naturally broken itself in by then! So far making progress breaking in the new one so there's hope.

@EuropeanLord

Жыл бұрын

Any updates on your Manduka Pro? :)

@empoweryourwellness

Жыл бұрын

@@EuropeanLord I've done a modified salt scrub a few times. I love the cushion of the Manduka pro but still find I need a small towel under my hands. I don't want to give up on this mat but if I know I'm going to sweat a lot I still either use a towel or choose my Liforme mat.

Thanks.

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Thank you

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

You are very welcome :-) Hope it helped!

Thank you for instructions, it's quite helpful. I have a weird question though. Do you think there is a difference between Manduka Pro Black and the other colors of Manduka Pros? I mean does the color effects the grip?

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting question! I have no idea but I really doubt whether the color would affect the grip. And I think that because the grip is dependent on the material of the mat, not on the color used in the material. But that's just my guess! You could always contact Manduka to be 100% sure!

Thank you! I am currently waiting for my manduka to be delivered, very excited! One question, does the surface of the mat visually change after the salt proces? Can you see a difference? Thnx!

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

That's so exciting! And remember to break it in to get to really enjoy the grip! From my experience at least, I didn't notice any visual change on the surface. It's not a smooth or shiny mat like the Lifrome and so I would be surprised if you found any visual difference. Hope that helps!

@kid_404

3 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga thank you :)

I’m wondering why the manufacturer doesn’t prepare the surface prior to selling it ?

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Good question! My understanding is that there is a very thin coating to help preserve the mat for long term storage. I may be wrong!

@oferlitver1

11 ай бұрын

So you'll know no one else used it before 😂

@frankie6356

7 ай бұрын

@@oferlitver1 🤣🤣🤣

Hi, thanks for the video. Just checking, are we not suppose to wash it on running water? Thanks

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Hi! Yes you can wash it under running water. The process I’m showing is the initial breaking in you may need to do when you first get your mat.

Nice

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I never noticed it was slipper. I just kept using it and sometimes since I did hot yoga i used a thin micro fiber yoga towel on top and 7+ years later it feels brand new with tons of grip. Sometimes I see defected ones at Marshals and get one.

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Oh you’re lucky! Some people really struggle with the slippery surface when it’s brand new. Plus, the thin microfiber towel is an excellent idea, especially for hot yoga!

I’ve had my manduka pro mat for more than 5 years and never broke in so I just use a yoga towe over it and I got an alo yoga mat

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Oh no! Such a shame! I've heard now from a couple of other people that their Manduka remained slippery even after a few years. I hope you like your Alo yoga mat :-)

Hello :) Do you use salt on both sides?? Do you also have to do this for the Prolite mat? Thank you!!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Good question! So you could break in the most slippery surface. For example my Pro mat has one smooth surface and one surface with texture. As the grip was slightly better on the textured side, I used the salt solution on the smooth surface only. Plus, if your Prolite mat is also made of PVC and it’s slippery, then yes try breaking it in with salt. Good luck :-)

thank you! , btw where did you get your flowy yogui pants, those are so cute!!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

You are very welcome! And yes, love my flowy pants! They're from Oysho: www.oysho.com

@Moonlightgirl333

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga thank you!!

Hey! looked at a lot of reviews on manduka pro and bought it) did the salt treatment, as you showed in the video. today I washed it, dried it, but it still slips (((what is the principle of breaking the rug? what exactly needs to be broken? coating, film ... what?)

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Elena! Sorry to hear you've been having trouble with your new Manduka Pro.. To the best of my knowledge the break in process is like an exfoliation to remove the top slippery surface. If you're patient this is removed through friction from practicing, but to speed up the process we use the salt method. I would recommend doing the salt method again, practice a few times, and if its still slippery then contact Manduka :-)

Thank you for the tip! A related question if I may: for other types of mat, such as Airex, is it okay if, after use, I simply take it to the shower room and clean it with shower water (with or without detergent?)? Thank you so much for answering my question. :-)

@AlexiaKYoga

7 ай бұрын

Intestine question! I would say that in most cases it’s ok to shower a yoga mat. Have a look here for a variety of ways to clean yoga mats: yogamyoldfriend.com/how-to-clean-a-yoga-mat-the-right-way/ Hope that helps!

Does it still take a while to break in even after the salt scrub? Stability/grip is so important to me and I don't think I'd be happy if I had to practice for weeks/months before getting to safety. I have no idea why I want a Pro. I have heard nothing but complaints from friends that have had them, re: lack of grip. I think it's because I envision a closed-cell meet mat being easier to glide into poses but I don't want to buy one at the risk of injury. I've been a die-hard Jade Harmony user. Sometimes it's nice to have options but slip/sliding is not an option. What do you think? Go for it? Give up the dream (lol)? P.S. I do Vinyasa.

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Well, as a Manduka lover I would say go for it! It’s no wonder so many teachers around the world use it. Plus! I did a little survey amongst Ashtanga practitioners and approx 85% of them use the Manduka..! So keep that in mind!

@ileanaramirez2039

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga I practice ashtanga and just got my manduka PRO for at home practice, just did the break in during the weekend adn when i started practicing it still feel very slippery and insecure, what else can i do?

@kokoro_flow

Жыл бұрын

@@ileanaramirez2039 You should do the salt scrub method + dry in the sun 1 or 2 more times. My Manduka Pro broke in a lot faster than my Pro Lite did. My theory is that some colors might have more of that film coating from the factory manufacturing process. But yeah, I did the salt scrub 2x for both of them. After that, you should get a lot of sweat on it to help it break down more of that film coating.

Hola, podrían traducirlo al español, no se como mantener mi esterilla en buen estado pero no entiendo nada de inglés gracias

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Hola! Puedo probar :-)

420th like! Not a bad ratio at all :)

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow! I hadn't even noticed! Thank you for pointing it out :-)

Do you think this would provide good grip for sweaty hands too? Other reviews said you need a towel for sweaty hands if you want to get a PRO :(

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

That's an interesting question! Ok so the salt method helps to improve the overall grip of the Manduka Pro. Once broken in, when your hands are dry you will experience excellent grip. On the other hand, because this is a closed-cell mat, no liquid is absorbed, and so if you sweat a lot, you will most likely need a towel or cotton rug. What I do is practice till my hands get sweaty and then if I find I'm losing the grip, then I place my cotton rug on top. Hope that helps!

@xwillles

3 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga Thank you very much! I really want one for my home practice so I might try what you said :)

Thanks for the demo. I just want to note that the instructions printed on the Pro mat label say to not soak out shower the mat with water 😬.

@carlossandoval5216

4 ай бұрын

I was wondering the same thing! It’s the mat now ruined for ever??

@Nealiosaurus

4 ай бұрын

@@carlossandoval5216 it's probably fine, my pro mat is dense and sturdy. I'm still breaking it in!

Hey ! What is the color of the other mat? Is it verve (red)?

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

Which other yoga mat do you mean?

Hi, does this method also work for the Manduka eko superlite travel mat? Thanks!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Putri I just checked, and apparently the Manduka Eko doesn't need to be broken in as it is natural rubber :-)

@putrinadhira1

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga ​ thank you! your review videos are super helpful btw :)

Is it possible to go straight to the shower, and omit all the wiping down with a towel? Or is all that rubbing the point? Or is it the sitting with salt on it the point?

@ericamedina3263

5 ай бұрын

So I watched another video and they want you to scrub it to get the layer of film off of it because that is making you slip! Hope that helps! I know this question was from 6 months ago!

Its a dumb question but which side do we break in? the side that touches our feet or the floor? thanks!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

No dumb questions! Just interesting ones :-) You break in the side that touches your hands and feet!

@yshi101

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga haha thanks I bought the pro mat after watching your video, thanks!

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

@@yshi101 Oh yay! Hope you enjoy your practices on it as much as I do :-)

@jaypzl

Жыл бұрын

Dang! Good thing you asked that! I would've assumed it was the floor side! thx!

Where can i find an all black one with no logo like this one :/

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Someone else asked me this a while ago! I bought mine 10 years ago and so I don't know if back then they didn't have the logo and all the new ones do have it? Perhaps contact Manduka and ask them?

Good morning Alexia I will like to ask you something I have 1.65 cm what is the size for my height Manduka Pro Mat to buy

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

Hi Elena! I’m 1.75 and have the standard 1.80. You should be fine with that one :-)

Hi Where did you get the drying rack from?

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting question! It's actually an IKEA clothes rack: www.ikea.com/us/en/p/rigga-clothes-rack-white-50231630/

@kgill2811

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga thank you!

What size did you get the 71” or 85”

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Joy I have the standard 71” version.

Which side of the mat do you add sea salt?

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Tom good question! The Manduka Pro has two different surfaces, the smooth side and the textured side. You only need to do the salt method on the smooth side as that will be the most slippery. However, you can also do it on the textured surface, especially if you find that to be very slippery too. I hope that helps!

I mostly do pilates and my knees need something with a bit more cushioning, do you think this is the best choice? Im not really worried about slipping as I do very little yoga. Also is this fine or coarse sea salt?

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Jennifer interesting question! Ok so the Manduka Pro is 6mm thick meaning it offers great cushioning. If you want something with a more ‘spongy’ feeling then you may also like the Lululemon reversible which has a rubber base.

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Plus, coarse salt is best, though you could also try with fine salt!

@Jennifer-di4nl

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga I just bought the Manduka I liked that it ran extra long as I'm pretty tall. Thank you for your videos they were VERY helpful.

Cant find manduka in india. Can u help me.

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Hi! I just found Manduka on Amazon in India, check it out! www.amazon.in/Manduka-PROLite-Yoga-Pilates-Midnight/dp/B0030VB9Z6/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=manduka+pro&qid=1626101855&sr=8-4

Presumably you need to do both sides?

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

(sorry for late reply) you only need to do it on the smoother side :-)

I'm looking for a mat for me to do HIIT with Apple Fitness+ on TV, my current one slides on the floor when i run on it. Then someone told me about this mat, emm..... with the price tag of this mat, i don't think i'll have the patient to rub salt on it and wipe it 3 times and shower it...... it should be done by the company on the production line imo.

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

You know I could agree with you! But I will say that I’ve bought some really expensive mats to review which all last around 3-5 years. And so the Manduka may be expensive, however it will last much longer than most other mats. I don’t do HIIT so I don’t know what mats to recommend for you!

Good day, great video but stupid question, can I use kosher salt instead of sea salt, thank you

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

There are no stupid questions! Ok so I had to look into what kosher salt is. To my understanding it's coarse salt? If so then yes you can use kosher salt :-)

@markgordon288

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga Thank you

the tag on the mat states "DO NOT soak, shower or submerge in water". Be careful with your mats.

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Yes you are completely correct! Given that the breaking in process only happens once, you can get away with showering it just the once. I've had mine for 12 years now and its still it top condition :-)

Maybe I'm an outlier here -- but I just don't understand spending the amount of money that it takes to get a Manduka, only to have to bust your hump "prepping" it before you can even use it (and even that arduous process seems less than foolproof) when there are grippier straight-out-of-the box options galore available instead?

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

Kris you’re not the only one wondering this! There are many mats out there that are perfect just out of the box (think Liforme and Lululemon). And yet, these mats may last about 4-5 years. On the other hand, Manduka can last a lifetime (I’ve had mine for 11 years) and so if you think you’ll have a mat for life, maybe the original breaking in process is worth it.

@mrkkinman

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga That's a fair point.

Wouldn't it have been faster to brush off and vacuum off the salt first? I suppose if you want to save money, you could use "kosher salt" which is a larger grain of salt. All you did was just rough up the otherwise pristine flat surface. Using a coarse substance like playground sand and a kitchen brush would have likely also worked.

@frankie6356

7 ай бұрын

sure maybe? The mat I got has instructions on the mat wrapping itself to do this exact method - naming sea salt specifically. Don't know if they just mean any rough salt? But have you met a playground? I'm not rubbing that cesspool all over my mat lol

if you have a bath tub you can do this in it...

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

Very true!

Hi, where is your bodysuit from? You look stunning in it

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the compliment! Ok so my top is a random top that I tie to the side as it's a bit too big on me and the bottoms (that are super comfy) are from Oysho.

I just can’t believe people are willing to do that ( salt scrub) I mean for 130$ I expect the company to have a ready to use mat ! Crazy ! I got a 5mm rubber all in motion for 65$ at target (!!) I ran into it by accident and it’s by far the best mat I’ve ever owned ! I have a lulu one & all my bolsters are top of the line Hugger Mugger . But in the mat category , I wanted a natural rubber . It’s 5 mm but is perfect !id have paid 3 x this amount for a mat like this Heads up these are fairly new at target - ( RUBBER yoga mat “all in motion “)

@AlexiaKYoga

Жыл бұрын

(sorry for late reply) good to hear you found a really good yoga mat for $65! The truth is that the main disadvantage of the Manduka Pro is this need to break it in with salt. However, if you think that this mat really does last a lifetime (mine is 12 years old and with daily use is still good as new) then it may feel worth it :-)

@Dancing77Kat

10 ай бұрын

I bought that mat at Target and returned it after two uses. Knee cushioning and grip was great; however, each time I rolled it up, I got very noticeable and permanent creases in my mat. It looked like it was years old.

Directly why don't you shower mat

@AlexiaKYoga

3 жыл бұрын

Good question! You can shower the mat in order to clean it. However, if you want to break it in, the salt process before the shower is what will help improve the grip.

HORRIBLE MAT !! I did all the salt and water procedure, I’ve been practicing yoga and it is still ridiculously slippery!! I’ll definitely return it back . I don’t want to keep waiting to see if one day it won’t slip anymore. It doesn’t worth the money in my opinion.

Just buy a rubber grip mat, guys - this one is a scam. A manufacturer shouldn’t expect you to break their product over years of slippery practice for it to eventually work one day.

What a MESS,,,,, Just buy a Bmat,, you’ll be much happier and the GRIP is unparalleled.

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

It is a mess indeed! I also have the Bmat and do agree, it is a great yoga mat and the grip is truly incredible. However, I’ve had my Manduka for around 10 years and it’s as good as new, and yet my 5 month old Bmat is already got some wear and tear.

I understand scrubbing the mat, but why leave the salt on for 24 hours? It acts as an abrasive, but the material of the mat is non-reactive with salt, so it doesn't affect the mat other than as an abrasive. You'd get the same result from scrubbing the mat with salt and then rinsing it.

@AlexiaKYoga

7 ай бұрын

Good point! Manduka recommends leaving it for 24 hours so that’s why I did it that way :-)

I've done this twice with my mat and I've been using it for the last 6 months and it's still too slippy which I'm finding really annoying, I hope it doesn't take years 😔

@AlexiaKYoga

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear your Manduka mat is still slippy! Give it some time, and if you feel it isn’t improving you could maybe contact Manduka and ask for a replacement? Just a thought!

@clawsomeflufferton4660

Жыл бұрын

@@AlexiaKYoga or sell it and buy B Mat or Liforme instead lol