The Complete Guide to Non-Slip Yoga

December 23, 2025

A Complete Guide to Preventing Slipping in Yoga

No matter what type of yoga mat you use, everyone experiences their hands and feet slipping during practice.
This can interrupt the flow of movement or make difficult poses feel even harder.

While it's difficult to completely eliminate slipping, there are several things you can do to maintain stability in your poses.
Here are some tips.

Build a Solid Foundation

In poses like Downward-Facing Dog, it's important to spread your fingers and toes wide and root them firmly into the mat.
By distributing your weight evenly across your hands and feet, your poses become more stable and you can use your full body strength in a balanced way.
As a result, unnecessary strain on your joints is reduced, leading to a safer and more comfortable practice.

Awaken Your Core

If your core isn't engaged properly, your body will unconsciously try to balance itself with other parts, leading to slipping.
Gently drawing in your lower abdomen with your breath awakens your core muscles and leads to more stable movements.

How to Break in Your Yoga Mat

Like many sports products, high-performance yoga mats can take some time to break in when you first start using them.
By repeatedly moving and applying weight during practice, the surface gradually adapts to your body and movements. Therefore, you might experience some slipping during the break-in period.

The shortest path to speeding up the break-in process is very simple.
Just keep using it.

Correct Yoga Mat Care

Using all-purpose cleaners or body soaps on your yoga mat can leave a slippery film on the surface.
It's important to gently wipe your mat with a dedicated yoga mat cleaner after each practice to keep it clean.

Tip

Do not wash your yoga mat in a washing machine or shower.
Do not submerge it in water either.
Let me repeat: absolutely do not submerge it.

Avoid Using Lotions

Some types of lotions and creams applied to the skin can affect the oil and moisture balance of the skin.
Try to avoid using lotion before and during daytime practice. If it mixes with sweat and comes to the surface of your skin, it can reduce your mat's grip.

Prepare a Towel

Hot yoga towels help absorb sweat from both yourself and your mat, aiding in stabilizing your practice. A hot yoga towel is ideal for taming a sweat storm.

Tip

Hot yoga towels absorb sweat, preventing your mat from getting wet. Choose a towel with sweat-absorbing technology, such as silicone nubs or gripping microfiber.