Manduka Europe and a New Manduka Prolite Mat

So the those nice folks at Manduka sent me a mail to let me know that Manduka Europe is now up and running. No longer need we pay over the odds for our mats, towels etc, shipping fees, custom charges or wait for weeks for our goodies to arrive.

'Manduka spoken here'....finally

Along with letting me know about the opening of Manduka Europe I was also asked if I might like to try a couple of samples.

Now I often get invited to review products, books (lots of books), practice DVD's etc. Last week there was a fancy Eco water bottle but I don't go to a shala so probably wouldn't use it. That's my policy, I'll only review something if I'd actually use it and if I hate it I'll say so, it's a gamble on their part.

Manduka are on to a safe bet, I love Manduka. I've been practicing on a Black mat pro for, what, three years and have three equa towels, not even sure where I putaway the yogitoes, it was OK but I'm an equa man, Manduka spoken here.

So samples. Thing is I don't really need anything, three towels are plenty, love my black mat, don't use water bottles and they sent me one of those mat carry slings once which I gave away on the TT course to someone charming who was trying to carry their own black mat with a piece of string ( got lots of brownie points for that one).

But then I remembered a post a few months back where I was trying to choose a travel mat that ran to forty odd comments many about the manduka prolite which I'd never tried ( also some on selling out to the yoga industry). While checking out the colours on their site I saw that they are now doing bolsters with covers made out of the same material as an equa towel. Which got me thinking. After practice I'm all hot and sweaty and really don't want to sit on my Zafu but an equa bolster, that might work, Hmmmm.

The Manduka Prolite Mat

I told Manduka I would try it out for a week before reviewing it.

It's now a little over two weeks and I've only been back to my BlackmatPro once, 'nuff said

OK , seriously... actually I am being serious I almost do prefer it to the blackmat. It's thinner but still has that support and cushioning without being squishy that characterises the blackmat. If anything being thinner I feel a little more grounded, more in contact with the floor, makes the black mat seem almost like overkill.

I say I almost prefer it, the blackmat is still cooler, that great big 'Fallop' sound as you roll it out, the blackmat means business and it's hard not to take your practice seriously when you step on it. The prolite feels more like a normal mat when you pick it up, it's lighter, more manageable (but somehow stickier).

Lighter, but I wouldn't call it a travel mat, there are much lighter mats around that will fold up nicely into your luggage but would you really want to practice on one once you've become used to a blackmat, Vatayanasana for instance or headstands or roll around in Garbha pindasana, of course not. For me my biggest concern on booking a holiday is where I will practice and on what. I have lighter mats but this is the one I'd take.

I'll probably go back to practicing on the blackmatpro for everyday practice but if you asked me to recommend one mat, for home, back and forth to the studio and traveling it's got to be the prolite, just wish they still did it in orange.

Coming up : The Manduka Bolster

PS. Dear Steve. If you'd like me to take a look at that slinky new 'post laptop device....