If your gaiam yoga mat has become really dirty submerge it in a bathtub filled with warm water and mild detergent.
How to make a gaiam mat less sticky.
Always check with the brand before you do so but if the mat can go in the washer a quick cycle without soap can be a great way to begin to break down the thin film that makes it slippery.
Roll the mat up in a large dry towel pressing lightly to remove the excess water unroll and hang to air dry.
Buying a mat spray that contains essential oils or making your own is a great way to clean disinfect and add a nice scent to your mat.
While we understand the need for a cheaper beginner mat on the market it s not our first choice for practicing on particularly when compared side by side to some great high end mats or the similarly priced clever yoga better grip.
The scents i ve had the best luck with are lemon orange and eucalyptus for energy or lavender and mint for a more relaxing scent.
Residue can cause the mat to become slippery.
A lot of mats like thin travel mats and sticky mats can actually be machine washed.
When you make the leap to owning your own yoga mat it can be more than a little disappointing to discover that your so called sticky mat has no traction at all aside from being annoying if you are really slipping on your mat you could hurt yourself.
Of course when you first pull out a fresh new cutting mat it can be so sticky that the paper or cardstock won t even come off.
There are a few effective ways to break in your new mat but before you take action it s important to know what kind of mat you have.
Thoroughly wash the mat and rinse in clean water.
As manduka put it don t wear it out wear it in chose one side of the mat and mark it if needed to note which side you are breaking in for your practice.
The gaiam sticky premium mat is a low cost entry level mat.
Make sure you hang your mat and let it dry properly.
Use cricut machines to make homemade scrapbooking items stickers and other vinyl and paper products.
Like new shoes using your mat daily for 1 2 weeks can help break in the material for a less slippery practice.