How to Break In a New Yoga Mat (And Improve Its Grip)

You’ve just unrolled a brand-new yoga mat, stepped into Downward Dog…and it doesn’t feel quite as grippy as you expected.

Does that mean you’ve chosen the wrong mat?

Not necessarily.

Some new yoga mats can take a little time and regular use before the surface develops its optimal grip. Depending on the material, manufacturing process and how often you practice, your mat may feel noticeably different after you've used it for a couple of weeks.

The good news is that breaking in a yoga mat usually doesn't require any complicated treatments.

In most cases, the best thing you can do is simply practice on it.

Here's why new yoga mats can sometimes feel different, how to break yours in safely and what you shouldn't do in an attempt to speed things up.

Do Yoga Mats Need to Be Broken In?

Some do.

Just like a new pair of shoes can feel different after you've worn them several times, the surface of a yoga mat can change slightly with regular use.

This is particularly relevant to mats made from natural materials.

As you practice, repeated contact from your hands and feet can help the surface settle into its normal working condition.

That doesn't mean every yoga mat needs a break-in period.

Some will feel extremely grippy immediately, while others may reach their optimal grip after they've been practiced on for a little while.

How Long Does It Take to Break In a Yoga Mat?

There's no universal timeframe because yoga mats are made from very different materials.

How frequently you practice also makes a difference.

Someone practicing five times a week will naturally put considerably more use into a new mat than someone practicing once a week.

With our 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat, we commonly find that the natural rubber and jute surface develops its optimal grip over the first couple of weeks of regular practice.

You may notice the surface feeling progressively more settled and grippy as you use it.

Rather than judging a new mat entirely from the first few minutes after unrolling it, we'd recommend giving yourself—and the mat—a little time to get acquainted.

Why Can a Brand-New Yoga Mat Feel Slippery?

There can be several reasons.

The surface hasn't had much use

A brand-new mat hasn't yet experienced repeated contact from your hands and feet.

Regular practice naturally changes the way the surface feels and can help some mats develop better traction.

You're getting used to a different material

Moving from one mat material to another can feel surprisingly different.

If you've previously used a smooth synthetic foam mat and switch to natural rubber and jute, for example, the texture, density and grip may initially feel unfamiliar.

This doesn't necessarily mean one surface is more slippery than the other. Your hands and feet may simply need some time to adjust to the new surface.

Our guide Why Natural Rubber Yoga Mats Feel Different to Foam Mats explores these differences in more detail.

Your hands may be dry—or sweaty

Grip isn't only about the mat.

Your skin also plays a role.

Very dry hands can sometimes interact differently with a surface, while excessive perspiration can create another type of slipping altogether.

If slipping tends to happen once your hands become sweaty, our Best Yoga Mat for Sweaty Hands guide may be more relevant than breaking in your mat.

There may be residue on the surface

Depending on the mat and how it has been manufactured, packaged or handled, a new surface may sometimes benefit from a gentle initial clean.

But this is where we'd resist the temptation to use aggressive DIY treatments.

More isn't necessarily better.

The Best Way to Break In a Yoga Mat? Use It

This is the simple answer.

Roll it out and practice.

Regular use allows your hands and feet to repeatedly interact with the surface without exposing the mat to anything potentially damaging.

You might:

• Practice on it regularly for the first few weeks.
• Include poses where your hands and feet are firmly connected to the mat.
• Keep the surface clean.
• Allow it to dry properly after sweaty practices.
• Give yourself time to adjust to the feel of a new material.

You don't need to deliberately scrub, scrape or damage the surface to make a mat grippy.

A quality yoga mat is designed to be practiced on.

So practice on it.

Should You Clean a New Yoga Mat Before Using It?

A gentle clean can be worthwhile, particularly if you notice any surface residue.

However, always follow the manufacturer's care instructions.

Different materials respond differently to water and cleaning products, and a method that's safe for one yoga mat isn't necessarily suitable for another.

For natural rubber, cork and jute mats, we'd generally favour gentle cleaning rather than soaking or harsh detergents.

Our Can You Wash a Yoga Mat? What You Should—and Shouldn't—Do guide explains why washing machines, soaking and aggressive cleaning methods aren't appropriate for many yoga mats.

You can also read How to Clean and Care for Your Yoga Mat for everyday care advice.

Should You Use Salt to Break In a Yoga Mat?

If you've searched online for ways to break in a yoga mat, you may have come across the so-called salt method.

This usually involves rubbing coarse sea salt over the surface of a new mat in an attempt to remove a slippery surface layer.

Some yoga mat manufacturers recommend particular break-in treatments for their own products.

But that doesn't mean you should automatically do the same thing to every yoga mat.

We don't recommend using salt or abrasive treatments on a Second Earth yoga mat.

Different yoga mat surfaces are constructed differently, and deliberately abrading the surface could potentially cause unnecessary wear or damage.

Unless your mat's manufacturer specifically instructs you to use a particular break-in treatment, we'd choose the gentler option:

Use your mat normally and allow it to break in through practice.

Don't Scrub Your Mat to Make It Grippier

The same principle applies to aggressive scrubbing.

It might seem logical that roughening the surface will increase traction, but you could simply be shortening the life of your mat.

Avoid trying to accelerate the process with:

• Abrasive brushes or scourers.
• Sandpaper.
• Coarse salt unless specifically recommended by the manufacturer.
• Strong detergents.
• Bleach.
• Solvents.
• Harsh disinfectants.

You want to break your mat in—not break it.

Breaking In the 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat

Our 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat is made from biodegradable natural tree rubber with woven jute embedded directly into the surface.

This creates the distinctive textured feel and exceptional grip that the Connected yoga mat is known for.

Because you're practicing directly on natural rubber and jute rather than a conventional synthetic foam surface, a brand-new Connected yoga mat can feel a little different when you first start using it.

We commonly find that the surface develops its optimal grip over the first couple of weeks of regular practice.

There's no special break-in treatment required.

Simply use your mat regularly, keep it clean and allow the natural rubber and jute surface to settle through normal practice.

→ Explore the 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat

Does a Cork Yoga Mat Need Breaking In?

Cork behaves differently from natural rubber and jute.

Our 2E Affinity Cork Yoga Mat has a smoother, slightly softer-feeling cork practice surface over a supportive natural rubber base.

One of cork's distinctive characteristics is that its grip increases as moisture builds.

This means a cork mat can sometimes feel different beneath very dry hands compared with how it feels once your hands warm up or develop a little moisture during practice.

Rather than trying to artificially roughen a cork surface, allow it to perform as intended.

And again, don't use abrasive treatments in an attempt to make it grippier.

→ Explore the 2E Affinity Cork Yoga Mat

What If My New Yoga Mat Is Still Slippery?

First, work out when you're slipping.

That can tell you a lot about the cause.

Slippery from the beginning of practice

If your mat is brand new, give it some regular use and make sure the surface is clean and free from residue.

Slippery only once you start sweating

This may be more about moisture than the mat being new.

Different materials respond to perspiration differently. Cork, for example, becomes grippier as moisture builds.

An older mat has suddenly become slippery

That's probably not a break-in issue.

Body oils, moisturisers, sweat and cleaning-product residue can gradually accumulate on a yoga mat and affect traction.

A proper clean may restore some of the grip.

Our Why Is My Yoga Mat Slippery? guide goes through the different causes and solutions in more detail.

Nothing seems to improve it

Not every yoga mat material provides the same level of traction.

If you've used a mat regularly, cleaned it appropriately and still find yourself continually sliding, the surface may simply not suit your practice.

Can Cleaning Improve Yoga Mat Grip?

Sometimes.

If oils, moisturiser, sweat or other residue are sitting on the practice surface, cleaning them away can improve the contact between your skin and the mat.

But don't fall into the trap of continually cleaning a brand-new mat because you're trying to make it grippier.

Overcleaning—particularly with strong products—may do more harm than good.

Follow the care instructions, clean when necessary and let regular practice do most of the breaking in.

Avoid Moisturiser Immediately Before Yoga

Sometimes the mat isn't the problem at all.

Hand creams, body lotions and oils can transfer onto the practice surface and reduce traction.

If you're having trouble with grip, try avoiding moisturiser immediately before practice and see whether it makes a difference.

It's also worth cleaning any existing residue from the mat.

This is particularly useful if your hands are sliding while the rest of the mat feels perfectly grippy.

What About the Natural Rubber Smell of a New Mat?

If your new mat contains natural tree rubber, you may also notice a characteristic rubber scent when you first open it.

That's separate from the break-in process, but both tend to be most noticeable when the mat is new.

The strength of the natural rubber scent varies from person to person—some people barely notice it, while people who are particularly sensitive to smells may find it stronger.

Allowing the mat to air naturally in a well-ventilated space can help the scent dissipate over time.

Avoid trying to mask it with large amounts of essential oils, perfumes or harsh cleaning products.

Natural rubber should also be kept away from prolonged strong sunlight and excessive heat.

How Do You Keep Your Mat Grippy Once It's Broken In?

Once your mat is feeling great, a few simple habits can help keep it that way:

• Clean it regularly according to its care instructions.
• Don't allow sweat and body oils to continually build up.
• Avoid moisturisers immediately before practice.
• Allow the mat to dry completely before rolling it.
• Keep it away from prolonged direct sunlight and excessive heat.
• Avoid leaving cleaning-product residue on the surface.
• Store it somewhere cool and dry.

Our How to Store Your Yoga Mat Properly guide covers how to look after your mat between practices.

Don't Expect Every Yoga Mat to Feel the Same

One final point is worth remembering.

Switching yoga mats can take a little adjustment.

Natural rubber, jute, cork, PVC and synthetic foam don't feel the same beneath your hands and feet.

They have different:

• Textures.
• Densities.
• Levels of cushioning.
• Moisture responses.
• Surface grip.

If you've practiced on the same mat for years, a new material may initially feel strange—even if it ultimately suits you better.

Give yourself some time to adjust before deciding whether you like it.

Final Thoughts

If your brand-new yoga mat doesn't immediately feel exactly as you expected, don't panic.

Some yoga mats simply need a little regular use before the surface develops its optimal grip.

For our 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat, we commonly find this happens over the first couple of weeks of regular practice as the natural rubber and jute surface settles through use.

You don't need salt, sandpaper, harsh cleaners or aggressive scrubbing.

Instead:

Practice on it. Keep it clean. Let it dry. Give it a little time.

Sometimes the best way to break in a new yoga mat really is as simple as doing more yoga.

Mini FAQs

How do you break in a new yoga mat?
For many yoga mats, the safest approach is simply regular practice. Using the yoga mat allows the surface to settle naturally without potentially damaging it with abrasive treatments. Always follow the manufacturer's specific care instructions.

How long does it take for a new yoga mat to become grippy?
It depends on the material and how frequently you practice. With our 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat, we commonly find that the natural rubber and jute surface develops its optimal grip over the first couple of weeks of regular practice.

Why is my new yoga mat slippery?
A new mat may need some regular use before its surface reaches its optimal grip. Residue, very dry or sweaty hands, moisturiser and the particular mat material can also affect how grippy it feels.

Should I wash a new yoga mat to make it less slippery?
A gentle initial clean may help if there's residue on the surface, but don't soak or machine-wash a mat unless the manufacturer specifically says it's safe. Avoid aggressive cleaning in an attempt to artificially increase grip.

Should I use salt to break in my yoga mat?
Only if the manufacturer of your particular mat recommends it. We don't recommend salt or other abrasive break-in treatments for Second Earth yoga mats.

Does the Second Earth Connected Yoga Mat need breaking in?
A new 2E Connected Eco Yoga Mat can take a little regular use to reach its optimal grip. We commonly find the natural rubber and jute surface grips up beautifully over the first couple of weeks of regular practice. No special treatment is required.