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List Price: $70.00
Sale Price: $49.93
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I wanted to write a review on this mat since there are so few up here on this mat. I did a lot of research into mats before deciding and read about all the reviews of different mats on different sites and couldn't really find much on this one. Maybe it is relatively new. I have been practicing yoga for 10+ years so I've both owned and tried a number of different mats. Mats have come a long way and evolved a lot over the years and early in my practice I don't even think the natural type rubber mats even existed. Some people think a yoga mat is a yoga mat, but there are different qualities and a good yoga mat really can help improve your comfort level and enhance your practice. But at the same time it isn't necessary to have the best quality mat practice yoga-essentially any mat will do if you are on a budget.
The first review unfairly gave low marks due to an error in the description. The person expected a double scrim and received a single scrim mat and thought it was an older model which is not the case. The single scrim is actually the current new Indigena mat, and the description is just wrong. Not Amazon's fault, but Prana's fault for giving them the wrong information.
Prana actually has an error in their description write up and data which they must passed along to it's resellers.
If you look on Prana's website on the page for this mat (unless they have corrected it), it first says it's a single scrim in the description, then further down incorrectly says on the same page that it is a two scrim three layer mat. If you research there aren't currently any triple layer double scrim models out therethey are all older models and current models are single scrim. The only double scrim is the Prana Revolution which is an older model and a very differently textured type of rubber mat. The other rubber mats similar to the IndigenaJade, Manduka Eko, Natural fitness, etc.are all single scrim.
I had the old 2 scrim triple layer Natural mat (not Indigena) from Prana (prAna Natural Yoga Mat) and in my opinion it was terrible. Completely different texture and seemed like a different material (even though it was natural rubber too), hard and not soft like this one (more like their revolution mat), and much smellier and heavier, but they seemed to have phased it out of their product line.
I don't find this mat to be smelly at all (whereas the old Prana mat I had stunk up my apartment for weeks).
I think the description of this is pretty sparse which can make ordering mats online sometimes difficult and can be disappointing if you get something different than what you were expecting. And returning a heavy mat is a hassle and expensive. So I'll try and describe it as best I can to help those in making a decision.
The mat's rubber seems similar to that the Manduka Eko and the Jade mat. The look is very similar to the Manduka Eko, but with a slightly different pattern on the topa woodgrain instead of grass. I've only seen the Manduka Eko and haven't tried it so I can't really compare anything else about them. The woodgrain actually looks really nice and gives the mat texture and a nice sheen and finish. It seems like it makes the practice side more durable and also makes it less porous so it'll probably absorb sweat less than a jade would (which has the same finish on both sides.) The underside looks the same to me as the Jade mats and Manduka Eko with a tiny cross cut pattern to give it texture. The mat is relatively pliable and easy to bend. It has a very good grip right away especially compared to the cheaper hugger mugger/gaiam pvc type mats. However, I don't sweat heavily and don't practice hot yoga regularly so I can't say how slippery it is when wet. But from reading all the reviews there is always someone who complains about a mat being slippery no matter which mat, so it seems like all mats are slippery when wet and it's just a matter of degreesome being more slippery than others. It seems like the natural rubber ones these days with texture are probably the least slippery though compared to pvc and other plastic mats, but it's probably best to use a yoga towel in hot yoga or if you sweat profusely anyway.
The cushioning is good and soft especially compared to the old Prana natural mat (which was harder and not so bendy/pliable). Compared to the hugger mugger/gaiam pvc type mats it provides more cushion since it is more dense, the budget mats aren't as dense and compress a lot so there is probably the least amount of cushion in those compared to different mats of the equivalent thickness. But the Manduka Prolite and Pro are even denser and a bit more cushioned if you're looking for a lot of cushion, but those are not made of natural rubber and initially not as grippy.
I'm not sure why Amazon has the shipping weight listed as 1 lb, but the mat weighs about 6 lbs. It is on the heavy side, but all of the higher quality mats and rubber mats (Prana, Jade, Manduka) are heavier than the cheaper mats. The only way to go lighter and have a high quality mat is to go thinner (but the tradeoff is less cushioning). Prana does not offer a thinner version of this mat, but Jade and Manduka offer thinner travel versions of their rubber mats.
I can't yet comment on durability since I haven't had it long but it looks like it will be more durable than the Jade mats (which can get stretchy over time and develop worn out areas and shed rubber crumblies.) But rubber mats in general are less durable than their less natural counter parts, so it's probably a safe assumption that a rubber mat will need to be replaced sooner than pvc mats.
If durability is your primary concern the Manduka Pro and Pro lite are probably your best bet since they have a lifetime(!) guarantee.
When I opened the mat and unrolled it for the first time there were a few dusty lighter areas on the mat that looked dirty. It didn't look used, but I thought it was a little odd because it wasn't just on the edges/ends but it was in the center that had been rolled up. When I got on it for the first time, my feet which weren't dirty left lighter dusty marks on the mat as well so I think it is just the nature of the mat to probably show lighter marks from use or any dust. It can easily be wiped away though. But this might bother some people.
Overall, I think this is a really nice mat. The Prana Indigena and the Manduka Eko seem to be the best and highest quality of all the natural rubber mats on the market.
I recently purchased a Manduka Pro and Prolite, so I will likely post reviews on those as well in the future. But compared to the Manduka Pro/Prolite there are some differences. The Manduka Pro/Prolite provides a bit more density and cushion but is a bit harder. Manduka's guarantee on the Pro/prolite can't be beat (but note that Manduka's equivalent rubber mat the Eko doesn't have a lifetime guarantee-just the Pro/prolite), so I like the durability factor, and think it will pick up less dirt than the Indigena and be easier to clean.
I do prefer the soft feel and texture and grippy-ness of the Prana Indigena, and practicing on a natural rubber mat feels really good.
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i also have a jade harmony xw and a manduka eko, and this one is my favorite, it does not feel like it will last as long as the eko, but the cushioning is perfect for my knees, but still excellent for balancing. the eko feels a little more stiff. but all three mats are great. the rubber smell of the indigena was not bad, and only noticeable when my face was right over it. this mat is only good on hard surfaces. too floppy for carpet, for carpet there is only manduka.
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I bought this mat 18 months ago, and I am very satisfied. Very sticky! It isn't very thick (personally I feel that a thick cushioning compromises my balance). The smell didn't bother me.
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I purchased this mat because I wanted a yoga mat made with natural materials and needed a thicker mat than the basic yoga mat. For the price I think I got a pretty good mat. It is not as thick as I would like, but it is thicker and better quality than the cheaper mats you get at Wal-Mart or Target. It definitely smells like rubber, but that does not bother me as long as I know that what I am inhaling is not toxic.
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I love my new yoga mat. I am 5'9 & when I go into cobra pose my legs and arms do not hang off the mat! On my old mat, my limbs hung off all the time. I am truly a prAna girl now!
