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I had just finished a long day of sitting at the computer and rushed to one of the yoga classes where I’m a regular. I slipped inside the studio the minute class was supposed to start, secretly grateful that I didn’t get there early enough to feel compelled to make small talk with my classmates. All I needed was an hour of silence in a dimly lit room and to stretch my shrimp-shaped spine.
As I laid out my mat, I noticed a couple of people looking my way. I sat cross-legged with my eyes closed and took a few settling breaths. I opened my eyes again and saw the same people still looking, but not at me. They were looking at my Liforme.
“That’s a nice mat,” one woman noted.
“Thanks!” I said.
“That really is a nice mat,” another woman chimed in.
“Yeah, thanks,” I said, expecting this to be the end of the conversation.
“I noticed that Liforme bag in the locker room last week,” said the teacher, who had suddenly appeared from the depths of the prop closet. I had, in fact, gone to yoga the week before and left the Liforme mat in its bag on the bench in the locker room while I used the bathroom. Although I was unaware that my yoga teacher was there and took note of it.
“Expensive,” another student commented from the other side of the room.
“Is it?” I played dumb, lest I be perceived as a yoga mat elitist. “I didn’t realize. It was a gift,” I lied. (I had been enlisted as a tester for Yoga Journal’s best yoga mats roundup so it cost me nothing. The Liforme Classic Yoga Mat is usually $140 although it’s on sale right now for 40 percent off.)
“Oh yeah, it’s expensive,” our teacher agreed.
Part of me wanted to counter, “Wait! I swear I’ve only ever bought $40 mats! Don’t judge me by my expensive mat!” But I knew it was pointless.
As the teacher finally cued us into our first pose, I wondered whether this wasn’t what celebrities deal with—unsolicited attention in the most mundane corners of their lives. Is it worth practicing on an expensive yoga mat if it means sacrificing silence, relative anonymity, and being forced to engage in five uninterrupted minutes of small talk?
Liforme Classic Yoga Mat for $119 ($140)
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Pros and Cons of the Liforme Classic Yoga Mat
Of course, your yoga practice isn’t defined by the mat on which you practice. Aside from the potential limelight of practicing on a high-end mat, there are some *lovely* and some *meh* things about the Liforme Classic mat to consider before you decide whether to take advantage of the sale.
Pros:
- The mat comes in 11 colors, so you can pick the one that matches your vibe. Mine is purple, which feels calming and grounding. But Liforme also offers it in the iconic grey shade and more vibrant options such as aqua teal and golden sand.
- It’s super grippy. “Even when soaking wet,” notes one Liforme reviewer. “Perfect for my hot yoga class,” writes another. Personally, my hands never slide in Downward-Facing Dog and the mat doesn’t move on the floor as I transition into different poses throughout my practice.
- The Liforme classic comes with its carrying case, which works well for keeping the mat lint- and pet hair-free.
Cons:
- It’s kinda heavy. As someone who was not used to practicing on a mat that weighed more than 4 pounds, I felt a noticeable difference when I transitioned to the 5.5 pound Liforme Classic.
- The grippy bottom can be cumbersome when you’re trying to cram it into its case. It messes with my post-yoga high just a little when I have to repeatedly jam the edges of the mat before it eventually slides in.
- The surface of the mat scratches and smudges easily. An accidental swipe of my fingernail against the material left a lasting mark. If you tend to work up a sweat, prepare to see those outlines of moisture on the mat when you stand up (at least for a few minutes until they dry…and sometimes much longer).
I alternate between my $40 mat and my Liforme. I save the latter for those times when I’m prepared to draw a little more attention when I carry it in public.
