Formosa Neijia

So I was in the market for a yoga mat recently. I’ve been slipping a bit when I practice at home. I did lots of research to find the best mats on the market. I tried to order some mats from the States, but almost no companies were willing to ship to Taiwan. In frustration, I turned to the local mat market.

Lots of junk gets made here in Taiwan, and searching for a well-made local yoga mat reminded me of that. I finally found Easyoga, a local company had more expensive, better looking mats, so I decided to give them a try.

Their website was in English, which surprised me, and the ordering process was very smooth. I ordered the Mandara High Performance mat that you see above. It arrived two days later.

The first thing I noticed was an overwhelming smell of PVC when I opened the package. It got worse when I tried out the mat. This mat was very slippery! I couldn’t believe how slippery it was. As you can see from the pic above, the mat has grooves that go along the length of the mat, helping you to slip forward when in downward facing dog, etc. This is a very poor design.

I told my wife my frustrations with the mat, so she called and it took about three calls to get some satisfaction, but eventually they let me exchange the Mandara mat for the Eco-care mat.

This mat is wonderful! I can’t stop thinking about how great it is. The design makes you want to practice even more.

First of all, it has no PVC smell because it isn’t PVC — it’s a biodegradable material called TPE. It has a very nice, almost cloth-like texture.

Second, I’ve used it several times over the past week and I haven’t slipped yet — even in sessions where I sweat a lot. The texture of the mat is backed up by a simple pattern in the mat that gives more grip than the Mandara mat.

Third, unlike other mats, this mat is reversible. If one side is too wet, I sometimes just flip it over and use the other to continue my workout. I sweat a lot, and summer in Taiwan is scorching. So this feature is really nice.

Finally, the bag comes with a great yoga strap that doubles as a carrying handle for the bag. But it also comes with a separate bag, just in case you need it.

I highly recommend Easyoga’s Eco-mat if you’re looking for a good yoga mat in Taiwan. Considering the price, the accessories you get with the mat, and the inconvenience of ordering mats form the US and elsewhere, I think this si the best bet for Taiwan yogis and yoginis.