More Than Sweat: The Transformative Power of Hot Yoga Towels
We’ve all seen the sign outside the hot yoga studio: Bring Your Own Yoga Towel. But these purposeful pieces of fabric go far beyond sweaty vinyasas. A hot yoga towel, whether hand-sized or mat-length, can be a subtle yet transformative tool for any style of practice. Designed to manage moisture, enhance grip, and support movement, hot yoga towels are an essential companion for your practice.
What is a Hot Yoga Towel For?
At its core, a performance hot yoga towel offers two vital benefits:
- Grip support: Activates with moisture to keep your hands and feet grounded.
- Moisture management: Absorbs sweat before it pools, maintaining a stable, slip-resistant surface.
Why Does Grip Matter?
For many, grip is the most important feature of a yoga mat. Your grip needs can shipft depending on the class, the weather, your body, time of day, or your level of practice. The condition or construction of your mat can also affect performance, which, for some, is frustrating. As heat builds in your body and muscles tire, your body naturally tries to cool down by releasing moisture; typically first through the hands, then arms, feet, and so on.
A hot yoga towel is unique because it’s activated by sweat, meaning it gets grippier when damp. A yoga hand towel is perfect when grip starts to fade in the hands, while a full hot yoga mat towel supports you once your body begins to sweat across the mat.
A Few Truths to Sweat By
- Everyone sweats. Even in gentle practices, your palms and feet release moisture at the microscopic level. On a closed-cell yoga mat that doesn't absorb sweat, this can cause slip.
- Yoga Hand towels are essential for your practice. For days when you don’t know how your practice will go, a yoga hand towel offers adaptable support. It's the smallest thing that can make the biggest difference.
- Full yoga mat towels are best for hot or intense practices. Towels must be damp for grip to work which is why we suggest lightly misting your towel before class to activate the grip from the start.
- There is no one-size-fits-all towel. Material, size, and construction vary. The right towel is the one that aligns with your body, your practice, and your journey.
- Towels are not just for grip. They double as a hygienic layer over studio mats and are easy to carry and wash.
Moisture Management
Yoga is often low impact but it can generate a surprising amount of internal heat. Holding a pose or practicing breathwork for just a few minutes can raise body temperature. When your hands or feet begin to sweat, slippage becomes real. A performance towel helps manage that.
Most mats have a closed-cell surface that doesn’t absorb moisture. This can lead to a slick layer between your hands and the mat. It’s completely normal and everyone experiences it. A towel helps you stay grounded.
What's The Best Hot Yoga Towel For Your Practice
- I practice hot yoga and slip during practice.
Place a full yoga mat towel like yogitoes® Hot Yoga Mat Towel or eQua® Hot Yoga Mat Towel over your mat.
Full towels are ideal when your body sweats and drips from head to toe. The towel absorbs falling moisture, activates grip where needed, and prevents sweat from pooling on your mat, keeping your practice comfortable from start to savasana. yogitoes Hot Yoga Mat Towels offer the highest absorbency (greater saturation) and a strong hold to the mat thanks to silicone nubs. eQua Hot Yoga Mat Towels offer faster grip activation when damp, but may bunch underfoot if fully saturated.
If absorption is your top priority, choose yogitoes®.
If quick-acting grip is more important, go with eQua®.
- I practice power flow and slip as I build heat.
Use a yogitoes® Yoga Hand Towel.
This compact towel shines during high-heat, high-intensity flows. The silicone nubs keep the towel in place where a solid hand of foot holding is required. It’s a perfect choice for practices like Ashtanga when you’re moving with energy, but not yet drenched in sweat.
- I practice various types of yoga and slip mid-practice, specifically on my hands and feet.
Use an eQua® Yoga Hand Towel.
Grip loss is one of yoga’s biggest physical challenges. When you begin to slip, place a towel under your hands or feet to absorb moisture and restore traction. You can easily move it around your mat, adapting it to your body's needs. Great for poses like Warrior where foot grip matters, this versatile tool adds seamless support to any session.
- I practice various types of yoga and I slip immediately, even with dry hands.
Check out our Guide to Less Slip. You may need to focus on fundamentals, improve mat care, or skip hand cream before practice. A towel may not help; it may even increase slipping.
Yogitoes® vs. eQua®: What’s the Difference?
Choose based on what your body and practice call for.
A textured and tactile experience with a grippy base in wet or dry conditions.
- The most trusted performance hot yoga towel
- Grips the mat with patented Skidless® Technology that uses 100% silicone nubs
- Faster absorption
- Higher saturation
- Eco friendly, made from 4+ recycled plastic water bottles
A smooth and soft experience featuring a moisture activated grip.
- The most versatile performance hot yoga towel
- Amazing first sweat activated grip
- Good absorption
- Good grip to mat
How to Use Your Towel?
When you start to notice that you need some extra traction during your practice, just lay the yoga mat towel over your mat or lay the yoga hand towel on your mat wherever extra traction is needed.
Ideal for:
- Sweaty practices like hot yoga and functions as an absorbent layer between you and your mat.
- Topper on studio mats for extra hygiene if you don't want to bring your own mat. It's practical and lightweight to carry with you and easy to clean after use.
Tip: Mist before class to maximize grip.
Lay it over your mat to absorb sweat and enhance traction. Its soft, suede-like texture is absorbent yet lightweight. Perfect for any sweaty practice, and useful beyond the mat.
Ideal for:
- Works great for all types of yoga including hot, vinyasa and power. Just lay your towel on top of your mat to enhance your yoga practice.
- Easily transitions to a beach, surf, travel, gym or workout towel. It also doubles as a germ-free gym towel to absorb perspiration, a meditation shawl to stay warm during cool sitting sessions, and a travel or hiking towel that takes up minimal packing space.
Tip: Mist both sides of the towel before class to maximize grip.
