A Guide to Yoga Towels

Why Every Yogi Needs a Yoga Towel — Not Just for Hot Classes
You’ve probably seen the sign outside a hot yoga studio that says, “Bring Your Own Yoga Towel.” While it’s essential in heated classes, a yoga towel is far more than a sweat-management tool — it's a versatile, performance-enhancing essential for all styles of yoga.
From gentle restorative flows to intense vinyasa sessions, yoga towels support your practice by improving grip and managing moisture. Whether you use a hand towel or a full mat towel, this simple addition to your gear can transform your experience on the mat.
Here’s why yoga towels are a game changer — plus a few pro tips to help you make the most of them.
What’s the Purpose of a Yoga Towel?
Yoga towels serve two primary functions:
- Enhanced Grip: They provide additional traction when your hands or feet begin to sweat and lose stability.
- Moisture Absorption: They soak up excess sweat before it pools on your mat and becomes slippery.
Why Do You Lose Grip During Practice?
For many yogis, grip is non-negotiable — it’s what helps maintain control and flow safely through postures. But grip can be influenced by several factors:
- The type and material of your mat
- Temperature and humidity
- Time of day or how your body is feeling
- Your level of exertion or how far into the class you are
As your body heats up and muscles work harder, your natural cooling system kicks in: sweat. Moisture is usually released first from the hands, followed by the arms, feet, and other areas — and this is when slipping often begins.
That’s where a yoga towel becomes invaluable. These towels are designed with sweat-activated grip, meaning they become stickier as they absorb moisture. A hand towel is ideal when you begin to feel your hands slip, while a full mat towel becomes essential once your whole body is heated and sweat begins to drip onto the mat.
What You Should Know About Yoga Towels
Even in the gentlest of yoga classes, everyone sweats — sometimes just enough to create subtle moisture on your palms or feet. On non-porous surfaces like closed-cell yoga mats, even this small amount of moisture can lead to slipping.
Why Hand Towels Are a Must-Have
Of all the towel types, a hand yoga towel is the most essential. It’s your go-to tool when you’re unsure how your body or class will unfold — whether it’s your energy level, the pace of the instructor, or simply trying something new. No two classes are ever quite the same, and when the unexpected happens, having a towel on hand can be the difference between a smooth, focused session and a slippery, frustrating one.
When to Use a Full Mat Towel
Full-size yoga towels are ideal for hot or high-intensity practices where your entire body begins to sweat. They’re designed to absorb more moisture across the whole mat surface, giving you consistent grip from start to finish.
Damp Towels Work — Dry Towels Don’t
Yoga towels need a bit of moisture to function properly. When dry, they can actually reduce traction — even more than the mat itself. That’s why we recommend lightly misting your towel before class to activate the grip before you begin moving.
Not All Towels Are the Same
Yoga towels vary in size, material, construction, and grip design. Each is made with a specific purpose in mind, to suit different yogis’ needs. What works well for one person may not suit another. That’s why it’s important to understand how your body responds to heat, sweat, and movement — and choose your towel accordingly.
A Versatile Addition to Your Practice
Besides enhancing grip and sweat absorption, yoga towels also offer added hygiene and comfort, especially when placed over studio mats. They’re lightweight, easy to carry, and can be tossed in with your regular laundry — making them a practical, multipurpose tool for every yogi.
Important note: If you’re not sweating, you likely don’t need a towel yet. A dry towel on a dry mat may actually cause more slipping. Moisture is what activates the towel’s performance features — no moisture, no grip.
Moisture Management Matters
Yoga might be low-impact, but it can still generate significant internal heat. Holding a single pose or breathing deeply for several minutes can raise your body temperature just as much as a full flow.
As this heat builds, sweat often begins at the hands and feet — and that’s when slipping starts. Most yoga mats have a closed-cell surface, which means sweat doesn’t absorb and can create a slick film between you and your mat.
This is completely normal — and exactly when a performance yoga towel can make all the difference. By absorbing moisture and adding grip, a good towel helps keep your practice stable, safe, and sweat-free.
What’s the Difference Between the yogitoes® and eQua® Towels?
Both the yogitoes® and eQua® towels are designed to enhance grip and absorb sweat during your yoga practice. While they share similar benefits, the key difference lies in their texture, feel, and how they perform under different conditions.
✦ eQua® Towel – Smooth, Soft, and Versatile
The eQua towel delivers a plush, suede-like feel that becomes grippy when damp — ideal for yogis who prefer a soft touch and practice in moderately sweaty conditions. It’s ultra-absorbent, quick-drying, and highly versatile, making it perfect for yoga and beyond.
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Sweat-activated grip for hands and feet
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Soft, smooth microfiber surface
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Fast-drying and lightweight
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Multi-purpose: great for travel, gym, surf, and beach
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Best for light to moderate perspiration
✦ Yogitoes® Towel – Textured, Grippy, and Studio-Strong
The yogitoes towel features patented Skidless® Technology with 100% silicone nubs that grip your mat — even in the sweatiest of practices. It’s designed for high-intensity classes like hot yoga, with faster absorption and higher saturation capacity than most towels.
- Textured surface with silicone nubs for no-slip grip
- Works in wet and dry conditions
- Superior absorbency and high sweat saturation
- Eco-conscious: made from 4+ recycled plastic bottles
- Ideal for hot yoga and high-heat practices
How to Use a Yoga Towel
Yogitoes® Yoga Towel
This ultra-absorbent, lightweight towel is designed to prevent slipping as you flow and sweat. When you notice your grip slipping, simply lay the yoga mat towel over your mat or place the hand towel where you need extra traction. The silicone nubs on the towel’s underside grip the mat firmly, keeping you stable.
Ideal for:
- Sweaty sessions like hot yoga
- Serving as a hygienic layer over studio mats if you prefer not to bring your own
- Easy to carry and clean with your regular laundry
Tip: Lightly mist the towel’s top surface before practice to activate superior grip from start to finish.
eQua® Yoga Mat Towel
Placed over your yoga mat, this high-performance towel absorbs sweat and adds traction to slippery hands and feet. Its soft, suede-like microfiber fabric is highly absorbent, durable, and quick-drying, perfect for even the sweatiest practices.
Versatile Uses:
- Ideal for all yoga styles: hot, vinyasa, power
- Doubles as a gym towel, meditation shawl, travel or hiking towel
- Compact and easy to carry
Tip: Mist both sides lightly before practice, or simply place the towel on your mat as soon as you feel slip starting.
When Should You Use a Yoga Towel?
Here’s a quick guide based on your practice style:
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Hot Yoga & Heavy Sweating → Use a full yoga mat towel (yogitoes or eQua).
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yogitoes is best for superior absorption.
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eQua offers fast, initial grip but may bunch when saturated.
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Power Yoga with Grip Challenges Mid-Class → Use a yogitoes® hand towel.
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Great for sweaty hands or feet during dynamic flows.
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General Yoga & Moderate Sweating → Use an eQua® hand towel.
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Lightweight, movable, and effective when placed under hands or feet.
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Slip from the Start, No Sweat Yet?
→ Read our guide on how to reduce slippage. A towel may not help unless moisture is present — dry slipping is often a mat or technique issue.
> I practice power flow and start slipping as I heat up = Use a yogitoes® hand towel
The yogitoes hand towel is an ideal companion for high-intensity flow practices where strong grip is key — especially during transitions or weight-bearing poses. Its silicone nubs provide extra traction, keeping the towel firmly in place on your mat.
If you’re practicing a style like Ashtanga, where heat gradually builds but isn’t as intense as hot yoga, the yogitoes hand towel offers just the right amount of grip when your hands or feet begin to sweat. It helps maintain stability, reduce slipping, and enhance your overall focus and control — right when you need it most.
> I practice different styles of yoga and start slipping on my hands and feet mid-practice = use an eQua® hand towel
Place the towel under your hands or feet to absorb sweat and restore grip exactly where you need it. The towel’s size makes it easy to move around your mat for poses like Warrior. Since slip can vary day-to-day and person-to-person, the hand towel is a reliable tool for managing moisture and improving stability.
Why a hand towel, not a full mat towel?
Full mat towels require sweat over the entire body to activate. If slipping happens only on your hands, the moisture there is enough to activate a hand towel and keep you grounded without excess bulk.
> I practice various forms of yoga, and I slip right away with dry hands = Read our Guide to Less Slip to identify the cause and how to fix it.
If you're slipping at the very start of your practice — before you've even started to warm up or sweat — then a towel likely won’t help, and might even make it worse. Towels like yogitoes® and eQua® are moisture-activated, so without sweat, they may reduce grip instead of improving it.
In this case, it’s important to look at other possible causes of slipping, such as:
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Improper technique or lack of body engagement
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Residue on your mat or hands (like lotion or hand cream)
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A mat that doesn’t suit your grip needs
We recommend checking out our Guide to Less Slip for expert tips on improving traction through mat care, alignment, and proper preparation — so you can stay grounded from the very beginning of your practice.