A yoga mat should be at least as long as you are tall, and a little longer is kinder: lying in savasana, both your heels and the back of your head should land on the mat. Our longest mats are the Prana Shakti and Prithvi at 188 cm (74 in) by 69 cm, which cover most people up to roughly 185 cm. The Darbha is 183 cm long but 90 cm wide, and for seated practice and wide stances width matters more than length.
How long your mat needs to be
Most yoga mats, ours included, are about 183 cm (72 in) long, which is exactly six feet and suits the majority of people. If you are taller, you will have noticed that your head or heels end up on the floor when you lie down, and that in a long lunge your back foot hangs off the end.
Standing poses need less length than you think. Lying poses are where length is lost. So the rule we give people is simple: your mat should be at least your height, and 3–5 cm more is comfortable.
| Your height | Minimum mat length | Our suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 175 cm | 183 cm | Any of our mats |
| 175–185 cm | 188 cm preferred | Prana Shakti or Prithvi |
| Over 185 cm | Longer than we weave | Write to us; see below |
If you are over 185 cm, a 188 cm mat is still usable: your heels rest at the very end in savasana, and in a long lunge the back foot lands on the floor beyond the mat. Many tall people practise happily this way; we simply do not want to pretend it is a perfect fit.
Width matters as much
Most mats are 68–69 cm wide. If you have broad shoulders, you will find your hands sit close to the edge in downward dog and your elbows hang off the mat in a wide-legged forward fold. A wider mat changes the feel of a practice more than a few extra centimetres of length.
Our cotton mats are 68–69 cm wide; we do not weave a wide cotton mat at present. The Darbha, at 90 cm, is the widest mat we make.
Our two 188 cm rugs
The Prana Shakti and the Prithvi are the two mats we weave at 188 × 69 cm. Both are six-ply GOTS-certified organic cotton, 5 mm thick and about 1.5 kg, and both carry the seven chakra colours in bands drawn from Ayurvedic plant dyes such as turmeric, neem and tulsi among more than twenty herbs.
The Prana Shakti has a rose ground, ₹3,499 at the time of writing. The Prithvi has an earth-toned ground and hand-knotted tassels at either end, ₹4,400 at the time of writing.
Both are hand washed cold with a mild natural detergent, separately for the first washes, and dried flat in shade. Each has a thin layer of natural tree latex brushed onto the underside, which holds it on tile, marble and wood. If you are allergic to natural latex, choose with care and write to us first.
The wide one: Darbha
The Darbha is a different kind of mat. It is darbha (kusha) grass woven in three panels, bound in orange cotton and backed in cotton cloth so that it folds flat rather than rolling. At 183 × 90 cm and about 1.2 kg, it gives a tall, broad person room to sit cross-legged, kneel wide or lie down without an elbow off the edge.
It is a mat for seated practice, pranayama and rest, and traditionally for sleeping cool through summer. It is firm, about 4 mm, not cushioned, and its cloth backing has no latex, so we would not suggest it for a fast standing practice; for a tall meditator, though, the extra width is worth more than any extra length. ₹4,999 at the time of writing; wipe clean, air in shade, keep dry and fold for storage.
Can we weave something longer?
Our weavers set up the loom for each run, and a longer or wider piece is sometimes possible between batches. We cannot promise it or quote a price or lead time in advance, because both depend on what is on the looms. If you are over 185 cm, or you want a wider cotton mat, write to us through the Contact page with your height and what you practise, and we will tell you honestly what we can do.
Our size guide covers standard sizes in centimetres and inches, and the 10-point checklist covers everything else worth checking before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What size yoga mat do I need if I am 6 feet tall?
Six feet is 183 cm, which is the length of a standard mat, so your heels or head will sit right at the edge in lying poses. A 188 cm mat such as our Prana Shakti or Prithvi gives you 5 cm to spare and is the more comfortable fit. Width of 68–69 cm is standard; broader shoulders may prefer something wider.
Is a 183 cm yoga mat long enough?
For anyone up to about 175 cm, yes, comfortably. Between 175 and 183 cm it works but leaves little to spare in savasana. Above 183 cm your head or heels will rest on the floor in lying poses, and a longer mat, or accepting that your back foot lands off the mat in long lunges, is the realistic choice.
Do you make extra long yoga mats?
Our longest standard mats are 188 cm, the Prana Shakti and Prithvi. Longer or wider pieces are sometimes possible between weaving runs, but we cannot promise them or quote a price or lead time in advance. Write to us through the Contact page with your height and practice and we will tell you what the looms can do.
Does the width of a yoga mat matter for tall people?
Often more than length. Standard mats are 68–69 cm wide, and a broad-shouldered person finds hands near the edge in downward dog and elbows off the mat in wide folds. Our Darbha grass mat is 90 cm wide, which suits seated and lying practice; we do not currently weave a wide cotton mat.
If you are between 175 and 185 cm, the Prana Shakti at 188 cm is the mat we would suggest first; if you are taller or broader, write to us and we will answer plainly. Every cotton mat we weave is in the cotton collection.
