Roll a woven cotton or grass yoga mat; fold only a mat that was made to fold. Rolling keeps the weave and the latex underside smooth, while folding sets ridges into the mat that take days of use to relax. The one exception in our range is the Darbha, woven in three panels and backed in cotton cloth so that it folds flat along the panel joins. Whichever you do, store the mat dry, loosely, and out of direct sun.
Roll or fold: the short rule
| Mat | Roll or fold | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Indico, Prana Shakti, Prithvi (cotton) | Roll, loosely | A fold creases the weave and the latex layer |
| Diamond Clay, Diamond Orange (7 mm cotton) | Roll, loosely | Thick cotton holds a fold line for a long time |
| Sambu grass mats, Banana Fibre | Roll, never fold | Grass stems crack at a fold |
| Darbha | Fold along the three panels | The cloth-backed panels were made for it |
Step by step: putting a mat away well
- Let it dry fully first. A mat that looks dry after practice still holds sweat. Leave it open in shade for an hour, longer in humid weather.
- Shake off grit. Dust rolled inside a mat rubs the fibres every time it moves.
- Roll loosely from one end, smoothing as you go. You should be able to slide a finger into the centre of the roll.
- Tie it with a cloth strip or a strap, not a tight elastic band, which leaves a line in the weave.
- Stand it or lay it somewhere dry and airy, away from windows that get direct sun.
For the Darbha, wipe it clean, air it in shade, and fold it flat along the panels once it is completely dry. Keep it dry in storage.
Where to keep it
A dry, shaded corner of the room you practise in is the best place we know. A cotton mat can also hang over a rail or a pair of hooks between sessions; it airs itself and never creases. Grass mats are happier rolled and standing, or lying flat under a bed where the floor is dry.
Avoid the places that look tidy but do harm: a cupboard that smells of damp, a sealed plastic bag for weeks on end, a car boot in summer, a shelf under a sunny window. Trapped damp is the quickest route to the mustiness we describe in how to remove smell from a yoga mat, and in the wet months our guide to drying a yoga mat in the monsoon matters more than any storage rule.
What not to do
- Do not fold a cotton or grass mat to fit it into a bag; roll it and let the end stick out.
- Do not roll a mat while it is even slightly damp. Rolled damp cotton is how mildew starts.
- Do not stack heavy things on a rolled mat; it flattens into an oval that unrolls with a bump.
- Do not leave the Darbha rolled. It is built to fold and a roll strains the panel joins.
Dealing with creases
If a cotton mat comes out of storage with a fold line, unroll it, leave it flat for a day or two, and practise on it. Body weight and the slight dampness of hands and feet ease the line out of woven cotton; a light mist of cold water and another day flat helps a stubborn one. Grass is different: a crack in sambhu or banana fibre does not heal, which is why we never fold those mats.
Frequently asked questions
Should a yoga mat be rolled or folded?
Roll it unless it was built to fold. Woven cotton, sambhu grass and banana-fibre mats should be rolled loosely and stored dry, because a fold sets a crease in cotton and can crack grass stems. Only fold mats designed for it, such as our Darbha, which is made in three cloth-backed panels that fold flat along the joins.
Can I fold the Darbha mat?
Yes. The Darbha is woven in three panels of darbha grass, bound and backed in cotton cloth, and it is meant to fold flat along those panels for storage and travel. Wipe it clean, air it in shade until fully dry, then fold it and keep it somewhere dry. It has no latex layer, so there is nothing on the underside to crease.
Is it bad to leave a yoga mat rolled up for months?
Not if it is dry, loosely rolled and kept in a dry, shaded place. The problems come from damp and tightness: a mat rolled with moisture inside can turn musty or grow mildew, and a tight roll or strap leaves marks. Before putting a cotton mat away for a season, air or wash it, dry it flat in shade, roll it loosely with a cloth tie, and check on it after the first heavy rains.
Can I hang my yoga mat instead of rolling it?
A cotton mat can hang over a rail, a door or a pair of hooks between practices, which keeps it aired and crease-free. Hang it so that air reaches both sides and keep it out of direct sun. Grass mats are better rolled and stood upright, because hanging puts weight on one line of the weave and can strain the binding.
Packing a mat for a trip follows slightly different rules; see how to travel with a cotton yoga mat. And if you want the one mat in our range that folds, that is the Darbha.
