A yoga towel does exactly what you think it would, and more! Absorbency, of course, comes to mind, in particular if you’re into hot yoga, like Bikram. The capacity to wick away moisture (and sweat!) after a especially energizing routine is beneficial, and there are quite a few super-aborbent yoga towels manufactured with microfibers that do just that. Plus they dry quicker than cotton towels. Most are made with organic dyes and can easily be washed and dried safely. Though you may want to get more than one size towel, if you want to put a hygienic layer between you and your yoga mat, make sure to get at least one mat-size yoga towel.

Absorbency, however, is but one of the benefits of your yoga towel. In addition to offering good health and hygiene, many yoga towels are made especially to prevent slipping while practicing your yoga poses. There are a few different non-slip designs, like one with “silicone eco nubs” on one side, and another with clear rubber dots. Some others have a latex-free “gripping” agent. When placed face down, the nubs or dots, or a similar gripping agent, grip your yoga mat (or the floor if you’ve forgotten to buy a yoga mat and there isn’t one available!). Once you diffuse your weight in a yoga posture, the gripping action begins, hence keeping your hands or feet from slipping mid-stretch. If you want a steadier, more stable practice, a yoga towel is very important to use.

Yoga towels come in handy as a top layer for your yoga mat, as a yoga mat substitute if you’ve forgotten your mat, or as suggested above, while performing “hot” yoga, such as Bikram. Because most yoga towels are of super-absorbent fabrics, they are more utilitarian than a regular towel. The same size as a standard yoga mat, the towel is somewhat fashionable and very effective.

There are a variety of yoga towel colors available, but most come in earth tones.

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