As I dash into my morning yoga class, my hands are full of stuff. I’ve got my phone, my keys, a bottle of water, and my yoga mat threatening to unravel behind me. I’ve just gotten my kids to school, and I have an hour and a half in my day to dedicate to myself. It’s a luxury, I realize, and I’ve worked hard to arrange my life so that I can take this time. It’s not always pretty getting there, though. I carry a purse, but don’t want to lug it into the studio because it’s heavy enough to be a burden on my body, not what I want after breathing through my asanas, searching for balance. When this sling came across my desk, I jumped at the chance to try it.

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What is it?

The Aurorae Yoga Mat Sling is a simple concept. You strap your mat through the back. Adjustable straps make it easy to keep it stable. It comes with a zipper pocket that is large enough to carry what I want to bring into the studio, but not so big that I’ll overfill it. I like the vibrant green color, it makes me smile as I strap my blue yoga mat in.

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Does it work?

The simplicity of the design is well thought out. It takes a minute to find the placement of the mat, so it’s not heavier on one side when you put it on your body, but after the first couple of times, it’s not an issue. The sturdy, adjustable shoulder strap is nice, it’s long enough to wear cross-body and easy to adjust for an over the shoulder wear. After a good yoga session, my mat is generally a bit wet, so it’s nice not to put it in a full bag; it still has room to breathe in the sling. The heavy duty material repels moisture, also helping to keep things from getting too stinky.

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Final thought

I’m a fan of this sling. I love that my yoga mat doesn’t unroll in the car. I enjoy being able to walk into the yoga studio with my hands-free. Sometimes a tiny change can simplify your life; I feel like this is one of them. Breathe more, hold less is a motto I can live by.

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Aurorae Yoga Mat Sling
$32
auroraeyoga.com