Yoga Towel

A yoga towel is a small to medium absorbent towel used during yoga practice for wiping sweat from the face, hands, and body. Not to be confused with a mat-sized yoga towel (which covers the entire mat), a yoga towel is a personal sweat management tool used during class.

Types of Yoga Towels

Hand/face towel (small): Approximately 12" x 20" — used to wipe sweat from the face and hands during practice. Folded and kept at the front of the mat.

Full mat towel: Sized to cover the entire yoga mat — used to improve grip in hot yoga by absorbing mat-level sweat. See the "mat towel" entry for complete details.

Body towel: Standard bath-towel sized for post-practice showering.

Materials

Microfiber: The standard material for yoga-specific towels. Ultra-absorbent, quick-drying, lightweight, and compact. Microfiber absorbs significantly more moisture per gram than terry cloth.

Bamboo terry cloth: Softer than synthetic microfiber, naturally antimicrobial, and more eco-friendly. Dries more slowly.

When You Need One

Any practice where sweating is significant:

• Hot yoga and Bikram (essentially mandatory)
• Power yoga and vigorous vinyasa
• Outdoor yoga in warm weather
• Indoor studios without air conditioning

For moderate-intensity practices in temperate studios, a small hand towel at the front of the mat is usually sufficient.

Quick-Dry Feature

After class, a quick-dry microfiber towel can be hung and ready for use again within 30-60 minutes. This is especially useful for practitioners who practice multiple times per day or need to reuse a towel before laundry day.