After letting it layout overnight and wiping it down with hot water with essential oils, the smell completely goes away. It lays flat and has the perfect amount of grip (as far as my experience goes). The mat is pretty colors and nice and thin.

I paid full price for it out of my own pocket. A very welcome upgrade from standard size and/or lower quality cheap mats imo.

It's better but definitely headed for the donation pile. Poor quality. Not durable. They shrug it off as accidental damage.

My biggest gripe with this mat is the texture. Yes, it's cushy and easy on the joints, but i am very disappointed with the lack of grip to this mat. Gaiam is totally misrepresenting this mat's capability and performance.

Same thing happens during skater lunges. It’s a nightmare that i’m preoccupied with for the extent of my practice/workout. There are now indentations where my hands/feet usually go, and the foam is starting to flake off with each practice.