Pilar Gerasimo, author of "The Healthy Deviant: A Rule Breaker's Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World," demonstrates her preferred technique for rolling a yoga mat — faster, cleaner, with no curled ends!
Want more wisdom from me? Visit me at www.healthydeviant.com and www.pilargerasimo.com.
This method works GREAT on most conventional rubbery-type foam yoga mats, and also on fabric mat covers.
COMMON-SENSE TIP: Follow the directions as shown. Do not press initial center fold flat. Just fold loosely and allow the mat to curve naturally. While some commenters have reported creases in their mat, when the technique is performed as shown, with a loose, natural center fold (vs. a fold that is pressed flat), the amount of curve produced in the mat should not be any tighter than when the mat is rolled by standard methods. As such, the potential for creasing or any other negative effects should not be any greater. But materials vary from brand to brand, and individual rolling techniques vary, so please test the results of this technique on your specific mat before storing it, just to be sure. If you see early indications of creasing from your initial test, use another method.