So when my wife suggested I spend $90 on a natural rubber yoga mat like the one she had, I balked. Natural rubber provides enough cushion for comfort, enough grip to safely push my limits, and the durability of a truck tire. After getting serious, Tracey upgraded to a natural rubber mat, like the ones yoga instructors use. Why it worksNatural rubber yoga mats have an unbeatable grip. An independent test by the German non-profit Stiftung Warentest found that natural rubber yoga mats outperformed all synthetic mats, offering superior grip even when wet.