How to Add Cushioning to Your Yoga Mat with a Yoga Pad

Quick answer

Place a yoga pad on top of your mat, centred where your knees, wrists or hips land most often, then press it down so it grips rather than slides. Use the pad as targeted thicker support for yoga practice instead of replacing your mat, and check alignment markers before you start moving.

A yoga pad is the simplest way to add cushioning without giving up the grip and alignment guidance of your main mat. Instead of buying a thicker mat, you place a smaller pad exactly where your body needs it.

The trick is placement. Put the pad in the wrong spot and it bunches, slides or throws off your alignment. These steps show you how to layer yoga mat and pad so the cushioning stays put through a full practice.

Why a pad beats a thicker mat for most people

Thicker support for yoga practice sounds appealing until you try balancing on a soft surface. A very thick mat can make standing poses wobblier and reduce the ground feedback your joints use to stabilise. A pad gives you cushioning only where you need it, while the rest of the mat stays firm and responsive.

This matters most for cushioning for knees and wrists. In tabletop, kneeling lunges or arm balances, those joints take concentrated pressure. A pad under the knees or hands softens that pressure without changing how the whole mat behaves under your feet.

• Keep your main mat for grip and alignment; use the pad as a supplement, not a replacement.
• If you already own a travel mat, a pad is often the lighter way to add comfort at home.

Choose the right pad for the job

Not all pads are the same. A yoga pad is typically a smaller, denser rectangle designed to sit on top of a mat. Look for a surface that grips your mat rather than sliding across it, and a density that compresses slightly under weight but springs back.

If you practise on a travel mat, which is often thinner by design, a pad can bring home-level comfort without buying a second full-size mat. The Liforme Black & Gold Travel Yoga Mat and the Liforme Mindful Garden Travel Yoga Mat are both travel models, so a pad is a practical companion when you want more cushioning on a thinner base.

• Test the pad on your mat before class: press a palm down and try to push it sideways.
• A pad that slides is worse than no pad, because you will chase it mid-pose.

Where to place the pad for knees, wrists and hips

Yoga pad placement depends on your practice. For kneeling sequences, centre the pad where your knees land in tabletop and low lunge. For wrist-heavy flows, place it at the top of the mat under your hands. If you do long held hip openers, a pad under the sitting bones can reduce pressure.

One pad rarely covers every position. Decide before you start which joint needs the most help, place the pad there, and accept that you may shift it once during practice. That is normal and far better than stacking multiple pads that create an unstable surface.

• Mark your spot: line the pad edge up with a printed alignment guide so you return to the same place each time.
• If you need cushioning in two unrelated areas, consider two thin pads rather than one thick one.

Check alignment before you flow

A pad can hide the alignment markings printed on your mat. Before you move, check that your hands, feet or knees still line up with the guides you rely on. This is where a mat with a printed alignment system helps, because you can see the design around the pad edges.

The Liforme XL Yoga Mat features a printed AlignForMe® alignment guide that replaces the previous etched version, offering a cleaner, more defined look with subtle contrast that is easier to see as you move. That visibility matters when a pad covers part of the surface.

• Place the pad so it covers as little of the alignment guide as possible.
• Do one slow practice round before a full flow to confirm nothing shifts.

Step-by-step: layer your mat and pad for stable cushioning

1. 1. Roll out and clean your mat: Unroll your main mat on a flat, non-slip floor and wipe it down so the surface is free of dust and oil. A clean mat gives the pad something to grip. Common mistake: skipping this step and wondering why the pad creeps during sun salutations.
2. 2. Choose your pad and test the grip: Place the pad where you plan to use it, press down with your palm and try to slide it sideways. If it moves easily, flip it or try a different surface. Checkpoint: the pad should stay put with light pressure before you commit to a full practice.
3. 3. Position the pad for your priority joint: Decide whether knees, wrists or hips need the most cushioning for knees and wrists, then centre the pad there. Align its edge with a printed guide on your mat if you have one. Common mistake: placing the pad in the middle of the mat by habit rather than where your body actually lands.
4. 4. Step on and check alignment: Come into a few key poses, such as tabletop, low lunge and downward dog. Look down and confirm your hands, feet and knees still line up with the mat's alignment markings. Checkpoint: if the pad hides the guide you rely on, shift it slightly until the markings are visible again.
5. 5. Adjust once, then leave it alone: If the pad shifts during your first flow, reposition it once and press it down firmly. Repeated fidgeting breaks your focus more than a small amount of movement. Common mistake: constantly readjusting instead of accepting a minor shift and continuing your practice.

Products that work well with a pad

• Liforme XL Yoga Mat: The Liforme XL Yoga Mat features a printed AlignForMe® alignment guide, replacing the previous etched version with a cleaner, more defined look and subtle contrast that is easier to see as you move. A larger mat with visible alignment markings gives you room to place a pad without losing the reference points you use for posture and balance.
• Liforme Black & Gold Travel Yoga Mat: The Liforme Black & Gold Travel Yoga Mat features a gold AlignForMe® posture alignment system on a mat(te) black surface, printed with durable, eco-friendly, non-toxic inks. Travel mats are often thinner, so adding a pad is a practical way to get cushioning for knees and wrists while keeping the alignment system visible.
• Liforme Classic Kids Yoga Mat: The Liforme Classic Kids Yoga Mat is designed for young Yogis up to 140 cm (4 ft 7 in) and is available in 6 vibrant colours, each featuring the signature AlignForMe® design. For children, a small pad under the knees can make floor poses more comfortable without changing the mat they already know.

A yoga pad is a small addition that solves a specific problem: cushioning for knees and wrists without sacrificing the grip and alignment of your main mat. Place it deliberately, check that it stays put, and let it support the poses that need it most.