The JadeYoga Harmony helped me unlock a new form of fitness, and stuck with me for the long haul

• Have a buy it for life product recommendation – or disagree with our review? Email thefilter.us@theguardian.com

• Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things.

The original yogis didn’t have rubber mats, or foam ones, for that matter. They had bare ground, grass mats and animal skins, if they were lucky. So when my wife suggested I spend $90 on a natural rubber yoga mat like the one she had, I balked. Is that really necessary?

It turns out the answer was yes. Ten years later, I’m still using the JadeYoga Harmony mat I sprang for, and I’m no longer a skeptic, I’m an evangelist. Natural rubber provides enough cushion for comfort, enough grip to safely push my limits, and the durability of a truck tire.