The quest for the best eco friendly yoga mat.
Do you use an eco friendly yoga mat? To be honest, I never gave much thought to my yoga mat until I started researching for this article. I was surprised to see how much thought goes into selecting the right mat for your practice and how diverse the eco mat options are. Some criteria to consider when selecting an eco friendly yoga mat are the style of yoga you practice and how frequently you practice. Style If your practice is vigorous you need a more durable mat. One that can stand up to the pulling and stretching that result from active yoga poses. Once a mat begins to rip, you need to replace it. The longer any mat lasts for you the more eco-friendly it is as it stays out of a landfill for longer. If you sweat quite a bit, stickiness will be important. If you practice for a long period of time, the ability of the mat to pull moisture away from the surface will be important. Durability will again be key if you practice frequently. In addition, the ease of cleaning a mat comes into play. Mats that have an open cell structure are very difficult to clean. Many people recommend soaking or spraying down the mat in warm water and then rolling the mat in a towel to soak up as moisture. Then let the mat air dry. This works for many types of mats but not all. Check and see if the mat you are interested in lists care instructions. Preferences In addition to the style of your practice, you have to weigh in your personal preferences for texture and weight. Some people prefer a rough surface and others a sticky surface in order to maintain stability during poses. The thickness of the mat also has a bearing on your ability to balance on the mat and can be a factor in durability as well. Others may have a preference based on portability of a mat. Weight and compactness are the issues with how portable a mat is. Finally, many eco friendly yoga mats give off an odor. In some cases the odor will go away after a few weeks of usage but some times the smell will linger. Depending on your sensitivity, you may find it difficult to practice in the presence of a bothersome odor. See if the store you are shopping at has mats out for demonstration. This will clue you in to the feel of the mat but any odor may have dissipated. Check a mat still in packaging to see if there is an odor. Also see if the store will take returns should you have a problem once you get the mat home and actually practice on it. Eco Friendly Mat Options There are several eco friendly yoga mat options so you have a good chance of finding a mat that suits your needs. Typical department store yoga mats are made from PVC plastic. With the recent focus on the harmful off-gases of many plastics, you will find this type of mat dropping in popularity. The eco friendly yoga mat options that are on the rise are: Natural Rubber These eco mats are made from rubber trees and are biodegradable. They are a wonderful option as long as you are not allergic to latex. If you are allergic, you should probably avoid these mats. Expect to pay between $30 and $50 for a natural rubber mat. Natural Fiber There are eco yoga mats made from jute, cotton and hemp readily available. When considering these types of mats be sure to look for organic materials. Non-organic fibers could be treated with harmful pesticides that would defeat any health benefits of using a natural mat. Expect to pay $40 or more for one of these mats. Alternative Plastic Alternative plastic mats are made with synthetic plastic, "PER," or environmental resin, "TPE." I have no idea why these types of mats are considered eco friendly as they are both synthetic. The PER mat is biodegradable but without knowing what it is really made of, I can't say what it will release into the ground as it decomposes. I would be on the lookout for these mats to avoid being "fooled" into buying a mat that is not really eco-friendly. Yoga is for Lovers has a great review on several popular brands of eco mats. If you are looking for an eco-friendly mat bag, try the "Julie" bag from UrthBags - Hip Handbags Made from Recycled Materials. This bag is made from recycled magazine covers. It will bring a little "hip" to your yoga practice.
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