GUIDE TO THE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY YOGA MATS 2022

Why Choose an Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat?

Allows Natural Energy Flow

Yoga is about your connection to your essential self (true self). It involves a deep focus to awaken the source of energy in your body, letting energy flow, and allowing it to energize the vital organs during the asanas. This energy or life force moves and circulates inside simultaneously, creating harmony and enhances your well-being.

When the asana or yoga pose is perfected by the practitioner, there is a subtle energy that descends from your crown to your toes, and into the earth. A mat made of natural materials allows the energy to flow from head to toe, grounding the posture. Rubber and plastic are insulators and inhibit the flow, effectively blocking it.

Social Responsibility

Eco-friendly yoga mats are manufactured by companies and entrepreneurs who are environmentally conscious and socially responsible. They believe in the balance of nature and profits, translating their products to advocate the use of organic and user-friendly materials that help protect the Earth.

Furthermore, many natural yoga mats are handwoven, which creates employment for poor communities. One way to this social cause is to choose a mat from a company that’s committed to this ideal. India has workers who make handcrafted mats to sustain and support their families. The art of weaving rugs and mats dates to the 13th century and the time of Master Kabir – who earned his living as a weaver. Buying a hand-woven yoga mat of Indian origin helps to ensure the next generation of weavers can continue the handcraft in the professional lineage of Kabir.

Sustainability & Longevity 

Eco-friendly mats can be more expensive compared to synthetic plastic mats, but the investment can come with a guarantee of longevity. The convenience of buying a cheap PVC mat can come at the cost to your health and environment. Frequent replacement means this may not be the best choice in the long run.

Choosing an eco-friendly mat is a better choice for the environment. The eco-disadvantages of PVC mats have been explained here. Other eco-type mats offer rapid decomposition in landfills as a benefit. Mats made of natural materials, like organic cotton, can become a rug in a home after years of service to the yogi — and never end up in landfills.

Outdoor use

Practicing yoga in the outdoors is believed to be more effective because it allows a stronger connection with nature. The body releases more positive energy and serotonin, boosting the overall performance. It promotes an immersive and sensory practice, helping you replenish the depleted energy.

To optimize your outdoor yoga experience, use an eco-friendly mat. Some eco-mats made of natural materials suffer from extended time in the sun. This exposure is generally not covered under the warranty. Other natural materials (cork/cotton) can withstand the heat of the sun and last much longer, without affecting the guarantee. 

Grip. Grip. Grip.

A yoga mat with the right grip is extremely important to help you balance and perform the asanas, even if you are perspiring heavily. Sweat on the mat’s surface, usually makes it difficult to do the required poses properly, causes accidental skidding, and increases the risk of injury. A lot of rubber and plastic mats tend to become slippery when wet because they do not absorb moisture. On the other hand, yoga mats that are made of natural fiber and other eco-friendly materials that absorb sweat or water moisture well, ensuring your safety.

Two for the price of one

Opting to use an eco-friendly mat is a choice that works in two ways. First, you allow its transformative power to make you a better person inside out, in terms of physical, mental, and emotional states of health. Second, it gives you an opportunity to become an agent of change because you choose sustainability. It’s like buying two for the price of one.

One eco-friendly yoga mat will go a long, long way of togetherness. One high-quality mat of this kind is equivalent to two cheap plastic mats. It has a longer life span and easier to clean. Another advantage is it usually has an anti-bacterial surface, or the organic material itself is antimicrobial.

How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat

There are many yoga mat materials available and eco-friendly yogis have the option to choose a natural rubber yoga mat, a cork mat or a cotton mat.

Natural Rubber Yoga Mat 

Yogis are often surprised that rubber can be made into yoga mats. Resin is harvested from rubber tress which go through a fermenting process, then machines to cut and create the yoga mats. These mats are often described as having a combination of natural and man-made components. 

Advantages:

It is sustainably harvested from rubber trees by tapping into them to remove the sap from the barks

Non-toxic and non-latex

Recyclable and eco-friendly

Provides soft and good cushioning

Offers exceptional grip

Easily absorbs sweat

Heavy-duty and best for fast-paced yoga classes or those practicing in a heated space

Limitations

Heavy

Takes time to dry

Open-cell rubber mats are harder to clean

Not suitable for people who are allergic to latex

Some yogis object to small of rubber

Limited lifespan – 18 months to 2 years

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Cork Yoga Mat

Yoga products made of cork have gained popularity recently due to their sustainability. Cork is a natural product - it is harvested by peeling the bark off the trees (they never have to be cut down).

Advantages:

100% natural, impermeable, biodegradable, sustainable, and recyclable

Obtained through a tree-friendly harvesting process that enables the Cork Oak trees to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

With antimicrobial properties that kill bacteria and germs, and prevent odors

Sturdy and high-density, but lightweight

Extremely durable, absorbent, and non-slippery

Can withstand great pressure and bounce back to the original form

Offers strong traction and grip

Provides a comfortable cushion that supports the body

Non-toxic, free of glues, and safe to use

Fire retardant and a good insulator

Limitations:

Cheaper cork mats are thinner and more susceptible to chipping

Requires non-slip backing

Harder with less cushioning

Rubber backing can separate from cork surface

Heavier compared to other options

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Cotton Mat

Cotton yoga mats offer a traditional and classic platform for yoga practice. These mats are not only made of natural materials, it is hypoallergenic, keeps the body cool and does not pollute the environment. 

Advantages:

Organic and long-lasting

Breathable, comfortable, and odor-free

Naturally hypoallergenic and unlikely to cause allergic reaction

Durable and resilient

Easy to clean and wash

Provides better grip and traction with perspiration

Skin-friendly and non-toxic

Long lasting

Environment-friendly and sustainable

Lightweight and portable

Absorbs sweat easily

Limitations

Offers less cushioning

Firm surface, too coarse for some yogis

Why not PVC Yoga Mat

PVC is made from reacting chlorine, carbon, and ethylene (a product of petrol) together. Later, phthalates are added to the mix to make it soft and pliable.

The basic raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil. The electrolysis of saltwater produces chlorine. The chlorine is then combined with ethylene that has been obtained from oil. The resulting element is ethylene dichloride, which is converted at very high temperatures to vinyl chloride monomer. This is all highly reliant on the use of fossil fuels.

The result is a cheap and cheerful yoga mat- but how long will it last? A PVC mat is initially a cheaper option, but over time, it can cost the yogi much more.

Most PVC mats are destined for landfills. Some end up contributing to the toxic problem of plastic waste in our oceans. It’s estimated that every year, approximately 1.6 million barrels of oil are used just for producing plastic water bottles. Plastic can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills!

Practicing yoga on these types of materials may have a deleterious effect on the well-being of a yogi and should be avoided when possible.

Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat Function

It prevents slipping. Yoga involves stretching and positioning the body in ways that can cause slipping. The body is prone to fatigue and muscle cramps that lead to slipping with hands and feet. It is more likely to happen when you are practicing yoga on smooth surfaces like wood, or a polished floor. A yoga mat provides support on the surface and secures and protects protruding bones and knee joints.

It allows for balance and alignment. The yoga mat helps you sustain the right balance and body alignment, even if you are sweating profusely. Perspiration on the mat increases the risk of injury and makes poses more difficult to accomplish. Finding a mat with the right grip is important for Ashtanga yoga or hot yoga.

It provides an adequate cushion. Yoga positions like table pose, lunges, and kneeling require enough cushion to protect the joints from injury and sustain the poses longer. It is vital to find a yoga mat with adequate thickness. The extra layer will also insulate your body against the warm or cool surface.

It ensures proper hygiene. No matter how clean the floor of the yoga studio or the gym seems to be, the risk of infection is always possible. Using your own yoga mat gives an assurance that you are safe from unseen bacteria and unpleasant smell when borrowing a studio mat.

It defines personal space. Yoga mats are more than just tools for yogis; they represent mental and physical spaces that offer relief from the unpredictable events of the day and stressful situations. They encourage freedom and flexibility. Your yoga mat acts as a boundary of your private space, allowing you to stretch your worries and tensions away.

It sets a positive trigger. A rolled yoga mat within your sight reminds you of your scheduled routine. The act of rolling out your mat represents your intention and commitment to your practice. It may be just a tool, but a yoga mat becomes a symbol of a mindful choice and freedom to pursue your practice, to sustain a healthy and happy lifestyle.

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