Apparently, yogis used to sit on tiger skins, as a representation of the domination of the ego. Not a choice many of us would make today but, what are the alternatives and are they safe?

Standard Sticky Yoga Mats
These are cheap and cheerful but with some serious health and environmental concerns. The majority of standard yoga mats are made of PVC. To make them flexible they have phthalates added (as much as 60%). Phthalates are not chemically bound to the PVC so they leach out over time. Phthalates have been proven to cause genetic abnormalities to the sexual organs of male rats. In humans the feminisation of boys may be linked to exposure in the womb. The phthalate industry argues that there is no evidence of the same effect in humans but why take the risk?

This isn’t a scientific article, it’s about yoga mats, I like to take a balanced view of “scare stories” but I have been so surprised by the research I’ve done into phthalates and the environmental impact of PVC production. That I’ve written another blog post about it called ‘discount mats for yoga?’. If you have the time, check it out for yourself and make your own mind up but, I wouldn’t buy a PVC yoga mat again.

Eco Yoga Mats
These are foam type yoga mats that look and feel similar to standard sticky  yoga mats but, they are generally non toxic, environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Many contain latex (a natural rubber product) but some people suffer from latex allergies so beware.

TPE and PER are new plastics without the health and environmental concerns of PVC and without the allergy problems of latex. They combine grip and comfort with often impeccable eco credentials.

Rubber Yoga Mats
Natural rubber is a renewable resource tapped from rubber trees. Rubber yoga mats provide excellent cushioning and grip with durability. Perfect if you’re concerned about the environment but, some people complain about the smell and again they may not be suitable for latex allergy sufferers.

Jute/Seagrass Yoga Mats
Jute and Seagrass are also used in yoga mats. They are natural, hard wearing and sustainable but hard on their own, so they are usually combined with rubber in yoga mats to provide the padding and the grip.

Wool Yoga Mats
I have seen sheepskins recommended as yoga mats. These would be very comfortable for some poses but, unless you can grip the wool between your toes, very slippery. Felted woollen blankets can also be used as yoga mats but again grip and comfort is a problem.

Cotton Yoga Mats
Cotton yoga mats come in two main types -

The traditional decorative mat made of tightly woven cotton is good for the absorption of sweat in ashtanga yoga and grip increases as the mat gets wetter. Many people like the traditional look and style of these yoga mats but they are much thinner than foam yoga mats and for this reason most are used on top of a foam yoga mat. Be aware that many yoga mats advertised as ‘traditional’ are in fact made of man made fibers. Not necessarily a problem, but do your homework if you’d rather have natural cotton.

Stuffed or futon style, extra thick cotton yoga mats are great for comfort and, perfect for relaxation but, virtually impossible for balance.  They are designed for restorative yoga and meditation and are generally used only for sitting and laying on.  They’re too bulky for a yoga class and unsuitable for standing poses but fantastic for relaxing at home.  They will also slip on wooden floors so you may want to put a sticky yoga mat underneath.

If you want to redesign your home some people have entirely replaced sofas and chairs with extra thick cotton yoga mats.

They are usually made with a cotton outer layer and stuffed with padding. This padding could be natural or man made and can give off toxins so again, do your homework.

If you practice yoga you most likely care about your health and the environment.  In which case choose a yoga mat that reflects those concerns.  There are plenty of healthy choices, but it definitely pays to stay informed.

Pass Up the Poison Plastic – the PVC-Free Guide for Your Family & Home

How much did your yoga mat cost?

A short article giving you some pointers to buying the best eco mat for yoga.

Here are six of the best eco friendly mats for yoga that won’t damage your health or cost the earth!

BEAN PRODUCTS
Bean Products Inc has been proudly manufacturing eco friendly yoga mats in the USA since 1987. Based in Chicago, IL, they describe themselves as “passionate about our planet and crazy about comfort”.

Their Extra Thick High Density Clean PVC Yoga Mat is long at 72 inches and double thick at ¼ inch (6.3mm). It comes in a range of colors and is also washable. This eco yoga mat is a low priced, high performance, easy care, premium eco yoga mat that is environmentally friendly. It is manufactured using an ecologically safer method of production and is made of PER (Polymer Environmental Resin). It does not contain dioxins, toxic phthalates or heavy metals.

AURORAE
Dennis Ingui, President of Aurorae started this New Jersey based company from the passion he developed for yoga as a cancer survivor nine years ago.

The Aurorae Eco Yoga Mat is 72 inches long, ¼ inch thick and comes in a range of colors with a focal point icon to aid concentration. It’s manufactured from a newly designed eco friendly material and is good value, easy to care for and durable. Machine washing on a hot setting is actively encouraged to break this eco yoga mat in.

MANDUKA
Based in California, Manduka have been producing what is generally recognised as the ultimate mat for yoga for the last ten years. If you want the best, and don’t mind paying for it, many people think this is it.

The legendary Manduka BlackMatPRO Yoga and Pilates Mat is so durable it carries a lifetime guarantee and is well known for its dense cushioning and fabric finished non slip surface. It comes in 71 inch and 85 inch lengths, is 26 inches wide.  The Manduka BlackMatPRO though, is a heavy yoga mat, ¼ inch thick and weighing 7lbs (making it less transportable than lighter mats).

The company is firmly committed to environmentally friendly production but, the BlackMatPRO does include PVC.  However, it is so durable that you may only ever need one Manduka BlackMatPRO.  This is arguably better for the environment than buying and throwing away possibly several yoga mats over your lifetime.  Manduka also produce a more eco friendly natural rubber and sea-grass mat known as the Manduka eKO Yoga Mat

JADE YOGA
Jade Yoga grew out of Jade Industries, a company that had been making non-slip natural rubber products since the early 1970s and developed the Harmony, the first natural rubber yoga mat, in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

Jade Yoga’s most popular premium eco yoga mat, the Jade Harmony Professional Yoga Mat comes in either 68 or 74 inch lengths and is 3/16 ths of an inch thick providing a good balance of traction and cushioning. It is made of natural rubber and contains no PVC.

AGILE
Agile Fitness was founded By New Yorker, Jim McDade, in 2006 and is dedicated to providing home workout programs via the internet but also produces exercise equipment.

The Agile Fitness Eco Yoga Mat is made of recyclable TPE, so it’s PVC-free, latex-free, durable, lightweight and biodegradable. It’s a comfortable yoga mat, ¼ inch thick, 24 inches wide and 68 inches long.

NATURAL FITNESS
Chicago based and founded in 2007 to provide a response to the low quality and environmentally harmful products seen in yoga and pilate’s studios.

The Natural Fitness Professional Natural Rubber Yoga Mat is, of course made of rubber and is 24 Inches wide by 69 inches long and 3/16 inch thick. This eco friendly yoga mat comes in a variety of two tone colors and is natural and bio-degradable.

All of the above are eco friendly yoga mats and they range in price from around $15 to getting on for $100.

Most of these companies sell their eco yoga mats direct to the public or through any the hundreds of online yoga supplies stores but, the easiest and cheapest way to buy eco yoga mats online is to use Amazon.com where you can also read through the hundreds of customer reviews for opinions and feedback.

The Eskimo Nebula in the constellation Gemini