By Team Planet Green | Mon Jan 5, 2009 13:38
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Buy Green: Yoga Mat
These six yoga mats are made of sustainable materials ranging from organic cotton to rapidly renewable grass.
[by Jennifer Hattam]
Whether you're looking to meditate, work out, or both, you probably think of yoga as a healthy experience. But are you really achieving inner peace when that ubiquitous purple yoga mat is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)? This nasty plastic releases carcinogenic dioxin during its production and disposal, and its soft, supportive surface gets that way thanks to harmful plasticizing chemicals called phthalates. Known as endocrine disruptors, phthalates are linked to reproductive-health problems. Talk about a downer during your Downward Dog.
Some minimalists swear by folded cotton blankets or rugs—or just practicing on a bare wooden floor—but yogis and yoginis looking for a little more stability or comfort have plenty of eco-friendly options to choose from.
As for that old PVC mat...there's a bit of a debate over whether you should recycle or repurpose it, or just consign it to the trash.
Want to go green beyond the mat? There are green yoga studios across the country, mat cleaners made of essential oils (though good ol' soap and water will do just fine), and mat bags crafted from repurposed fabric. Namaste.
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EcoYoga Jute Mat
Why We Like It: The mix of jute—a fast-growing natural fiber—and natural rubber makes the Jute Mat from EcoYoga both soft and supportive. It's also conveniently machine-washable and available in four spring-fresh colors: natural (undyed), coral pink, deep lavender, and lichen green.
Good Positioning: EcoYoga has reformulated its jute/rubber blend to address some complaints about little pieces of the material coming off during use.
Eco Factor: This PVC-free mat from the U.K. is biodegradable. The company is even experimenting with composting. However, like many natural rubber mats, it does contain latex, which some people are allergic to.
Where: Distributed in the U.S. by Seattle-based Barefoot Yoga Co., the mats are also available in select retail outlets, mostly on the West Coast.
How Much: $72 for a mat that is 72 inches long by 25 inches wide; about 1/5 an inch thick.
Image courtesy of EcoYoga Ltd.
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PER Environmental Yoga Mat From Barefoot Yoga
Why We Like It: The PER Environmental Yoga Mat, available in lavender, pink, and pistachio, has the look and feel of a conventional sticky mat with fewer chemicals.
Eco Factor: PER stands for polymer environmental resin, a substance that does contain PVC, but without the phthalates or heavy metals.
Good Positioning: Made without latex, these mats are allergy worry-free.
Where: Barefoot Yoga Co.
How Much: $25 for a standard mat (68 inches long by 24 inches wide; 1/8 an inch thick); $34 for a thicker one (68 inches long by 24 inches wide; 1/4 an inch thick).
Image courtesy of Barefoot Yoga Co.
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Lotuspad Yoga Mat
Why We Like It: The Lotuspad Yoga Mat is available in a huge selection of 22 different colors and patterns (with fun names like "tiny blue bubbles" and "ladybug picnic"), including reversible models. The hand-sewn carry straps are cool too.
Eco Factor: Lotuspad's mats are made from TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), a PVC-free plastic that can more easily be recycled.
Good Positioning: Got a little yogi in your life? Lotuspad makes mini-mats for kids.
Where: Lotuspad
How Much: $42 for a mat that is 68 inches long by 24 inches wide; about 1/5 an inch thick.
Image courtesy of Lotuspad
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Manduka eKO Mat
Why We Like It: A dense upper layer makes the eKO from Manduka extra-durable, while the softer bottom layer provides more cushioning. It's available in seven colors: acai, aqua, coral, ember, lava, moss, and sand.
Eco Factor: The eKO is made of natural rubber, which means it's PVC-free, biodegradable, and made from a renewable resource, the rubber tree. Manduka says the eKO is 99.9 percent latex-free. Natural rubber, however, is heavy, sensitive to direct sunlight and extreme heat, and may have a strong smell.
Good Positioning: For yoga on the go, Manduka offers the smaller, thinner eKO Lite Mat.
Where: Manduka
How Much: $70 for a standard mat (71 inches long by 26 inches wide; 3/16 an inch thick); $89 for a long one (85 inches long by 26 inches wide; 3/16 an inch thick, available in moss only); and $42 for the eKO Lite Mat (68 inches long by 24 inches wide; 1/8 an inch thick).
Image courtesy of Manduka
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Natural Dried Grass Yoga Mat From HealthAndYoga.com
Why We Like It: Dried grass has natural ridges, helpful for maintaining your grip. And it smells nice too. The small Natural Dried Grass Yoga Mat has an attractive patterned border, while the large one is outlined in ever-stylish black.
Eco Factor: Mats made from plant fiber are biodegradable and utilize a rapidly renewable resource, rather than petroleum. A natural latex backing keeps the mat in place, though some users find it a bit slippery for more athletically vigorous practices like Ashtanga, also known as Power Yoga.
Good Positioning: The 3-foot-wide version lets you really stretch out.
Where: HealthAndYoga.com
How Much: $35 for a small mat (72 inches long by 24 inches wide); $50 for a large one (72 inches long by 36 inches wide)
Image courtesy of HealthAndYoga.com
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Organic Cotton Yoga Mat From YogaAccessories.com
Why We Like It: The futon-style Organic Cotton Yoga Mat is soft and comfy...maybe a bit too comfy, since just looking at it makes us want to curl up and take a nap! Especially good for restorative yoga, it can also be used for massage. Attached ties make rolling it up and storage a breeze.
Eco Factor: It's made from organic cotton—80 percent organic for the filling and 100 percent organic for the removable cover.
Good Positioning: You gotta love this company's commitment to truth in advertising: "As Yoga is, after all, about satya (truthfulness), we have received feedback from customers that due to compression from packaging and shipping, the thickness of this product is more accurately described as being between two and three inches."
Where: YogaAccessories.com
How Much: $70 (70 inches long by 36 inches wide; 3 inches thick)
Image courtesy of YogaAccessories.com
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