September 16, 2008 Written by Danielle Davis
Who wants to breath into a yoga pose, be it Downward Dog or Pigeon, while sticking her nose into a toxic mat?
So, in honor of Yoga Month, we’ve got two eco-mat options for your yoga practice, no PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or other plastics-standard fare in standard mats-allowed. With these, you can breathe easy knowing you’re not breathing in toxins and, in your small way, are making the world a healthier place.
YogaWorks sells Manduka mats at its locations, which you can also buy online here. Manduka uses non-Amazon tree rubber for a completely natural, completely biodegradable mat. Beyond being free from toxic foaming agents and plasticizers as well as toxic gas emissions during manufacturing, some of them come with a lifetime guarantee! In our throwaway society, anything that can last a lifetime is a good buy indeed.
Another sure bet (we heard about this from the masters at YogaWorks, too) is JadeYoga. We like them because they’re also made from natural, open-cell rubber with no PVC or ozone-depleting substances and are known for their super-grip. Not only that, but with every purchase, Jade plants a tree, a big thank you to the source from which the mats originally came. And for those of us plagued by guilt about what to do with our old one after the eco-upgrade, we also like Jade’s list of 25 ways to reuse your mat.
Click on “Thread with Us” to tell us about your favorite mat that has you breathing freely.
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