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The Environmentally Friendly Choice: Eco Yoga Mat

February 17, 2009

Most yoga mats that are seen in yoga studios are made of rubber materials that may or may not be environmentally friendly. In addition, the mats that are commonly found in retail stores are also usually made of this PVC rubber material that is not sound for the environment. Many people who practice yoga become more aware of the environment and become concerned that the materials that they use are also earth friendly and will look for an eco yoga mat to meet their needs. For those that travel often, they will also look for travel yoga mats so that they can take them on the go and practice yoga in their hotel rooms or at a local studio.

What to Buy

The main purposes of a yoga mat are two fold: to slightly cushion the body in different positions without disrupting the ability to balance in others, and to provide a non-slip surface so that the poses can be held for the appropriate length of time without having to readjust due to slippage from sweat. There are many different types of eco yoga mats that can be found costing anywhere from thirty to eighty dollars on average, not including the price of the yoga sling or bag to go with it.

There are rubber eco yoga mats that do not use PVC in them and are often made of recycled materials. These look identical to other rubber yoga mats and function the same way as well. The only way to tell the difference is to read what materials are used in the mat to make sure they are earth friendly. There are also some mats that have rubber as the base of the mat and are overlaid with natural cotton for the top of the mat to reduce the rubbery feel of the mat on the hands and feet while still providing the non-slip surface.

The more expensive eco yoga mats on the market are those that are made from all natural cotton so that the mat is filled with this cotton fiber for cushion and is also surrounded by it to hold the mat’s shape. These mats can run eighty dollars or more, depending on the type of mat it is. In addition to the eco yoga mats, there are also eco-friendly slings made of hemp materials, as well as bags that are made of the natural cotton fibers. In addition, just because the eco yoga mats and bags are earth friendly, it does not mean that they are lacking in design and style, as most of these mats and bags come in a variety of colors and patterns, just like the other mats do.

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Yoga Poses & Equipment : Yoga Mat Types

Technorati Tags: cotton yoga mat, eco yoga mat, gaiam yoga mat, rubber yoga mat, travel yoga mat, yoga mat, yoga mat bag

Tags: cotton yoga mat, eco yoga mat, gaiam yoga mat, rubber yoga mat, travel yoga mat, yoga mat, yoga mat bag

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