Wanted: your old yoga mats

A high school teacher in Peterborough, also a student of Wavelengths, is looking for donations of used yoga mats, in any condition.  Juli is running a yoga program for teens with developmental issues, and there is no budget for mats.  She'll happily accept any kind of yoga mat in any condition.  This is an opportunity to do something positive with that old mat you've been wondering how to get rid of, or maybe a good time to upgrade to a new mat!  You can drop off your used mat(s) at any class.

What's in a mat?

One of the most common questions from new students, is "Where can I buy a yoga mat?" and the answer is "almost anywhere!"

When I starting practicing yoga in the 1980's, there was no such thing as a yoga mat as we know it today.  The first mats began appearing after 1982, but were literally cut up pieces of carpet underlay.  It wasn't until the 1990's that the first "real" yoga mat was produced in Germany, and not until the mid-90's that they started to appear in Canada, imported at fairly high prices. 

My first yoga mat was a towel, and then I graduated to a blanket when I began my teacher training program in 1990.  Around 1995 I purchased my first "sticky mat," imported from the United States.  I paid $60 for the mat that would now sell for less than $20.  Though it was expensive, it held up well to almost 10 years of daily practice.  In 2004, in India, my mat found a new home.  I sold it to student who had left her mat at the airport in Dubai, in the stupor of traveling from North America to India.  After much bargaining and haggling (Indian market style!), I finally sold my beloved mat for 250 rupees (about $7 at the time).  Ironically, yoga mats as we know them are not available in India.  Cotton mats are generally used for yoga practice there, though originally yoga was practiced on the bare earth or the skin of a tiger.

In 2002 the first eco-conscious mats began appearing, and now there are several available in a variety of colours and styles.  In fact, there are so many yoga mats on the market these days that the choices can be overwhelming.  Eco friendly mats are great for the environment because they'll break down in the landfill when you're done with them, but the downside is they often start breaking down before you're done with them!  The good news is that you don't have to throw out your old mats.  There are many possible uses for old mats, such as donating them to a school yoga program (see above), using them under rugs to stop them slipping on hard floors, placing them under a dog's blanket to provide extra cushioning...and more.  Be creative! 

There are a few key things to consider when purchasing a mat.  The most important are thickness and density.  A good mat should be about 1/4 inch thick (many, including my first mat, are 1/8 inch thick or even less).  It should also be sufficiently dense that it doesn't compress when you kneel on it.  Many mats look nice and thick, but when you squeeze them, they compress to nothing, which means that you'll feel the floor under your bones.  A good mat should also be non-skid or non-slip, which is a bit harder to determine.  Look for a mat with some texture that doesn't feel slippery to the touch.  Sometimes new mats have a bit of an oily coating that can be washed off, so if you buy a mat and it seems slippery, try giving it a wash to see if that helps to improve its stickiness (see next article for how to wash your mat).  A new mat also needs to be broken in, and will become less slippery (and more sticky!) with use.  So practice lots!

Mats range in price from about $10 to over $100.  Since a yoga practice requires very little equipment, it makes sense to invest in a good mat.  Shop around (Winners, Canadian Tire, health food stores, many larger yoga studios, Lululemon and even Chapters sell mats) and find the mat that suits best.  But, most importantly, whatever mat you choose, use it daily!

How to Clean Your Yoga Mat

Most mats are machine washable in cold water with mild detergent (don't use the spin cycle).  Hang your mat to dry and make sure it's completely dry before you fold or roll it.  To speed up the drying process, you can roll it with a towel to squeeze out excess water.  If you prefer, you could wash your mat in the bathtub, again with cold water and mild detergent.

You can also buy mat wipes or spray mat cleaner which can be used to wipe down your mat anytime.  Better yet, make your own mat spray.  Use any clean spray bottle and fill it with purified water.  Add a few drops of tea tree oil as an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, and a few drops of lavender essential oil which is known for its calming effect on the nervous system.  Shake it up and spray it generously on your mat, then wipe it off with a clean dry cloth.  Voila!  A clean mat that smells good too.