I’m Rubber, You’re Glue
By tinychoices | May 15, 2008
Hey Tiny Choicers, guest poster Roz in the house today. I reached out to Jenn and Karina with an idea for a post because I was just SO EXCITED about my new PVC-free rubber yoga mat from Jade Yoga. I’ll admit that one of my biggest motivating factors for my new purchase was wanting a mat that was not very slippery. Up until now, most of the yoga mats I have practiced on have had some form of PVC in them and I slip and slide all over them during a vigorous yoga practice.
Slippin’ and slidin’ isn’t the only reason one should steer clear of buying a PVC mat. PVC, aka Polvinyl Chloride, is quite a toxic little monster. During its production and lifecycle, it releases dioxins and phthalates into the air, which are very major health offenders, seriously increasing cancer risk and other diseases. Remember those characters that put together The Meatrix? They’ve also put together another great animated short all about the dangers of PVC called Sam Suds and the Case of PVC, the Poison Plastic. Check it out!
So I think you guys get it, PVC mats = bad! I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Rubber mats = good! Here are a few reasons why:
- rubber is a renewable resource
- rubber is biodegradable
- rubber contains no chemicals or ozone depleting substances
- for you yogaheads, you will be able to grip this mat like crazy and it’s quite cushiony!
Now.. a few drawbacks:
- may have traces of latex which will be problematic for our latex-allergy friends
- rubber mats weigh a little more than PVC (you can handle it!)
- has a strong smell of rubber, but this will fade over time
- higher price, usually upwards of $50
So now what? Ready to take the leap and try a rubber mat? They are pretty easy to find online and are becoming much more prevalent at yoga studios and even at your local Whole Foods. When you do pick up your new rubber mat, may I suggest the Eco Conscious Recycled Yoga Mat Bag from Gaiam. It is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles! Of course, sewing your own yoga mat bag is also a good idea!
Any yogis out there? What kind of mat are you practicing on?
Related posts:
- Yoga Mat Graveyards
- Update on Sneaks and Yoga Mats
- Tiny Choices Weekly Roundup
- Tiny Choices Weekly Round Up
- YogaToday.com
- Bikram: Environmental Foe?
- Guest Post: Obama’s Green Playground
Topics: Yoga & Fitness |
I am by far NOT a yogi but a couple of years ago I splurged on this jute and natural rubber yoga mat (this isn’t where I bought it, but it’s essentially the same thing):
http://www.barefootyoga.com/Detail.bok?no=558
I love it! I got the extra long, extra thick version. I also was slipping around on PVC mats, and I have had ACL problems in the past so I’m really nervous about my knees.
when I *do* manage to practice yoga I love using my mat! it’s so comfortable, it doesn’t stink, it’s long enough for my v. tall self, and the jute is a lovely texture underfoot!
My friend Neil SWEARS by his, and did a guest post on my site about it a few weeks ago. I can’t wait to get one. It’s awesome that there’s a good alternative to PVC mats like this. And it’s neat to hear that other people are totally in love with their mats too.
i LOVE yoga! and i actually like the way my mat functions but perhaps not what it is made of (i think it’s the icky PVC kind). sooooooooo, i struggle with the option of ditching a mat that works for one that is eco-friendly. perhaps i can find a place to donate my icky mat. still … it means i’m consuming more …
ps. nice post!!
Someone recently gave me a rubber yoga mat for my birthday, and while I haven’t gone to class with it yet, I am really looking forward to not slipping and sliding around during my practice. Yay for rubber yoga mats!
Hey Marisa– I just clicked through to your blog, and then clicked through to hear your sister play– and wow, she’s wonderful! I look forward to exploring more of her music. :)
You can also knit yourself a yoga mat!
http://knitty.com/issuewinter05/PATTnamaste.html
Love you post, Roz! And love you!!
Those PVC mats are terrible for the environment! I’m glad the industry is finally listening and finding alternatives that are both thoughtful and work well. With all of these options, there’s no reason that you can’t find a yoga mat that works and doesn’t harm the world we live in.
[…] mats: Guest Blogger Roz tackled the question of what kind of yoga mat to use with grace and style. But the question of what to do with your old grody yoga mat still […]
I purchased an eco-friendly mat at sunshineyoga.com. This mat is super soft and seems thicker than even the normal 1/4″in extra thick yoga mats. I love that it is free of PVC and Phthalate. It is slightly longer than normal as well. I used the coupon code: saveten that they have on the site for 10% off. My shipping was $8.75. A total delivered price of less than $30 is about $20 cheaper than I found anywhere else for a comfortable eco friendly mat.
http://sunshineyoga.com/eco-yoga.htm