By Robert W. Walker
An eco friendly yoga mat is a tool used to provide comfort and stability in the practice of yoga as a system of exercise. Yoga is often practiced atop these mats when they are laid out on the ground or floor. While they are not very expensive, they certainly are not cheap, and thus maximizing their viable lifespan and comfort are in the best interests of the owner. For cost-efficiency, safety, and comfort, users will need to take some steps to take care of their mats.
A new mat will often have a rubbery smell and a slightly slippery feel to it. The rubbery smell will fade over time, however you can accelerate this by air-drying, if the smell is too bothersome.
The slippery feel of the surface is due to a residue that forms on the mat during manufacture.
This residue eventually rubs off with repeated use, so after a few sessions it should no longer be a problem. If you want to get rid of it quickly though, you can use a solution of mild detergent and water to wipe it off, or a vinegar and water solution to that same effect. Use as little detergent as possible to avoid impregnating the mat with soap particles. Leaving the mat in the sun for a while also helps to get rid of both the smell and the oily residue.
With long periods of use, an eco friendly yoga mat will eventually become soiled. If the soiling is light, you can spray the surface with a little water and use a towel or cloth of some sort to rub off the residue. If the soiling is heavier, you might want to give the mat a proper washing. These mats are not machine washable, so you will have to do it by hand. Fill a tub with some cold water and add just a little detergent or household cleaner. Wash your mat in this solution, but remember to scrub lightly to avoid wearing down the surface too much. After scrubbing your mat, rinse it well to get rid of any soap. If soap seeps into the mat, it could make the surface slippery when sweat during exercise mixes with the soap. Seeing as this could make using the mat uncomfortable and dangerous, rinsing should be done properly.
To dry a mat, just hang it up. If you want to make the process quicker, you can use a towel to hasten the drying. Simply lay the towel on top of the mat, and roll the mat together with the towel. Then step on the mat to squeeze out any remaining water which will then be absorbed by the towel. Unroll and hang both to dry, which should take less time since the water content is spread out over a wider area.
Lastly, rolling an eco friendly yoga mat for storage should be done with the used surface outside. This will keep the corners down when you unroll it for use. Keep it in a cool, dry place, to avoid any microorganism growth on it.
Robert W. (Bob) Walker reports on a number of natural health and wellness issues and believes the ecological way is the only way. Please visit his blog http://www.ecofriendlyyogamatblog.com/
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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 7:22 PM
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