eco friendly yoga mats
Alright friends, it's here: my favorite yoga mats to practice on! I got a resounding YES from you all that you wanted recommendations. There are a LOT of yoga mats on the market and I’ve gotten to try out a bunch. These are my personal preferences, broken down by the type of yoga & its eco friendliness:
Lululemon: This was the first “nice” mat I bought for myself and it was kinda a big deal for me. I had only used cheap $15 mats from target before so this was quite the upgrade. Lululemon is my favorite in terms of comfort. It’s nice and thick so my knees and joints always feel cushioned throughout practice, has a great grip that holds even in the sweatiest classes. I’ve used this in hot yoga before without a towel, and been fine!
**Update** When I first wrote this post, all of their mats were cited as using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified rubber and as being PVC free. That how now change so that only their Arise Mat is cited as sustainably sourced FSC certified rubber. I haven’t used this mat so can’t speak to how it performs and am hoping all their mats will soon used FSC certified rubber. Lululemon’s Sustainability Impact report does have a goal of 75% sustainably sourced materials by 2025 and 100% by 203.
Price: $98 for Arise Mat
Liforme: Easily recognizable with their AlignForMe system, the Liforme mats have markers on the mat to help yogis find correct alignment in the posture. These mats have great grip even during a sweaty class. They are PVC free, non-toxic, and biodegradable in 1-5 years in a landfill. I received this mat when hosting a challenge and became a fan of it right away. I love this mat for a power yoga class! I also love that their company really runs on the values of being eco-friendly and ethical. They also give back to various environmental and social justice causes. This would be my top choice!!
Price: $140
Manduka: If I’m being fully honest, I’m having a hard time with this one because I love my manduka Pro mat – it has been my favorite mat for at home practice, with good cushion and enough grip (but not too much - too much grip and I feel like I don't have to engage my muscles as much), for my day to day yoga. The Pro mat is made to last a lifetime, meaning you won't have to replace it (less production) and it won't be dumped in a landfill for a long time. However, the mat is Oeko Tex certified emission free PVC - meaning it you won't breath in PVC emissions, but it does contain PVC and won't break down in a landfill. If I was getting a new mat, I would go with Manduka's eKO Mat that is made from sustainably harvested tree rubber and is PVC free. While I do love the Pro, I prefer a mat that is PVC free and biodegradable.
Price: $45-$80 depending on thickness of mat desired
