6 Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats for a Healthier Practice

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You spend a lot of time with your yoga mat, and you often get up close and personal with it. But if you are still using an inexpensive yoga mat that is made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is one of the most toxic plastics, you are exposing your body to vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen, as well as dioxins, phthalates and other scary substances that cause cancer and other developmental issues. These mats typically do not have a long lifespan, and when you toss them out, they go to a landfill where they will remain forever because they are not biodegradable. Yikes!

Be environmentally conscious and good to your body. Consider switching to an eco-friendly yoga mat that is free of toxic chemicals and known carcinogens.

Here are 6 eco-friendly yoga mats that are made with the environment and your health in mind:

Yoloha Cork Yoga Mat

($119)

As opposed to some yoga mats that get slippery when wet, the Yoloha Cork Yoga Mat gets more grippy with a spray of water or drips of sweat, which practically rewards you for your hard work on the mat! It’s great for hot yoga when you get extra sweaty, and you won’t even need to lay down a towel. It also comes with a natural hemp rope strap, so it’s ready to go right out of the box. The 4 mm mat is constructed with an anti-microbial cork surface that is self-cleaning and non-absorbent, so you won’t catch a nose-full of funky smells. Harvested from cork oak trees, cork is a natural and renewable resource that is recyclable and biodegradable, so it’s great for mother earth. The mat is even made with a no-waste manufacturing process that reuses all of the leftover materials to create other new cork products.

The bottom features odor-free recycled tires for heavy-duty construction that allows the mat to lay completely flat and never slide. The mat is available in a standard 72” length at 6 pounds, or a taller 80” length (6.8 pound) size for you long and lean yogis. The mat has a lifetime guarantee, so this can be the last mat you ever purchase!

Shop this mat here

Envyos Athletics Seapo Mat

($65)

Envyos Athletics does only one thing and they do it well. They produce the Seapo Mat, an extra large yoga mat that is specifically designed for men, but many ladies will love it too. The 5 mm extra thick mat offers supreme comfort and support for your joints, and measures in at 71” long by 27” wide. That extra space gives you just the right amount of wiggle room to settle and stretch more deeply into your poses.

Best of all, you can reverse the double-layered mat, so with the Seapo Mat, you get two mats in one! You can use the top layer that is comprised of eco-friendly thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) to provide extra cushioning and support your standard yoga practice, or flip it over to reveal the all-natural rubber layer with supreme traction, which is perfect for hot yoga. The bold mat is designed for athletes and is built to last with superior wear and longevity year after year.

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Affirmats

($76)

Affirmats designs eco-friendly, non-toxic mats with positive affirmations that keep you inspired and coming back to your mat day after day. The positive affirmations – i am authentic, i am enough, i am wonderfully made – will put you in a positive mood first thing in the morning or become your end-of-day centering mantra to let you know that all is right in the world and you are exactly where you need to be. Free of phthalates, latex and heavy metals, the 5 mm thick yoga mat is made with sustainable jute and eco-PVC.

From the moment you step on your mat, you will feel the tiny jute fibers practically hugging your feet to keep you feeling grounded and centered. The slip-resistant material also gets better and more slip-resistant with use. Extra large sizes are available for select affirmations, or you can create your own custom mat with your favorite mantra. How cool is that?

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Onnit Multi Mat

($54)

The Onnit Multi Mat is visibly well made. It’s thick, plush, and has a killer bottom grip so no matter what surface you place it on, your mat won’t slip and slide. The multi-mat is made with a polyurethane base and topped with recycled rubber to give you a supportive, strong, and slip-resistant surface top to bottom. The Multi Mat is .5cm thick so it protects against aerobic impact, making it ideal for your yoga and other fitness practices. Since it’s designed for high-impact workouts, it is super tough. You can beat it up, and it won’t show wear and tear.

With its recycled rubber surface, it won’t absorb excessive amounts of liquid, which makes maintenance a breeze. You can simply spray it down with your favorite mat cleaner, and wipe it off with a towel. It’s thick yet not too spongy (which can be a total bummer for balancing yoga poses), so it provides the perfect amount of support for all your fitness needs.

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Manduka eKO Lite

($64)

The Manduka eKO Lite is a a super thick, 4 mm mat that is made from biodegradable, non-Amazon harvested, natural tree rubber that is durable and provides extra cushion and support to your sensitive joints. Made with a zero-waste manufacturing process, the mat is free of PVC, toxic plasticizers and foaming agents. When you step onto the mat, you will instantly feel the quality in which Manduka is known, and you will experience unmatched grip, even during a hot and sweaty yoga session. The top of the mat has a rippled water effect with durable, sealed-cell natural rubber that prevents the penetration of sweat, odors and bacteria within your mat. You can carry your mat from home to your studio with ease, as the mat is just under five pounds. This mat has the perfect combination of cushion and grip, wherever your yoga travels take you.

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Dragonfly Yoga TPE Lite Mat

($43)

At first glance, you might think that this is just another basic yoga mat, but look closer and you will see that the Dragonfly TPE Lite Mat is imprinted with hundreds of tiny dragonflies throughout the entire surface. And while you’re down low checking out the design, do you notice that smell? No you don’t, because the mat is made with non-toxic, PVC-, latex- and odor-free TPE. The mat uses closed-cell technology to prevent the penetration of sweat, odors and germs from lingering on your mat, so you can rest assured your mat will remain free of nasty germs and distracting odors.

The 3 mm mat is thin and perfect for travel. Best of all, this mat is grippy from the moment you first step on it, so there isn’t any inconvenient break-in period. The mat is offered in double-sided black or black and blue.

Shop this mat here

When you are ready for your next yoga mat, look for the features that are most important to you and your yoga practice. No matter what you desire in a mat – portability, thickness, weight, length and width, or beauty and aesthetic appeal – you can find it while being good to the environment and your body with this handy dandy list. For your love of yoga, we want you to have a love affair with your yoga mat too!