Making
the decision to replace an old mat and figuring out how to pick a new
one can be a little overwhelming. Here is a simple guide to help you
navigate your mat matters.
Clean or Replace?
Is your mat breaking up or shredding in little pieces?
Does your mat smell?
Does your mat have black spots where your hands and feet rest?
Do your wrists and hands ache during practice?
Has your mat lost the traction you prefer?
Is your mat made of PVC?
It is time to replace a mat if it is shredding at a disruptive rate,
if the stink and dirty have become a permanent fixture that
withstands even heavy duty washing (see below). Also, if you are
having wrist/hand pain it may be a sign that you are not using an
appropriate mat.
Jessica Stickler:
"The only one I've ever
had to "replace" was because it was getting holes in it. I clean my
mats depending on how much I've been using them, if they smell or if
they lose their stickiness, its time to clean!"
Cleaning Tips & Keeping it Clean
Using a yoga towel or cotton mysore rug helps
keep your mat clean
since you aren't practicing directly on your mat. Clean your feet
before you walk in the classroom for practice, especially during
summer months with flip flops. Allow your mat to dry completely after
each use and cleaning to prevent bacteria growth and icky smells.
Bryan Johnson:
"I wipe my mat down after each class and wash it if it gets stinky with a gentle soap in the bathtub and let drip dry."
Ralph de la Rosa:
"I
take mine in the shower with me! Scrub it down with my loofah and
everything. Then it can just hang dry inside the shower. So easy."
Jessica:
"Some mats are tough enough to go into the actual wash! I used to literally put my Jade mat in the
washing machine on an extra small load with a drop of soap, and then run it through the dryer for 20 minutes."
What to do with the old one
If it is time to replace rather than clean, that old mat may still be of use...
Ralph:
"Please
donate your used mats!! There are tons of yoga programs at schools,
programs for at-risk youth, etc. that are constantly looking for any
mats to use for their classes. We donate to
YogaActivist.org. If anyone has old mats they'd like
Go Yoga to donate for them, I'd be more than happy to take them!"
Jessica:
"I
cut my old mat up and used it for furniture pads (under the corners of
my bed, to keep it from slipping on the floor). Also, there are MANY
school programs that can use the spare mats.
lineageproject.org is one of them.
What to look for in a new mat:
Ralph De La Rosa
is a lifelong spiritual seeker and, more recently, a spiritual finder.
Yoga and meditation have offered him the hands-down, best solutions
to the depression, addiction, anxiety and trauma that weighed him down
for a very, very long time. Ralph is the manager of
Go Yoga, teaches meditation with The Interdependence Project (
www.theidproject.org), and is studying to become a psychotherapist at Fordham University.