No matter how or where you practice, yoga is good for the mind, body and soul, but what if we told you it could do good for the Earth too?
Enter sustainable yoga mats. These Earth-friendly mats make use of the planet’s natural and eco-friendly materials and prevent more unnecessary (and nasty) plastics, glues and fibres from entering our ecosystem.
Next time you’re in the market for new gear, give your yoga practice an eco edge with these 10 stylish and sustainable yoga mats you can buy online now.
Naked Soul | Lion Head Cork Yoga Mat
Price: $119
Feel fierce as you do your lion’s breath on this 100% sustainable cork yoga mat from Naked Soul. As well as being a super eco-friendly material, cork gets more grippy the sweatier you get and it’s naturally antimicrobial, which makes this mat perfect for hot yoga lovers (or those bendy bods who get drippy after the first few downward dogs). A handy strap is included which makes going to and from class a cinch.
Bahe | EcoMat Pro
Price: $79.99
Bahe has designed an Earth-friendly yoga mat for the minimalist in all of us. This stylish mat in a creamy oatmeal shade is made entirely of eco-friendly materials, without a trace of BPA or latex. Your hands will love pressing onto the textured surface during your yin, ashtanga or vinyasa sessions. An equally minimal strap is included.
Manduka | eKOlite Yoga Mat
Price: $149.99
Made from natural, biodegradable rubber that wasn’t harvested from the Amazon (phew), the Manduka eKOlite yoga mat provides the comforts everyone wants in their yoga practice in the form of cushioning and an anti-slip surface. It’s lightweight, so taking it to and from practice isn’t part of the workout, made without toxic dyes and foaming agents, and is 99% latex-free. The mats come in two blissed-out colours; cosmic sky and acai.
I Am That Yoga | Luxury Cork Alignment Mat
Price: $109.95
Say goodbye to fussing over whether your fingers and toes are lined up because this genius and sustainable yoga mat offers up clever alignment lines to keep your yoga practice on the straight and narrow. On the eco front, it’s made with recycled natural cork and PVC-free tree rubber without the use of nasty adhesives. Even the print is created with natural inks that are cured by UV light. It’s anti-bacterial, super grippy, durable and over 4mm thick to protect those knees.
Recycled Mats | Oceans Garden Yoga Mat
Price: $98.95
Designed by Yuin woman Anna Connell, this stunning recycled yoga mat features an ultra-soothing Aboriginal design that depicts the beauty of saltwater ecosystems. Free from silicone, toxic glues, PVC and phthalates, the 5mm mat is composed of natural rubber and eco-friendly micro-fibre suede that’s made with recycled plastic bottles. Post practice you can wrap this beauty up with the hemp carry strap that comes with it.
LovEarth | Ochre Yoga Mat
Price: $108
Roll out a stunning piece of Australia with LovEarth’s WA iron ore dyed sustainable yoga mat. Made without PVC, PER and TPE, the fully biodegradable mats are non-slip thanks to the sticky cross-hatch design on top. Made with natural tree rubber and jute, LovEarth yoga mats are now treated with OEKOTEX listed stay-fresh technology from Polygiene to inhibit odour-causing bacteria. LovEarth also makes recycling your old mat easy with an option to tick a box at checkout to receive a return shipping label with your order.
Mukti | Grounded Extra Large Yoga Mat
Price: $119.95
With a larger surface to get stretchy on and two sides to choose from, this Australian designed Mukti yoga mat makes going eco easy. The smooth side (perfect for more restorative practices) is made of natural rubber, while the reverse offers a grippy texture thanks to a natural rubber, jute weave and cotton combo. While it’s not intended for hot yoga use, the mat offers up a much larger yoga space thanks to its extra-large size and comes with a cotton carry strap.
Yoga Design Lab | Combo Yoga Mat
Price: $91
Part towel, part mat, this eco-conscious yoga mat from Yoga Design Lab measures in at a thin 1.5mm making it an ideal travel companion. Fold it up to fit it in your suitcase or backpack and you won’t destroy its integrity. Featuring a brain-numbing kaleidoscopic design, the absorbent top layer is made of recycled PET microfiber and it has a natural tree rubber base. Spritz your mat with a little water pre-practice to amp up the grip and give this gal a hand wash every three uses to keep her feeling fresh.
Yoga Everywhere | Bondi Beach Yoga Mat
Price: $129
Featuring aerial photography of Bondi Beach by Remy Gerega, this Yoga Everywhere mat is biodegradable, recyclable and washable. Stay gripped to the floor thanks to the 100% natural rubber base while keeping things sweat-free up top on the absorbent microsuede. Free from nasties like PVC, silicone, phthalates and chlorine, this one won’t unravel with any unnatural odours and is printed with water-based ink. There’s also a handy carry strap included.
Chuchka | Flora Vegan Suede Yoga Mat
Price: $79
Bondi label Chuchka has wowed us yet again with this gorgeous vegan suede sustainable yoga mat. Quell some of the guilt that comes from having used plastic bottles in the past with the knowledge that each of these mats uses 20 recycled bottles in its PVC, latex, phthalate, silicone and glue-free design. The soft vegan suede is grippy and the natural rubber base will ensure your mat won’t budge even during the most active practice. It's machine washable and you’ll score a free carry strap worth $19 too.
Next up, check out these simple tips for living a more eco-friendly life.
Image Credit: Pexels