For years now, I’ve been using yoga mats that I bought at a discount store, not knowing that there were (and are) meaningful differences among yoga mats (and I keep learning that you get what you pay for!). As I’ve been learning more about healthier products, increasingly, I could no longer deny that my yoga mats contain harmful chemicals, especially after my children starting playing on them!
Many Yoga Mats Contain Harmful Chemicals
It’s not usually possible to know the exact ingredients of any given mat, but, in addition to PVC, the most common additives include lead, cadmium, and a class of chemicals called phthalates, which disrupt the endocrine system among many other health problems. These additives off-gas and leach during product use, and are also known to seep into groundwater once the product goes to landfill.
Jade Yoga Mats
I asked around and yogis I really respect say Jade Yoga mats are the best. After trying it for the first time, I couldn’t believe how great they are! I felt unusually secure when in downward dog and in side plank.
Side Plank (But That's Not Me!)
From the website of Jade Yoga:
Jade mats are made with natural rubber and contain no PVC or other synthetic rubbers. Natural rubber is tapped, like maple syrup, from a rubber tree, a sustainable, renewable resource. We use natural rubber because it grips better and has more cushion than any of the synthetic rubbers on the market (PVC, PER, TPE, EVA). It is also better for the earth as it is made sustainably. In addition to natural rubber, our mats contain both natural and man-made components. The precise components of our mats are proprietary (the last thing we want is someone knocking off our mats overseas); Jade mats contain no PVCs, heavy metals or ozone depleting substances. All components are approved by FDA for use in rubber in continuous content with food.
I’m a bit uncomfortable with what “man-made components” are in the rubber mats, but, given what I know today, I’ll continue to enjoy these yoga mats. Furthermore, Jade Yoga plants a tree for every mat sold! Read more at Jade Yoga.
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