"A yoga teacher has not succeeded if the student does not clean a borrowed mat."
OK, that's not a real quote. But it should be. Any good yoga instructor will look out for their student's hygiene. But what if you own your own yoga mat? Is yours not worthy of a little attention?
That's right - we're talking about the fancy one you bought from Jade Yoga or Lululemon. Or maybe it's that biodegradable cork mat you got at Bonnaroo. When is the last time your mat got a proper cleaning? How much longer can those black streaks be ignored?
Wiping down your gear with a sweaty towel isn't going to cut it. But don't worry! Keeping your mat clean is super simple.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
We all know the practice of yoga is cleansing and aims to help center your mind and body. But it is only really effective when you work to bring your external environment, your surroundings and belongings, into a similar state of harmony. So as you are practicing your own mental and physical hygiene, you must certainly ensure your yoga mat mirrors the order you strive to create. This is reason enough to clean your mat regularly.
Is Your Yoga Mat Making You Sick?
A yoga mat can become the perfect incubation center for bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes without proper cleaning. When you're practicing your asanas, the last thing you want to think about is what could be on your yoga mat.
Each day, humans shed between 30,000 and 40,000 skin cells. We also produce body oils, sweat and will transfer any bacteria or microbes on our skin to our mats. For that reason, your yoga mat can get pretty dirty pretty quickly. Even further, these microbes thrive in hot and humid conditions. So in workout centers where there is a plethora of body heat, these microbes thrive. If you are into hot yoga, you can only use your imagination for how fast these microbes can multiply.
In one article, the group performed a test to see what bacteria grew on their yoga mats. After two weeks of growing bacteria and performing a culture, they found two different microbes. The first one, Micrococcus luteus, is a bacteria that are commonly found in human mouths, noses, and respiratory tracks. The second, Empedobacter brevis, is a microbe that can cause immuno-compromised to become sick. These are just a few of the potential microbes that can be found on your mat.
Even if you were practicing yoga at home, you're at risk for spreading these microbes onto the yoga mat and for them to procreate quickly. If you don't take care of your yoga mat by cleaning and storing it correctly, you will be using a dirty mat that could make you sick.
Properly Maintaining Your Yoga Mat
Whether you are cleaning your Lululemon mat or looking for the best way to clean Pilates equipment, there is a safe technique for your equipment, but it still results in the best clean possible. Not only do you want to clean your yoga mat to prevent the spread of bacteria, but you need to know how to stop/prevent the yoga mat from getting sticky.
How Often Should You Clean Your Yoga Mat?
Every time you use your yoga mat, you get dirt, sweat, and other microbes on it. If you don't clean it often enough, it might even get stinky and sticky because of all the skin, oils, sweat, and dirt that will get on top of it and into the material.
You should wipe down your yoga mat after every use. And every couple of months, ideally every four to six weeks, you should do a deep clean following the proper yoga hygiene guide below.
How to Clean Yoga Mat - The 5 Commandments
Whether you are using natural yoga mat wipes or a towel, there is proper yoga mat hygiene and cleaning. Follow these steps below to learn how to clean your yoga mat properly.
- Set a regular maintenance schedule. You should deep clean your yoga mat every couple of weeks.
- Soak your yoga mat. Use a warm water and soap solution to submerge a yoga mat for a few minutes.
- Hand wash. After the yoga mat has soaked, hand clean it with a towel or oils wipe.
- Rinse your mat. Use clean water to rinse any extra detergents from your mat.
- Dry your mat. Shake your mat out to remove all water and use a towel to dry. Make sure you hang it out to dry when you're all done.
What Kinds of Cleaning Tools Does a Yogis Need?
When cleaning your yoga mat, be careful with what you use. If you use the wrong formulation or use too much cleaning solution, your yoga mat may become slippery and difficult to practice yoga. That said, you should use either towels or wipes and make sure to have a cleaning solution on hand. This solution can be a mild laundry detergent or dish soap solution or an essential oil yoga mat cleaner from our wipes.
There are many products on the market that claim to be the best product for your yoga mat. However, not all of them are created equal. For example, our super-large yoga wipes are the best option for cleaning your yoga mat. They are convenient, made from natural ingredients, are affordable, and smell incredible due to our use of real lavender essential oil.
If you are looking for the best natural yoga mat cleaner, look no further. With just one or two wipes, you can clean your entire mat and leave it clean and smelling great. Plus, lavender has natural calming effects, so you can guarantee a calm and revitalizing next yoga session.
Preserve Yoga Mat: Storing Your Yoga Mat Makes a Difference
Because many microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, love warm, wet environments, you should ensure that your mat is always dry before you roll it up. Rolling your mat up dry will prevent any mold or mildew that can destroy your mat. So before you put your mat away, make sure you clean it off and wipe it dry to prevent the spread of these microbes.
The bottom line? Your yoga mat is way grosser than you think. After you've finished an intense practice, your clothes and yoga gear are drenched with sweat, which can become a cesspool for grime buildup. You would (hopefully) not reuse those sweaty tights or shorts after an intense practice without giving them a good wash. So why keep your mat indefinitely sticky with sweat?
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