The Toxic Truth About Your Yoga Mat: Is Your Yoga Mat Safe?

You might consider yoga to be of your best self-care practice’s, but what if I told you that the very yoga mat you’ve been practicing on, is not caring for you as much as you think? 

Today’s post comes from Co-Founder of Gymbella Wellness Co., Hena. I’ve recently had the pleasure of e-meeting Hena (oh these wild Covid times) who has not only introduced me to her gorgeous female-empowered brand, but has also opened my eyes up to toxic truth about my yoga mat (which I have happily broken up with), and how it can be affecting my hormones… 

So without further ado, let me pass you over to Hena…

Is your yoga mat safe or toxic?

At the end of class, lying in child’s pose with my head face planted on a shared yoga mat in the gym, all I could think about were two things: one, how many people have sweated on this same mat and two, what are yoga mats really made from? 

Curious, I returned home and googled “what are gym/studio yoga mats made from” and low and behold, the answer horrified me… PVC. A toxic plastic and human carcinogen also known as polyvinyl chloride. 

Nice, right? Well, no, not really. 

PVC is a rigid substrate and to create the flexibility in yoga mats, plasticisers, known as phthalates, are added. The article I read advised that phthalates have been linked to reproductive issues and ‘The Environmental Protection Agency’ place phthalates on a list of chemicals that “may present a risk” to human health as suspect endocrine disruptors (hormone-disruptive chemicals). 

What shocked me further was to learn that not only is PVC harmful to our health but also to the health of our Planet.  

PVC is not only harmful to our health, but to the health of our planet too.

Greenpeace has identified PVC as the single most environmentally damaging type of Plastic. Contaminating humans and the environment throughout its lifecycle: during its production, use, and disposal. PVC Mats are not biodegradable , difficult to recycle and most end up in landfills. When buried in landfill or incinerated PVC produces harmful “dioxin” a known carcinogen into the atmosphere.  

If, like me, you considered yoga mats to be your ‘safe space’, then don’t worry, we did too. Myself and my best friend, Donna (who I co-own Gymbella with), could not believe we were unknowingly exposing ourselves to toxic chemicals and inhaling and absorbing potential hormone disruptors through our skin whilst lying on our yoga mats. 

It’s this reason alone why Donna and myself decided to create our own range of PVC Free Non-Toxic Yoga Mats for a community of likeminded women striving to take care of their health, well-being, and our beautiful earth.  

Last year we Co-Founded Gymbella The Wellness Co. creating a collection of high-end Yoga Mats that are both beautiful to our bodies and kinder to our planet.

All Gymbella Yoga Mats have been created 100% PVC FREE, certified with no phthalates or toxic chemicals, and are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. 

In giving back to our beautiful earth we plant a tree for every Gymbella Yoga Mat purchased. When you choose a Gymbella Yoga Mat you are not only investing in your health, but you are also helping to reduce Climate change too.  

We understand that our Gymbella Yoga Mats are a higher cost than cheaper PVC Yoga Mats, but what is the true cost of a PVC Mat when it comes to your health and our Beautiful Earth?  For we believe that your health and your planet is priceless. 

Don’t you agree? 
  
With love, 
  
Hena – Co-Founder Gymbella The Wellness Co. 

PS, Gymbella have kindly given me a generous 10% discount code for all my followers and readers to enjoy so please do make sure you check out their PVC free yoga mats here. 

Psttt, to find out more about my yoga journey, then check out the video below which features my beautiful Gymbella yoga mat! I’ve included tips for both starting yoga & how to stick it out when you feel like giving up. Trust me, you can do it!