Well, you have bought your yoga mat, and if you've been extra good, you've also actually used it!
Regardless of whether you practice a more calm and relaxing type of yoga or are doing power yoga several times a week, you will find that over time sweat, dirt, and other impurities will find their way to your mat. Do you have a pet? Then paw prints are a sure bet as both cats and dogs love a yoga mat!
In yoga, unlike other forms of exercise, you often find yourself with your face close to or resting directly on the mat, which is why you'll quickly discover the benefit of cleaning it every once in a while.
So I'm giving you my recipe for a non-toxic mat cleaner that won't leave you with a funky-smelling mat or chemicals on your face after training.
I use it myself for my private training mat, and after workshops where I'm bringing mats along, every one of them gets a clean afterward.
I use Lavender oil, but you can add any of your favorite oils or blend of oils. Spray the mat and wipe it with a tea towel or cloth, then let it air dry completely before rolling it up.
Training mat cleaner recipe.
Homemade mat cleaner for your yoga mat.
For one small spray bottle (50-150ml)
Distilled water ¾ of the bottle.
White household vinegar fill ¼ of the bottle.
2-4 drops of tea tree oil.
2-4 drops of essential lavender oil (or the oil you prefer).
Be careful not to use too much vinegar, and make a new batch every two months or so.
How you roll up your mat!
Have you ever considered how you roll up your mat after using it? If you're training on floors used by other people, in a space with heavy traffic, or outside on the ground in the summer, you might want to consider this.
Most often I see people simply rolling the mat from one end to the other, but it might be advantageous to change this so that you're not rolling it with the top side being in direct contact with the bottom side, which is the case when you're rolling it from one end!
You do this by first folding the mat in half before rolling it up.
Then the top side is against the top side, and when you now roll it up, the bottom side is against the bottom side. This can also help keep your mat clean and fresh for longer.
Hope this was helpful to you?
