tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post3435910370726702135..comments2024-03-25T16:24:52.850-03:00Comments on Eco Yogini: Yoga Mat Flakes... Not the Cereal KindEco Yoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-42020216087136014582009-05-20T17:22:40.598-03:002009-05-20T17:22:40.598-03:00I bet chopped up into strips, an old yoga mat woul...I bet chopped up into strips, an old yoga mat would make pretty good "mulch" in between rows of veggies. I often hear of carpet or newspaper being used to prevent weeds from coming up between plants, but you could also reuse the strips for a few years and just cover them with bark mulch, or something prettier. Or not, if your mat was a nice color...Brenda P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15706976926804565629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-65474535774086276402009-05-15T21:49:00.000-03:002009-05-15T21:49:00.000-03:00I feel that I should clarify something here. Not o...I feel that I should clarify something here. Not only is my mat purple and flaky, it is also covered with sparkles. I think it's a great idea to use hand-me-down mats, and I like to think I am pretty comfortable with myself, but I think my next mat will be EITHER purple or sparkly, not both. (we are currently debating the origin of these sparkles, I'm sure you will be updated in later posts)Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03312290356279430924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-1417599094884957952009-05-15T10:57:00.000-03:002009-05-15T10:57:00.000-03:00Great Ideas!! Thanks!!Great Ideas!! Thanks!!Allihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387430912583880104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-60098909344481555002009-05-14T14:53:00.000-03:002009-05-14T14:53:00.000-03:00YogaWitch: Well- I think that's the interestin...YogaWitch: Well- I think that's the interesting thing about non-eco mats... they seem to last longer- like the Black Mat and why it gets an "eco" stamp. I can totally relate with the "no spring"- while we lived in BC, summers were way too hot to practice outside... only at dusk (no way I was getting up at dawn lol).<br /><br />YogaforCynics & Grace: I agree, I'm going to wait a while before purchasing another mat (andrew desperately needs one soon). I think that's the best way. Due to manduka's black mat durability, i'm sorely tempted to try their "ekomat"...<br /><br />Mandy: Oh my goodness- that totally happened to me! Even though it said on the mat: air for 48hrs before use, i thought, NAH... lol. I had a migraine after 15 minutes and my skin tingled... It still smells too but it's faded finally. I don't recommend rubber mats for anyone who has a smell sensitivity. And I agree, it makes me wonder- some natural things are not great for humans...<br /><br />Ms. Moniker- hehe, it was a fantastic tip! You should really try practicing yoga/meditation outside. it is a beautiful experience! You just need to find someplace flat and quiet :)<br /><br />Babs and Melita; it's great to hear good reviews of Jade's mat- Andrew's looking into theirs, i'm curious about their new recycled rubber mats that are soon to come out... I wonder if they will be looking into fixing this shedding issue?<br /><br />Thanks for all the wonderful comments! I'm glad it was useful and I love hearing what everyone else is finding works for them- helps with the decision making!Eco Yoginihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-75241096005736387302009-05-14T11:53:00.000-03:002009-05-14T11:53:00.000-03:00I have a Jade mat and I love, love, love it. When...I have a Jade mat and I love, love, love it. When I started teaching many classes a week on hard floors I found I needed more cushion to make my joints happy. The Jade mat is cushy, doesn't bunch, and is sticky. Which is wonderful. But...I have been using it for a year and it is flaking. Boo. I'd love to invest in a Manduka mat, but I don't want to lug the thing around. So, for now, I'm just watching my Jade mat fall apart...<br /><br />As an aside, my first yoga mat was a Hugger Mugger Aromatherapy mat. I have had it for eight years now (around that) and it still smells good. It has signs of wear but it isn't shedding. I use this mat for my home practice or anytime I am practicing on a softer surface. It is super thin. I'm honestly amazed at all it has been through!babshttp://babsbabble.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-91577182791597127122009-05-14T11:39:00.000-03:002009-05-14T11:39:00.000-03:00i have a jade yoga mat and absolutely love it! i ...i have a jade yoga mat and absolutely love it! i am starting to wear it down a bit. i see that as a good sign though. i can visibly see the time i'm spending on my yoga mat. i plan on wearing that sucker out :) after it is too far gone though i will keep it around the house for such purposes as you listed above, especially for a knee pad when i'm gardening. excellent post!!Melitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13697060059681626806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-68893718957987573742009-05-14T10:32:00.000-03:002009-05-14T10:32:00.000-03:00I bought a Jade Harmony mat about 2 years ago and ...I bought a Jade Harmony mat about 2 years ago and was so excited and spent a good bit. The first practice on it in the Virgin Islands (where I was sweating like crazy) made my skin burn like crazy. I learned that if my pores were open that the mat would really irritate me. I also smelled like my mat for hours (or until a shower :) I finally have it broken in, and the burning is no longer an issue, but it is starting to flake on me. You know when I've been on my mat, purple little balls everywhere. I have also begun to like the smell, I associate with yoga and bliss. I just wonder how good this mat is for me, great for the environment, but what about humans??? <br />Sorry, weird rant, but your post brought it out in me. <br />I do love the ideas for over the hill mats! What I like to do with mine is force others to try yoga!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17066390233640356626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-6891508795239403642009-05-14T08:58:00.000-03:002009-05-14T08:58:00.000-03:00wow i feel famous! I'm glad you liked the tip; upc...wow i feel famous! I'm glad you liked the tip; upcycling seems like a great idea too! I've only ever had 2 yoga mats- one I accidentally left at a bikram centre in 2002 never to be seen again and the one I've had since. It's terrible! Bright bright blue and cost me $10 from a discount store when I was living in a share house at uni and living on 2 minute noodles. It's actually proven to be quite durable, but then I never felt confident enough to practise outside and really put it to the test! I was thinking about getting an eco one- perhaps I should save this one for when I build up some confidence to head out into the great outdoors!Ms. Monikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05755912506153882553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-83741564348927128982009-05-14T08:20:00.000-03:002009-05-14T08:20:00.000-03:00My mat is not eco friendly. I had it before green ...My mat is not eco friendly. I had it before green was cool (I was the nerdy one in high going on about the environment!). My mat is 12 years old and shows little sign of wear and tear. It's by Wai Lana. It was probably cheap too because I got it for Christmas and I know my mom wouldn't spend a pretty penny on a yoga mat. I've looked at eco mats too, but like YogaforCynics, I won't buy a new one until the one I got falls apart.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696349282379608085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-40280710332497193282009-05-14T01:02:00.000-03:002009-05-14T01:02:00.000-03:00My, but your yoga mat looks a lot like mine...thou...My, but your yoga mat looks a lot like mine...though it's one of those made-firmly-out-of-bright-purple-toxic-waste ones, bought in 2001, used semi-regularly until sometime in 2002 or so, occasionally from 2002-2006, and quite heavily from 2007-now. That's certainly distressing news about the more eco-friendly models. I've been thinking about getting an eco-one which is also extra long and wide, and am told that the combination will likely be costly. But, then, I'm probably gonna keep using my beat-up old one until it falls completely apart, like I do with most things, which is probably still a ways off.... Maybe someone will have come up with one that's both environmentally responsible and durable by then....<br /><br />By the way, I sympathize with Andrew. There are free yoga classes offered in Rittenhouse Square in Philly during the summer, and, though free is usually for me, that's probably the most public spot in the entire city....YogaforCynicshttp://yogaforcynics.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-37546230741498573812009-05-13T23:55:00.000-03:002009-05-13T23:55:00.000-03:00I received my bright orange mat as a gift about te...I received my bright orange mat as a gift about ten years ago. I've been lucky that it hasn't worn down AT ALL in that time. (Though, god only knows what it is made from!!! This was before the "greener" mats were widely available.) It was purchased from Gaiam, and though, as I said, I'm not sure what it's made from, and it'll probably never degrade :( at least I can potentially use it for another ten years. <br /><br />And your upcycling ideas are fantastic - so my mat may continue to live in usefulness forever! ;) Seriously, I love the ideas, especially the flip flops.<br /><br />P.S. I'm so jealous you can practice outdoors. It is still frigid here in Central Oregon - in the 50's (F) every day, cloudy, windy, and stormy. In about two weeks, it'll be 95 degrees for the rest of the summer! We have no spring here, darnit.Yoga Witchhttp://greenspell.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com