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Practicing yoga helps you cultivate a clear mind and a healthy body, but it’s hard to relax into savasana if you’re worried about toxic chemicals in your yoga mat. Unfortunately, some yoga mats contain preservatives, plasticizers, and pesticides that have been linked to hormone disruption, cancer, and other adverse health effects.
Some yoga mats are also made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a non-biodegradable synthetic plastic that can off-gas harmful chemicals. It’s not all bad news, though — there are several options for non-toxic yoga mats out there that are made from natural materials, like cork, organic cotton, and natural tree rubber.
Here are our top picks for the best non-toxic yoga mats for you to practice your asanas and breathwork.
What Makes Some Yoga Mats Toxic?
As you take deep breaths during yoga practice, the last thing you want is to be breathing in toxins. Some yoga mats, however, are made from unhealthy synthetic materials, such as PVC.
PVC is cheap and easy to work with, but it’s known to off-gas toxic chemicals and harm the environment. This plastic also generally can’t be recycled, and the Center for Biological Diversity estimates that seven billion pounds of PVC are discarded each year in the U.S. alone.
Producers of PVC also often add other harmful chemicals and heavy metals to PVC to make it easier to work with, such as phthalates (known endocrine disruptors), chlorine, lead, and cadmium.
Some other materials you might find in conventional yoga mats include polyurethane, polyester, conventional cotton, and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR, or synthetic rubber). Not only can these materials cause issues to your health and the environment, but manufacturers may increase the risk by adding plasticizers, dyes, and fire retardant chemicals.
Tips for Choosing a Non-Toxic Yoga Mat
To find a non-toxic yoga mat, look for ones that don’t contain PVC, phthalates, or synthetic rubber. Be wary of any mats that have a chemical smell or use flame retardants.
Instead, look for yoga mats made from natural materials, such as:
- Organic cotton
- Wool
- Jute
- Natural cork
- Natural rubber
Make sure the mat doesn’t have a chemical smell, too. If it has a pattern on it, look for ones printed with water-based inks.
7 Best Non-Toxic Yoga Mats for Your Practice
Now that you know which materials to choose in a non-toxic yoga mat — and which to avoid — check out our recommendations for the best non-toxic yoga mats. With these mats, you can enjoy a safe, mindful practice without having to worry about toxins on your mat.
1. Gurus Roots Cork Yoga Mat
The Cork Yoga Mat from Gurus is made from natural, sustainably-sourced cork and rubber. It has a great grip, making it a good choice for hot yoga or other sweaty practices.
In fact, the grip of the cork actually improves when it gets wet. Plus, it’s naturally antimicrobial and doesn’t absorb heat.
This non-slip, non-toxic yoga mat is also reversible, so you can use either the cork or the rubber side. We also like that Gurus partners with Trees for the Future to help plant trees in rural communities.
If you opt for a Gurus cork mat, make sure to roll your mat rather than fold it to avoid cracking the cork.
2. Live Well 360 Organic Cotton Yoga Mat
Handwoven by artisans in India, the Live Well yoga mat is made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. With no harsh chemicals used during production, this mat is strong, long-lasting, and washable.
It’s lightweight at only two pounds and can be used both indoors and outdoors. If you’ll be using it on a smooth hardwood surface, you might want to place a non-slip pad underneath your mat to make sure it stays in place.
3. Kakaos Pure Jute Yoga Mat
Kakaos makes non-toxic yoga mats from a mix of jute and rubber. These mats provide good cushioning and grip so you don’t have to worry about your hands slipping around in your downward-facing dog.
These mats have a 6 mm thickness and are both durable and long-lasting. Plus, they’re biodegradable, making them an eco-friendly option on this list of the best non-toxic yoga mats.
4. Manduka eKO Yoga Mat
Manduka’s eKO yoga mat is a biodegradable mat made from natural tree rubber. This mat offers excellent grip after the initial break-in period.
It’s durable, long-lasting, and doesn’t contain any PVC or harmful plasticizers. Note that the same can’t be said for some of Manduka’s other yoga mats. Manduka’s GRP series is made with polyurethane foam, for example, and its PRO series uses PVC.
Make sure to choose Manduka’s eKO mat if you’re looking for the best non-toxic yoga mat.
5. Scoria Yoga Mats
Scoria is a women-owned Canadian company that makes non-toxic yoga mats for both adults and kids. Scoria’s mats are made with sustainably-sourced cork and natural rubber sourced from Portugal and Vietnam.
They have excellent grip and come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses, so you can choose the mat that works best for you. Scoria also uses water-based and non-toxic adhesives and dyes to bind and pattern the mats.
You can choose from a variety of beautiful patterns, as well as stock up on non-toxic yoga blocks, meditation cushions, and other accessories. As part of its commitment to sustainability and community, Scoria donates 10 meals for every mat sold through the nonprofit organization, Feeding Children Everywhere.
6. JadeYoga Harmony Yoga Mat
Made in the USA, JadeYoga’s Harmony yoga mat is crafted from natural rubber. These mats are free of PVC, phthalates, heavy metals, and harsh chemicals.
They have a great balance of grip, comfort, and weight to support your yoga practice. While the Harmony mat is a great choice for everyday use, JadeYoga also makes some other mats if you’re looking for a mat that’s more lightweight or has additional cushioning.
7. Big Raven Yoga Mat
While not the most natural yoga mat on this list, Big Raven yoga mats are still a more eco-friendly alternative to PVC yoga mats. Big Raven makes its mats from a brushed microfiber suede.
This suede is a polyester-nylon blend that’s made from other recycled synthetics. It’s soft when the mat is dry and has excellent grip if it gets wet, such as during hot yoga.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about slippage, since Big Raven’s yoga mats have a biodegradable, 100% natural tree rubber base.
You can choose from lots of colorful designs that are printed using non-toxic, water-based dyes. If you’re looking for a unique-looking mat, Big Raven has got you covered.
Non-Toxic Yoga Mats: Final Thoughts
When we step onto our mats, we’re not just doing yoga poses. We’re making a commitment to our mental, physical, and spiritual health. So why compromise any of that with a mat that’s loaded with harmful chemicals when we could use a non-toxic and eco-friendly alternative?
The best non-toxic yoga mats are made from natural materials with no chemical additives. They’re durable, eco-friendly, and have got our backs (literally) as we flow through our yoga poses.
For more ways to avoid chemicals in your daily life, check out our guide on reducing your exposure to PFAS.
