January is for resolutions and health kicks. It’s also the month of #yogarevolution, if you follow Yoga with Adriene. I’ll be rolling out my yoga mat every day this month for the challenge!

Up until recently, I didn’t give much thought to what my yoga mat was made of. When shopping for one, my main concern was cushioning: “the more the better,” said my poor knees. But today as I sat down to do some research on the best mats out there I asked myself, what are they made of?

You’re reading about a petroleum product of the week, so obviously petroleum is involved here. Before we get into that, though, let’s learn a little about where yoga and yoga mats came from.

Early Roots: Yoga’s Beginning

Yoga has been around for at least 5,000 years—some believe the practice is up to 10,000 years old. No one knows for sure how long it’s been around, really, but they know it’s an ancient practice. Early forms of instruction were written on palm leaves, which were fragile and have been lost, damaged, or destroyed since their creation.

The beginning stages of yoga were developed in Northern India, and in time it spread across the globe. It was only in the 1800-1900s that yoga masters traveled West, bringing their practice with them.

Yoga is avidly practiced today by a wide array of people. It’s a fantastic way to strengthen and recover the body from the wear and tear we put it through on a daily basis. So many restorative poses!

Pidgeon pose, anyone?  

From Child’s Pose to Happy Baby: Yoga Mat History

Ancient yoga practices were conducted on grass, hard ground, or animal skins. Skins became costly and sacred in India and many moved to using towels, cotton mats, or rubber mats.

In 1982, a yoga instructor utilized the underlay of European carpets as “mats,” but these only lasted a few months at a time. The material began to peel and yogis (likely) became frustrated with always having to replace them.

The first mat designed specifically for yoga was introduced in 1990, and the first eco-friendly mats were produced in 2002.

Today, acupuncture mats are being developed, and you can even buy yoga mats made from recycled material, such as wetsuits.

Downward Fold…Towards Your PVC Yoga Mat

Most yoga mats are now made from PVC, which is extremely durable. On the other hand, some mats are made from biodegradable oil/PVC. These often need to be replaced sooner than PVC mats, which can last a long, long time.

And, as we’ve discussed here many times in the past, PVC is made from petroleum. So the mats you and I use to ground and stabilize ourselves during our practice are yet another part of the world of petroleum products.

There you have it, folks. Go forth peacefully into the world and continue your practice knowing that your PVC yoga mat is made to withstand rigorous workouts and many years of practice. As you grow and develop through the years, your mat will grow and develop right alongside you.

Namaste.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_mat
http://www.yogabasics.com/learn/history-of-yoga/