The Best Ways To Clean Your Yoga Mat

Your yoga mat is where a lot happens. Here you can explore and discover more about yourself. In the physical exploration of your body, growth, awareness of your emotions, awakening and your own connection to the universe. You can find comfort, discipline, tension, calm and everything that goes on in your yoga practice. right on your mat. This place also collected your blood, sweat and tears (figuratively and literally). This means that some things like bacteria and fungus that you might not want on your mat can build up. Simply taking at least a minute to refresh your mat after each workout is doing your mat, your workout, and your health a favor.

Why should you clean your mat?

We live in a world full of germs, viruses, microbes, and anything you wouldn’t consider “clean,” and that’s not always a bad thing. However, when it comes to the mats we sweat on, sit on and share, keeping them clean is important. Among the niyemas recorded in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the first of the five niyemas is Soga. It means pure and clean. This involves all aspects of purity, such as purity of body and mind, clean food, clean space, etc., so you can rest assured that your practice space and yoga mat should also be part of saucha. But Sauga is more than just cleaning. It goes deeper and means purifying your being and allowing your true self to shine more brightly. This means that the space around us should also be clean, as this promotes purification of mind and body. Think of it this way: there is so much dust in your body that it blocks your inner light. The only way to clear the dust is to seek and connect deeper within, use asana and pranayama to move things around, and meditate on your inner light to illuminate and clear the dust and junk that is not serving you. Like being in a dusty room where breathing becomes difficult, you feel calm and clear when the dust blocks your every breath and you can’t move freely. You must clear it first. So, like your yoga mat, it’s important to keep your sacred practice space clean so you can better explore inner purification through yoga.

It approaches godliness when both inwardly and outwardly are pure. Mahatma Gandhi

You want the space for your yoga practice to be pure, free of unnecessary clutter that can pollute your mind, body, and practice. From a holistic perspective, it’s also good for your health and well-being, especially if your practice benefits from a clean space. And it’s also respectful of those practicing in the class, so dirty mats don’t create smells, and you don’t carry around anything you don’t want other people around.
To keep these things from getting out of hand, there are a few ways to clean and freshen your yoga mat.

1. Yoga mat cleaner

yoga mat cleaner

You can buy a cleaner made specifically for yoga mats, a non-toxic cleaner that won’t do too much damage to the mat is a good option. The most common cleaning products you’ll find come in spray and wipe forms.
Here are some popular options:
— Dragonfly Yoga Mat Towel
— Hugger Mugger PureMat Yoga Wash
— JoSha Pad Towel
— Manduka Floor Mat Washing Spray

2. Homemade Spray Cleaner

Homemade spray cleaner. Imprint www.backtobasicsyoga.com/

If you don’t like buying cleaners for your mats, you can make your own! So you know exactly what’s inside. You can also create your favorite scent to make it unique. Here’s the recipe for a homemade matte refreshing spray:

This recipe is made with tea tree oil and hazelnut (if you choose to use it) as the main cleanser. They are natural sanitizers and are also refreshing with lemon or other essential oils. This recipe is easy to tweak and take out or add whatever you like. Use it after every practice session; just a few sprays on your mat and wipe down to leave your mat feeling fresh and clean.

Homemade Non-Toxic Cushion Cleaner:
— small spray bottle
— 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil
— 1 drop lemon oil (optional)
– 1 drop of lavender essential oil or any other oil you like (optional) (lavender or orange work well)
— 1 teaspoon witch hazel (optional)
— Fill the bottle ¾ full (about 4 oz) with distilled water
(You can find most of these ingredients at your local health store or specialty store. Even some of the larger consumer goods stores carry essential oils. Just make sure you’re buying good quality oils. Some well-known good quality oils are DoTerra and NowFoods Essential Oils .)

3. Soap and water

Soap and water. Imprint katiys.com

As a classic cleaning tool, you can clean your yoga mat with regular soap and warm water. I would recommend a soap that doesn’t add much, even one that you use on your face without discomfort. Use warm water, soap, and a washcloth – and gently wipe your mat a few times in each area. Be careful not to rub too hard or too hard to avoid cracking the mat. Even if you use a pad cleaner or spray after each practice session, it’s helpful to use soap and water once or twice a month for a deeper cleanse. Keeping your mat clean will extend the life of your mat too!

4. Spray and hang to dry