We love it even more when they tell us that they love us too!
Every now and then you get an order that's a little "outside of the box" (no pun :).....let's just say...this one fit that bill. We have had orders from all over the world and sometimes it's a piece of cake. Occasionally, it can take longer than expected even in the U.S. In this case, the order itself had some challenges....ha ha. The delivery went well though. Good job Canadian Postal Service!
Now that you've come to the source for a variety of yoga mats for your many styles of yoga and your many moods.
How do you know when it's time to retire your old mat or add a new one to your collection?
Here is a great little article from The Sanyasi Yoga Blog we thought we'd pass on....
"I recently purchased a new mat because the signs were clear: after six months of using a cheap, ⅛ inch mat two to four times a week, the mat was no longer sticky, the mat straps that were supposed to hold the mat together to and from the studio were both broken, the already thin mat had slowly been worn and pressed down to where it was almost paper-thin, and the open cell design allowed for tiny plastic chunks to be dug out of it with my toenails and fingernails every time I did a Chaturanga.
After a few months, my pink zebra print yoga mat no longer provided ample support, was not conducive to heavy practice, and worse, looked like something my dog slept on. Although the signs were clear to me, it may not easy for everyone to realize when it’s time for a new mat, so here’s a quick list of tell-tale signs you need to replace your yoga mat or buy a supplementary mat:
Some asanas will put strain on certain joints like your knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists. If you have to sit any poses out because your mat is too thin and does not support your body in certain areas, you need to buy a thicker mat (see OMboss 6mm Dirti Tree or Berri Nadi and Exotica Voyage Mat)
If a certain part of your body is constantly sore the day after practicing yoga, for example, if your wrists hurt like crazy the morning after a night full of sun salutations, you might need to buy a thicker mat.
If your mat smells bad, and you can’t shake the smell after using a yoga mat cleanser (see SUNflower Cleanser), deep cleaning cleaning it by scrubbing it and hanging it to dry, you need to buy a new mat.
If you travel a lot and need a foldable mat, or if you have a heavy-duty performance mat and need something lighter and easy to carry around, try adding a Eco-Yoga Mat (see OMboss)
Check for “bald spots” and pieces of the mat around the area where you practice. Open cell mats made from PVC are susceptible to damage from fingers and toes, and older plastic mats will shed -- necessitating a new yoga mat.
Look at your yoga mat from the side. Does it look squished down in the front of back (where your hands and feet are usually placed in downward dog)? If so, continuation of use on this mat may lead to joint damage and you need to look for a replacement.
If you do Bikram or hot yoga often and find yourself struggling with sweat and slipping, you might want to invest in an Open Cell Mat and an extra absorbent microfiber yoga mat towel (coming soon!) to place over your existing mat.
If you’ve grown somewhat attached to your yoga mat and would feel bad throwing it in the trash, don’t worry! You don’t have to toss it just yet. Place it under a carpet to keep the carpet in place, or cut it up and use as a jar opener or drawer liners in the kitchen. I threw my pink zebra mat in the trunk of my car and have been using it under my beach towel for added cushioning while sunbathing and in case of yoga emergencies as a back up mat.
Can you think of a fun way to recycle an old yoga mat? Leave us a comment below, we want to hear your ideas!
