As anyone who has tried yoga knows, the most important piece of equipment is your mat.  It can be difficult to find one with just enough cushion that also grips the floor, your hands, and feet well.  Many of the economy mats flooding the market are too short and tend to slip.  Additionally many of the mats on the market today are made of PVC, EVA, and other artificial or petroleum based products. 

Jade Yoga produces what they claim to be nature’s best yoga mats. The Jade yoga mat is crafted of natural rubber tapped from rubber trees and contains no heavy metals, ozone depleting substances, PVC, or other synthetic rubber.  Natural rubber is tapped, like maple syrup, from rubber trees, making it a sustainable, renewable resource.  In fact, Jade prides itself on producing mats using only components approved by the FDA for use for rubber in continuous contact with food.  Though I am not sure I would want to eat off my yoga mat after class, knowing there are not dangerous chemicals being absorbed into my body from contact with the rubber is a comforting thought. 

In addition to using only environmentally friendly components, all Jade mats are manufactured in the United States, in compliance with all US environmental, labor, and consumer safety laws.  That means their products are not only eco-friendly but fairly and ethically produced.  Plus, for every mat sold, Jade plants a tree.  So not only are you choosing a product that has minimal environmental impact, you are buying it from a manufacturer who is helping to improve and beautify the earth and its communities. 

While the exclusive use of natural rubber is an environmentally friendly decision, it does have some drawbacks.  When new, the mats have a strong rubber smell, almost like new tires, and while some people find the smell overwhelming, others hardly notice it.  If you are bothered by the smell, Jade recommends airing out your mat unrolled for several days, away from direct heat or sunlight.  Do not be discouraged by the smell; it fades over time. Remember, it smells like rubber because it is made of, well, rubber.  Natural rubber mats are also a bit heavier than their synthetic counterparts, making them a bit less convenient to take to and from the studio, but most users agree it is worth the slight inconvenience.

My favorite mat in the Jade line is the Harmony Professional Mat.  At 3/16-inch thick, it provides the perfect balance between cushion and traction.  It is crafted with open cell natural rubber, guaranteeing optimum grip.  Available in 68 and 74-inch lengths and assorted colors, there is a choice for every yogi.

See what Sadie Nardini, top NYC yoga teacher has to say about the Harmony Jade Yoga Mat.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 10:02 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.