About Yoga: To Mat or Not To Mat?

If you can't see this email, click here

Yoga Yoga Yoga Styles Beginners Poses & Workouts From Ann Pizer, your Guide to Yoga A recent article in The New York Times looked at the nascent trend of practicing yoga without a mat. If you are worried about the health and environmental impact of using a yoga mat, there are a few different eco options available. Are You Ready to Toss Your Mat? Having practiced a little bit on my wood floor while testing out ToeSox, I found it slippery and hard on the bony parts in poses like hands and knees balance and bow, so I think I'll be sticking with my mat for now. What about you? Click here to vote in our poll. Lotuspad Eco Yoga Mats Until recently, I only knew about two kinds of yoga mats. Old school mats, which are made of PVC, are relatively cheap and easy to come by. While they function just fine, PVC is not biodegradable and may pose a health risk. The alternative was a natural rubber mat, which seems better for the environment and your health, but are more expensive, heavier, and tend to have a strong rubber odor. Then I discovered the Lotuspad Eco mat, which is non-toxic, non-smelly, and a pleasure to use. Natural Rubber Mat Reviews Rubber mats made by Jade Yoga and Manduka certainly have their devotees. These mats have great longevity and are super grippy. Pose of the Week- Plow Pose - Halasana You know what feels really good? When you're in shoulderstand, lower one leg into the plow position, keeping the other leg up as straight as possible. It's kind of a half plow. Then switch legs. Yoga Ads Yoga for Beginners Yoga Poses Surya Yoga Hatha Yoga Yoga Mat Bags Featured Articles Yoga Products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month Yoga Frequently Asked Questions Beginning Yoga Practice An Index of Yoga Poses Yoga Styles Yoga Audio, Books, and Videos   More from About.com Is it a Cold or the Flu? Knowing whether you have a cold or the flu can help you treat your symptoms more effectively. More > Concerned About Your Drinking? This short quiz can help you identify whether or not you have a drinking problem. Take the quiz now > This newsletter is written by: Ann Pizer Yoga Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Yoga newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Must Reads What is Yoga? Yoga for Beginners - How to Start Yoga for Weight Loss Find Yoga Poses 30-Day Quick Start Yoga Guide Advertisement