how to keep your mat clean

Essential Oils For Your Yoga Practice

Yoga mats are essential to your practice, it becomes an area which reminds you to leave your everyday thoughts outside of this vicinity so you can focus on your flow and nothing else.

Yoga mats are an excellent way to hold the grip of your hands and feet, so that your down dog can remain strong. That being said because your hands and feet may not be cleanest, this means the dirt may rub off on the mat. They also lay on the floor and get dirty, or if you do outdoor yoga, they collect grass or sand; they absorb your sweat, and then they get rolled up and thrown back in the car.

A little wipe-down of your mat can clean up surface dirt, but to eliminate fungus and germs and reduce the likelihood of catching a cold, try using an essential oil blend to sterilize your mat.

Make your own blend with any of your favorite oils or you can add these two favorited essential oils that work great in a recipe for a yoga mat spray:

Tea Tree

Tea Tree Essential Oil, which has been used as a disinfectant and anti-fungal agent for ages, is an antiseptic and is antiviral and antibacterial.

Lavender

Lavender Essential Oil is antimicrobial, along with antibacterial and antiviral qualities. Its relaxing scent is great to have lingering on your mat.

Recipe:

  • Using a small spray bottle, fill it ¾ full with purified or distilled water.
  • Add 2 drops of tea tree oil
  • 1 drop of lavender oil. (You can add others to these two, or substitute with oils of your choice.)
  • If you want, fill the rest of the bottle with white vinegar or witch hazel.
  • Now shake it up and spray one side of your mat.
  • Wipe it clean with a damp rag.
  • Do the same to the other side then let it dry for at least five minutes before storing.
  • Clean your mat after every use.

 

Now how about an essential oil blend to spray on your mat before class that helps with balance and centering? You can enjoy the aroma throughout your yoga routine.

Vitality Extracts has two blends for this:

Balance

Balance essential oil blend helps with centering and composure. It’s a combination of Frankincense, Ho Wood, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lemon, Camphor, and German Chamomile. Balance essential oil blend reduces stress, increases circulation, and is an anti-depressant and anti-oxidant.

Align

Align essential oil blend is invigorating and stimulates body and mind. It contains Silver Fir Needle, Ylang Ylang Oil, Norway Spruce Oil, Juniper Needle, and Cedarwood Oil Himalaya.  Align helps rejuvenate you mentally and physically, boosts energy, improves circulation, calms the nerves, and balances the chakras.

Other essential oils we love during our practice:

Energy

To give energy to your yoga practice, spray your mat with Vitality Extracts’ Energy blend. It uplifts your mood, stimulates your mind, and helps increase energy. Energy is a blend of Rosemary, Juniper Berry, Juniper Needle, Silver Fir Needle, Lemongrass, Clove, Nutmeg, and Black Pepper. It’s good for reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow and clearing the mind.

Citrus oils are also a great pick-me-up.

Orange

Orange essential oil invigorates body and mind, plus its antibacterial properties make it a natural disinfectant.


Lemon

Lemon essential oil, too, will help disinfect and clean your mat, while reducing anxiety and uplifting mood.

 

These are a few easy ways to keep your yoga mat clean, as well as bring your practice to another level. Try them out and let us know how you love it!

 

Leave a Reply to H Muller Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  • Elaine H. Sprouse

    Thanks for this information. <3 Very helpful!!!

  • Barbara Waters

    Very helpful information thank you.

  • Arlene

    Love it!!

  • H Muller

    Very helpful.

Share: