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Cleaning Your Yoga Equipment for a Healthy and an Enhanced Yoga Experience

Take a moment to think about it… Be honest. Really honest. How often do you clean your yoga mat? Cleaning does not mean just wiping it off with a towel after class. I mean really clean it with soap and water, a mat cleaner and dry it off with a clean towel, not the one you just used in class to wipe the sweat off yourself. If you are being honest, it’s not often. Yoga can generate sweat and dirt, but your environment, equipment, and materials should be pristine and in good condition in order to enjoy yourself.

Your Yoga Companion

Yoga is a great way to relax and so your yoga equipment should be your greatest companion in your journey. Your mat, yoga ball, and other props and accessories help to get the best out of your sessions.  Imagine a yoga class without a mat – you really can’t. Most yoga classes have you posing on your mat, with most of your body, including your face, hands, feet, butt, and knees stretched out on the mat. A clean mat is therefore very important – a good yoga class will give you great physical and mental health benefits, but a clean mat and yoga accessories will give you a great yoga experience.  Keeping them clean will also prolong the life of your equipment, giving you many years of use.

Equipment Hygiene & Health Risks

Are you committed to taking the time and giving your equipment a good clean?  Some yoga classes, such as Power Yoga are intense and fast-paced, thereby producing sweat; others are relaxing and gentle, with deep breathing against your mat and accessories. It may not be obvious, but these sessions make your mat dirty and get them soiled, generating germs, foot fungus, and bacteria. Whether you practice as part of a sports club, in a local studio or privately at home, using a clean mat and other equipment should be a priority, not only to have a good experience during your class but to avoid the risk of picking up illnesses due to the spread of infections.

Your Cleaning Routine: Kill the Germs

To prevent the spread of germs and bacteria cleaning your mat after each class is ideal, but also time consuming. If you are not cleaning it after every class, then do so at least once a week. To remove dirt and sweat, you can use yoga mat wipes to wipe them after each use; be careful not to use too much soap, there are products exclusively for yoga mats and if your mat can go in the washing machine then wash it every 2 to 3 weeks depending on how often you use it.

Giving your mat a regular clean is not just for appearance, but it’s important that the cleaning routine also focuses on killing the germs and bacteria. For instance, some cleaning wipes and cleaners may be basic with no disinfectant, and will only wipe sweat and other dirt, but will not kill the germs. You should therefore choose the right disinfectant and antibacterial cleaners that will kill the germs on your yoga equipment, without causing problems to your health. Finding all natural cleaners are also a positive option.