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When we think of yoga, we think of health. We think of being perfectly in balance. We think of taking time out of our day to do something good for our body and for our mind. Heck, we might even just think of it as an excuse to wear exceedingly comfortable pants and splurge on a $5 coconut water afterward. However, we don’t typically think yoga class as a 90-minute tango with filth and infection.
Unfortunately, while yoga might be amazing for you, your yoga mat definitely is not. As it turns out, the porous surface of your mat is an absolute haven for all kinds of trouble causing bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
I mean, think about it. Your yoga mat is basically just a sponge-like buffer between your own sweat and the sweat of those who have come before you. Plus, throughout your practice, your mat is exposed to your own grossest kinds of sweat… everything from foot sweat to butt sweat. Yuck.
And then what typically happens after class? If you’re a responsible/ hygienic human, you might do a quick 3-second wipe down of your mat with a slightly dried out antibacterial wipe. However, if you’re already rushing to the next part of your day, like so many of us usually are, the mat gets rolled up while it’s still warm, tossed in the trunk of your car, and marinates there until your next practice. Not the best.
What’s even worse? Borrowing a loaner mat at the yoga studio. Whatever things the 10 people who used the mat before you were carrying into class with them or sweating out are now in contact with your body. Even if the yoga studio is super responsible and wipes them down after each class, there can still be microorganisms that survive. The little buggers hole up in the little nooks and crannies of the foam, and when you’re midway through that Sun Salutation, they’re getting cozy with your skin. Lovely.
So what kinds of critters can your yoga mat carry? Well, for starters, strep, flesh-eating strep, staph (even including MRSA), ringworm, athletes foot, E. brevis, and M. luteus according to Elle Magazine. All super fun things that you’d do well to avoid. Also, super fun things that thrive in heat, making heated yoga studios like those used for Bikram even more pleasant environments for the growth and resulting havoc of these critters.
What are the best ways to deal with your rolled up bacteria strip? For one thing, bring your own mat. Every time. It’s just not worth it to use the loaner mats. Also, be sure to clean your mat regularly. Using antibacterial, antiviral cleaning products like Lysol can be effective, or rubbing down your mat using a mixture of water and bleach. Additionally, consider bringing a towel along to class. The towel is an effective barrier between your own skin and the mat, and you can easily wash it afterward. Make an effort to minimize your skin’s contact with the mat. Consider wearing pants instead of shorts or a t-shirt instead of no shirt or a sports bra. Finally, be sure to shower off with anti-bacterial soap after practice. Even just a quick rinse can go a long way. These simple precautions can greatly reduce the chance of you experiencing a yoga-mat-induced infection.
For more information on this topic, check out this piece on Elle.com.
