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- Introduction
- Standard Yoga Mats{10 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats{1 mention}{5 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{2 mentions}
- Yoga Towels{5 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Useful Links
- Our Sources
See Also
PVC resources
There are a number of helpful resources around the Internet on polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a type of plastic used to make many yoga mats. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice argues that PVC or the chemicals it contains have been linked to numerous health problems, including cancer, obesity and reproductive problems. This organization provides a fact sheet for consumers on the health implications of PVC and phthalates.
The Centers for Disease Control has an informative and technical overview of the current research on phthalates.
A January 2010 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives looks at the risks of prenatal exposure to phthalates.
Greenpeace covers the environmental aspects of PVC.
An industry group, PVC.org, presents the other side of the story. According to this group, PVC is one of the most widely researched plastics and is manufactured under extremely strict guidelines.
Choosing and cleaning yoga mats
Best Health, a magazine based in Canada, has a helpful article on how to choose the best yoga mat for you.
Yoga Journal offers a helpful article on how to clean your yoga mat.
TreeHugger.com has more information about the environmental impacts of PVC-based yoga mats. The article also discusses alternative materials commonly used to make yoga mats.
ConsumerReports.org has posted a blog article on yoga mats that focuses on alternatives to the traditional PVC-based mats. This post also offers advice on how to keep yoga mats clean.
RecycleYourMat.com is a start-up company that recycles all kinds of old yoga mats to keep them out of landfills.
Mary Billard at The New York Times wonders if yoga mats are "falling out of favor."
Yoga Journal conducted a survey in 2008 that has interesting details on how many Americans practice yoga and how much they spend on yoga mats and related accessories.
Yoga mat brands
