Enjoy the Positive Benefits of Yoga With Your Own Mat and Bag
Most people go to a yoga class to exercise and reduce stress. The concept is very inviting and yoga classes are becoming more and more popular at gyms and fitness centers. Many people attend a class and say it has a positive impact on their life, health and well being. People seldom give much thought to the type mat that they use for the experience. The mats provided by the gym can be a source for bacteria but most people never even think about the possibility. However, an exercise facility is the perfect breeding ground for MRSA, a horrible infection caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria that can be deadly. Yoga mats are used by many people over and over and are often not cleaned properly. This allows the bacteria to flourish on the community use mats. Instead of being a relaxing and healthy experience the mats could cause an infection that could alter a life permanently. Avoiding public use mats is a great first step to avoid bacteria.
A better solution for a yoga class is to have a personal mat that is carried to the class from home and used only by the person it belongs to. If this is not possible at least use a cotton towel or covering over the gym provided mats to reduce the possibility of coming in contact with bacteria. Some yoga mats come with a thin cotton cover that can come off and be washed. Avoid yoga mats that are made from petrochemical plastics. They can produce fumes that are harmful. A good choice is an organic yoga mat when possible. Being made from natural products, these mats are user friendly to the environment and the person using them.
When a natural mat is selected and carried to class in a nice yoga bag it is always clean and fresh to use. Avoiding bacteria in the breeding ground of a gym is healthy and wise decisions that will make yoga class a much more pleasant experience.
June 25 2010 04:06 am | Exercises and Featured