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New Year

Happy new year dear ones. Love to all and hope this year is everything you wish it to be.

Need A Really Easy & Effective Resolution?

I suggest that anyone in need of a new years resolution should try reducing their plastic trash by just one piece. Perhaps say no to straws in drinks, maybe buy, (and remember to use), some reusable produce bags or find a milkman with refillable glass bottles. This has to be the easiest New Years resolution ever. And so effective. Immediately you are making the world a cleaner place!  Just think if every one of Britain’s 64.1 million people did this!

Need inspiration. Try quick tips to cut your plastic trash for more ideas and of the Cut Plastic Index for alternatives to plastic products.

Yoga

So this month I have signed up for the Cancer Research 31 days yoga in January. 

From the website:

  • Complete 31 days of yoga in January and raise money for life-saving cancer research.
  • Sign up for free and you’ll receive:
  • A free t-shirt
  • A free online Giving Page 
  • A digital fundraising pack
  • Join the challenge

You can contribute here if you so wish.

Plasticless

All good stuff but there’s no doubt yoga is a very plasticky business. How do I do yoga plastic free? Well for a start I use this yoga mat

The Eco Mat by Ecoyoga

The following is taken from their website 

“Almost all Yoga mats currently on sale around the world were made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride: commonly known as “vinyl”)…. In order to make PVC soft and ‘sticky’, as is required for yoga mats, many chemicals are added.”

“Rubber/ latex comes from a tree called Hevea Brasiliensis and is a lectin from the bark…. Trees can be tapped for up to 30 years after which they can be used for building or furniture construction.”

And

“Jute is a sustainable plant that is grown in regions of India and Bangladesh in a 4 month period just prior to the rainy season. It is fast growing and uses land that would otherwise be dormant at that time so increasing revenue for farmers.”

They sell a range of mats through various outlets worldwide (find stockists here)

  • 6mm Phoenix 4mm “standard” 2mm lighterweight
  • 6ft  7ft & 4ft length mats
  • 5 colours including ecoYoga’s unique colourfree
  • wabi-sabi (factory second) mats
  • MADE IN THE UK
  • Sustainable / plant-based materials
  • 100% natural rubber (contains latex)
  • No glues – No animal products – suitable for vegans
  • biodegradable
  • EXCELLENT  GRIP … even with a sweat
See where the rubber is rather worn

My Review

These mats are it is said less resilient than the PVC mats. Well I guess that would be the case – and isn’t that rather the point? However I’ve been using mine since 2019 and its standing up well to the wear. It’s still good and bouncy and the rubber has not disintegrated. There are a couple of slighty worn patches on the top but I think that’s to be expected as I drag my great feet about.

N.B. It smelt strongly of rubber when I first got it but that has worn off. 

Packaging

I bought mine from Yoga Studio – visit their web site here

I was delighted to find it came, unwrapped, in a cardboard box i.e. with no other packaging. There was some plastic tape to seal it but on the whole I was very well pleased. Though that was some time ago. You may wish to check if this is still the case

Price

From Yoga Studio,  the Eco Yoga Phoenix Yoga Mat – 6mm, currently retails at £48.00

If you find that a bit pricy you can buy seconds direct from Ecoyoga

  • 4mm 6ft  £ 26
  • 4mm 7ft  £ 27
  • 6mm 6ft £ 27.01  
  • 2mm 6ft £ 15 .. .. .. only £ 15 !!

Go on – get streching!