It’s not always easy to keep your exercise practice while traveling. Hotel gyms can have limited hours and sub-par equipment, great running routes aren’t always available right out your front door, and bringing your sticky yoga mat along on a road trip may result in all sorts of things sticking to it (dog fur, pine needles, dirt).
On my road trips this summer, I’ve been bringing along the Brentwood Home Organic Non-Slip Yoga Mat. It’s made from 100% organic certified cotton with a non-slip base of 100% natural, FSC-certified latex for grip.
The 5mm-thick mat is woven so the top of the mat is textures and absorptive, wicking away moisture—keeping you from slipping or needing to wipe down the mat frequently. The mat’s thickness is ideal to ensure stability for yoga styles with more active poses, or balanced, focused poses. It’s also thick enough to be comfortable for forearm and kneeling poses, as well as for people with achy joints or sensitive knees.
The yoga mat is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified, a standard developed to define world-wide recognized requirements for organic textiles. Organic materials are held to a stricter standard—produced without pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Natural latex takes less energy to produce, lasts longer, and eliminates health concerns correlated to synthetic materials.
This mat measures 71 inches by 24 inches, which is a bit longer than some standard yoga mats. When it comes to cleaning, machine or hand wash in lukewarm or cold water, and use minimal soap (no bleach or fabric softeners). Tumble dry on low heat or line dry. To freshen the mat in between practice sessions, air it by hanging it outside.
Organic Non-Slip Yoga Mats come in pink rose water, smoky blush, sage green, ocean blue, and gray all day, and list for $135 on the Brentwood Home site.