In the modern era, Yoga is essential for everyone because of contemporary lifestyle side effects of stress and mechanical lifestyle, so the easy solution to manage this is Yoga as a practitioner; you can practice anywhere in your garden, office, yoga studio, at your living room, beach, etc. and a yoga mat is necessary for your practice.
Those who practice regularly or experts will recommend different types of yoga mats, such as cork yoga mats, rubber mats, etc., because, through yoga mats, your practices become more effective with ease and comfort.
When you search the market, you will find many varieties of yoga mats because they are made of different materials according to the practitioner’s goal and provide extra cushion, comfort, support, balance, etc.
What is a cork yoga mat?
In yoga practices, a yoga mat is a trendy and standard tool, and most of the yoga mats are of synthetic rubber plastic foams made of PVC or TPE (thermoplastic elastomers), a type of plastic with attributes similar to rubber.
So, as a yoga practitioner, you must ask yourself a question while performing Yoga: What does Yoga mean?
Yoga means the union of body, mind, and soul; you practice mindfulness and balance your body and mind. Yet, you want to practice on something made of toxic plastic, which is unsuitable for your body and mother nature.
Then what is the solution in the market? When we check in the market, we get to know the answer, ‘cork yoga mat,’ which has gained popularity for its unique and eco-friendly attributes.
The cork yoga mats come from Cork, a natural material that we get from oak tree bark, and it’s also a renewable and sustainable material.
Are Cork or Rubber Yoga Mats Better?
The cork yoga mats have a nonslippery surface, give a better grip than other mats, and carry antimicrobial properties, which means they help to make your mat cleaner and more hygienic. They are better during sweating; germs and foul odours do not impact these mats, unlike other mats that absorb.
Rubber yoga mats are known for their elasticity and durability, but unlike cork mats, they cannot handle humidity or sweat, and they get slippery during sweating. Hence, you cannot maintain a proper grip, or holding postures very well in an intense workout becomes challenging.
The cork mat becomes better to grip during high-intensity yoga workouts.
A combination of Cork and natural rubber yoga mats is also available. They are both from raw tree material. These types of yoga mats combine Cork’s natural properties with rubber’s durability and cushioning.
So, in these yoga mats, one side is a cork surface, and the other is a rubber surface, which offers both benefits and makes them popular among yoga aspirants.
How does the cork mat compare to a regular yoga mat?
When we compare cork mats and regular yoga mats, we can see that the material used in regular yoga mats is PVC or polyvinyl chloride, the most common material.
Regular mats are trendy yoga mats because of their affordable price, durability, grip, and easy maintenance, but they are unsuitable for our environment and nature.
PVC does not come directly from the environment; it is a factory made of different synthetic materials and petroleum.
Although many regulatory and safety agencies recognize it as safe, many believe it has some toxic properties and can release harmful chemicals even during mild heat.
Let’s compare regular yoga mats with cork mats.
Cork yoga mats are natural because they come from oak tree bark, are accessible from toxins, are better in grip, have antimicrobial properties, are hygienic, are easy to clean, and are free from any foul smell.
Still, I am not recommending or promoting any yoga mat, and it entirely depends on the yoga aspirant needs or requirements.
5 Reasons Why Cork Yoga Mats are Best For Yogasana
1. Cork yoga mats are Natural and toxin-free.
Cork comes from the oak tree bark. It comes from nature and has no environmental damage, so most cork yoga mats are also natural, and it’s from tree bark, so there is no destruction of trees in this process.
That is why people change their mats and switch from factory-made synthetic yoga mats to eco-friendly cork yoga mats. These cork yoga mats are free from toxins, so when you do intense workouts in these mats, you are not taking any harmful fumes or toxins inside your lungs.
2. Cork mats have antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
Cork is from tree bark and is naturally resistant to many bacteria and fungi because of its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. So, you do not need to think about any fungal infection while practising Yoga on your yoga mat.
The antimicrobial or antifungal properties of the Cork make it an excellent choice for anyone with any skin-related problems, sensitive skin, or allergies. Cork is considered a material that is not likely to cause any allergic reaction when touched, eaten, or used, so without any doubt, you can practice any workout on these yoga mats.
3. Nonslippery surface
Cork provides a nonslippery surface to get a good grip while practising asana. You can easily practice Yoga without any doubt during sweaty sessions.
The Cork absorbs a bit of water or sweat, which gives a good grip, and your hand or legs do not slip during any yoga session.
4. Easy to clean and lightweight
Cork yoga mats are much lighter than other ones, so you can easily carry and clean them. They are the perfect mat for the yoga enthusiast, and because they are so convenient, you can easily travel with them. It’s low maintenance, and you can usually clean it with a gentle wipe through a cloth after your yoga practice.
5. Unique and stylish
Since it has come from the bark of an oak tree, through the stripping process, the bark would grow back in the next season so this made it a sustainable natural resource; because of this reason, cork yoga mats are unique and stylish, and they give you a touch of natural beauty in your practice.
People Also asked ( Google Search Results)
Is a cork yoga mat better?
Yes, cork yoga mats are better because of their lightweight, nonslippery surface. Cork has antifungal anti-bacterial properties, so sensitive skin or allergic people can also use them. Cork yoga mats are also natural, sustainable, and toxin-free, which makes them a better option.
Are cork yoga mats better than rubber?
Rubber and Cork are natural products, and rubber is considered less harmful and less toxic than PVC and other types of yoga mats. It is known for its good elasticity and durability.
Cork yoga mats give more grip during practice because of their nonslippery surface, and they are not toxic and even suitable for sensitive skin users.
Are cork mats more expensive than other yoga mats?
Yes, cork yoga mats can be more costly than other yoga mats because of many advantages. Still, they will pay for themselves in the long term because they are low maintenance, natural, and toxin-free, which is also good for your health. So you don’t need to replace them very often.