Hi Reader,
Let's talk about yoga mats and fertility β¨
If you'd prefer to listen to this information (with some added flare) - you can tune into the newest episode of Fringe Fertility on Apple or Spotify.β
Over the last 25 years of practicing and teaching yoga, I've worked my way through a lot of yoga mats - from cork, to cloth, to jute & natural rubber, to the cheap ones from Target and Amazon.
AND - having navigated my own fertility and worked in the fertility world for a combined 15 years, I have read a lot on the ways we can support our fertility holistically and naturally.
Fertility yoga is one of the most supportive and complete practices you can introduce into your life while trying to conceive (read the research here). Not to mention that it is quite accessible in terms of cost when compared to other holistic practices for fertility.
We also know that another great way to support our fertility is to remove toxins from our home - our cleaning products, food, fragrance, and body products. There is no lack of research here - the chemicals that are added to these products are disrupting our hormones. (Listen to this podcast about fragrance please π).
Have you ever thought about what your yoga mat is made of?
Many of the mainstream cheaper yoga mats are made with chemicals that are hormone disruptors and xenoestrogens (substances that are close enough in molecular structure to estrogen that they can bind to estrogen receptor sites and cause havoc in your body). These chemicals bioaccumulate in the tissues of our bodies and have been linked to birth defects, infertility, asthma, cancer, auto-immune disease, and digestive disorders. (read here and here to start).
Please remember, I am and always will be on your side and your fertility's side. I am not sharing this to scare you or make you think that your cheap yoga mat is the reason you're not getting pregnant. As we know - fertility is complicated.
I want you to be able to make solid decisions and control the things you can control.
Think of it this way - you want to remove some of the burden from your body so that it can spend it's energy and resources on reproduction, not constantly eliminating toxins from the body - because this will always take priority!
And eliminating harmful chemicals goes way beyond fertility - this is your overall health and your future baby's health as well.
We live in a world where it is hard to avoid a lot of these chemicals - so when we can control it - we should.
These are the main offenders found in yoga mats or involved in their production:
- Azodicarbonamide (ADA) - the 'yoga mat chemical'
- PER (let's call this PVC light...but often marketed as 'eco-friendly)
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- PFRs
- Polypropylene
- Formaldehyde
- Benzene
- Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
YIKES - no thanks.
It's a bit of a paradox really - you are hitting the yoga mat to support your fertility, but the mat itself may be interfering with your fertility.
So what's a person to do?
Find a yoga mat that is organic and made with natural materials.
Yes - they may be a little more costly than cheap PVC - and generally need a little more love and affection. But really - when you're doing a cobra and your face is jammed into the mat as you take a big inhale - do you want to be breathing in any of the above mentioned chemicals?
I've done the research and here are some good options and my recommendations for yoga mats! (I am not paid by any of these companies!)
I know these are a little more pricey - but trust me - that cheap Target mat is going to leave chunks of plastic on the floor within a few months - and you'll have to go buy a new one! Not to mention having to off-gas them outside for a couple weeks before you use it.
There is a lot of greenwashing going on in the yoga industry (misleading claims that products are organic, eco-friendly, and sustainable) and companies don't have to disclose their 'secret formula' (similar to 'fragrance'), so we have to be diligent and discerning with our choices.
I know - It's exhausting to do all the research.
And that is why I'm here - I do a lot of the research for you and pass on the pertinent info. Freeing up some time for you so that you can come to yoga!
But preferably not on a toxic mat π
You can come as a drop in to any of the fertility yoga series classes!
If you'd like to just come for a class or two - please join us. There are three more livestream classes until I break for summer ποΈ
Wednesdays May 29th, June 5th & 12th. Register through the calendar link!
Questions? I'm right here β£οΈ
XO
Kerry
(the amazon links are affiliate links - it just means that a VERY small portion of the sale goes to me - it's a great way to support small businesses - so thank you for your support!)
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