So you finally bought your own yoga mat instead of using one borrowed from your studio or instructor. With the proper care and storage, your new yoga mat should last between 1 ½ year to 2 years, depending on the amount of use. The following tips on storage of yoga mats will help maintain the quality of your mat and extend its life.
Mats are easily stored by rolling them and securing the roll in place. Some mats come with straps or harnesses to secure the roll for easy storage and travel. If your mat did not include straps, many other options are available.
Mat bags provide a great way of storing your mat between uses, as well for traveling to classes. Traditional yoga mat bags load on the top, while newer styles use a side zipper for loading. Most bags are long and narrow, providing just the right shape to keep the mat rolled while not in use. They come in all colors, shapes and materials, so you can be sure to find one you like, whether you want the bag to express your individuality or just serve a basic storage function. Traditional bags range in price from $13.95 for a basic mat bag at Hugger-Mugger, $29 for a cotton canvas bag in various colors and patterns at Barefoot Yoga.com, up to $100 for professional quality, heavy duty bags at Saka Yoga.com.
The larger duffel-style bags offered by many yoga vendors provide enough room to conveniently store a yoga mat, props like belts, blocks, and wedges, and even a change of clothes. Yoga totes offer another efficient option for mat storage. These specialized yoga mat bags are usually highly compartmentalized with lots of slots and openings for carrying additional yoga practice supplies. They have a sleeve or straps fitted to the bottom of the tote for storing a rolled mat on the outside of the tote. Yoga totes range in price from $40 to $100. High-end bags like those from Timbuk2, Crescent Moon, or Saka can range from $100 to $200, depending on the brand and any special features built into the bag.
Yoga mats should be cleaned on a regular basis, preferably before storing the mat. To clean your mat, use diluted soapy water. Towel-dry the mat or let it air dry before rolling it and storing it. You can speed the drying process by rolling a towel inside the mat to help absorb excess water. Just remember to remove the wet towel before rolling the mat and storing it to prevent mildew.
At least two vendors, The Body Shop and Jo-sha, offer products specifically geared toward cleaning yoga mats. Jo-sha sells natural cleansing mat wipes that are made with natural ingredients and essential oils. Choose from lavender, peppermint, tangerine or eucalyptus. The Body Shop offers a yoga mat spray, containing a blend of essential oils meant to clean and freshen the mat.
Finally, store the mat by rolling the side you use to the outside of the roll. This method will help keep the corners flat when you unroll it for yoga sessions.
For the most part, storage solutions for yoga mats are easy to find. A quick search of the Internet will yield many results and allow you to choose from among a variety of styles and price ranges.
