Eco- Friendly Yoga Mats - For Your Body And Soul

Yoga is all about enhancing our life, our health and our world. It keeps you fit from within, strengthening your system and ensuring that you have a better health in the long run. However, in order to regularly practice your yoga, you need a good and sustainable yoga mat, which is also eco-friendly in its making.  A standard yoga mat is made out of PVC, a fabrAero-Fit Organic yoga matic that adds mess to the nature's balance. Whereas on the contrary, these days you will easily find a huge variety of eco-friendly yoga mats made out of materials such as jute, cotton, recyclable rubber, natural rubber, etc. These mats are not at all sticky like a regular PVC mat and can be reused after recycling. This helps maintain the nature's balance and also aids in keeping your mind and soul attached with the beauty of nature.

With the increasing demand for these eco-friendly yoga mats, a large number of brands have entered the market, offering you different styles of yoga mats. This simply makes the choice easier for the customer and also allows them to choose from a huge variety. However, in comparison to the various brands, here are 5 top quality eco-friendly mats that you may choose from. Check their features and quality for the best experience.
Aero-Fit Organic yoga mat
1. Jade yoga Mats

Choose any mat, any color, any pattern, the Jude Yoga mats are made for sustainable practices. They are not made from PVC or other synthetic rubbers. These mats are instead made out from natural rubber and based on the US environmental laws. The mats are expensive but are also attached to a very genuine cause, $5 earned from each mat is donated for the research of Ovarian Cancer research. A regular JAde teal mat costs $65.

2. Sattva Jute Mat

Made out of a natural fibre extracted from the jute plant. These mats avoid slippage, especially with its back that is made out of PER, another non-toxic material.

3. Gaiam - Green Tea Yoga Mat

Yes, green tea yoga mat! This eco-friendly yoga mat is widely used for its natural products and harmful free plasticizers. They are also not very expensive.

4. Original Eco Yoga Mat

Made out of natural rubber and jute fibre, the mat stops you from slipping and has a good grip on the floor. Comparatively, the mat is more expensive than the other yoga mats.

5. Aero-Fit Organic yoga mat

Available in a wide variety of colors, this mat prevents you from slipping off from the mat due to sweating and is bacteria free. You can use it for yoga, meditation and also other exercises. Additionally, it has a lifetime guarantee.

Exercise Stability Ball – your solution for a fit body

Exercising for a perfect and healthy body is one of our dearest needs today. And, one of the fitness trends that has attracted a lot of attention today is the exercise stability ball. Balancing on the stability ball and performing resistance movements is considered a perfect full-body exercise. Traditionally known as the Swiss ball or a Physio ball, exercising using the stability ball is a great way of stretching your body and toning it. But, when you plan to purchase a stability ball, there are several questions that arise in our minds. For instance, which type of stability ball should I purchase, what size of the ball is ideal for us, what exrecises should I do using the stability ball, and so on. So, in order to help you purchase the perfect stability ball and exercise at home,  here are a few tips that will help you go the right way.

Purchasing the right size

Exercise stability balls come in standard sizes including, 55cm, 65cm and 75cm. The ball size mentioned here indicates either its height or diameter of the fully inflated ball. Different sizes are designed to provide ideal body and ergonomic alignment based on the height of the person exercising. 55cm ball size – 5 to 5’5” height; 65cm ball size – 5’6” to 5’11” height; 75cm ball size – 6’0” to 6’3”.

Filling air into the ball

In order to ensure that the ball is properly inflated, measure its height when you have properly inflated it. For ensuring its perfect size, make a pencil mark on the wall at a height of 55cm or 65cm or 75 cm (based on your ball’s size). Then inflate the ball until its top edge meets with the pencil mark on the wall.

Weight limit on the ball

These balls are designed for an approximate body weight of max. 300lbs.

Best Exercises using a stability ball

There are several types of exercises that one can do using an exercise stability ball. However, there are always certain exercises that help you get better and quicker results. These exercises include:

Alternate leg hip extension – Lie down on the floor with your ankles on the ball. Now lift one leg off the ball raising your buttocks. Lower your leg and repeat on the other leg.

Hip marching – Sit on the stability ball with a small arch in the back. Now, lift one leg in the air and hold still for a few seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

Alternate leg and arm hip marching – Sit stable on the ball and lift one leg and its opposite hand in the air. Hold for a few seconds and then repeat with the other leg and hand.

Lumbar alternate arm – Lay down on the ball supporting your upper back. Now raise one arm over your head and then slowly lower it. Repeat with the opposite side.

Groin and hamstring stretch – Sit on your stability ball with both your thighs apart and feet absolutely flat on your floor. Slowly lean forward to touch your left ankle with your left arm. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat it on the other side.