An alarming study reveals just how frequently you need to be cleaning your yoga mat
A regular yoga practice brings us mental clarity, boundless energy and long, lean, bendy limbs (at least, we hope). But with the good, comes the bad. And in this case the ‘bad’ is downright disgusting.
As we enter the dimly lit yoga studio and call the four corners of our mat home for the following 60 minutes, it’s important to note that this ‘home’ is also potentially being shared with up to 100,000 different forms of bacteria.
Yes, that’s right. That cushy yoga mat you sink your face into as you perform downward dog is also likely the host to some seriously gross infectious diseases.
According to US surgeon Dr David Anthony Greuner, “making skin contact with a dirty yoga mat covered in germs and bacteria can lead to skin infections, acne, toenail fungus and even transfer of the herpes virus and staph and strep infections in susceptible individuals.”
Speaking to ELLE, medical professor Dr Robert Lahita revealed “a yoga mat is a perfect incubator for many of our skin infections, mainly because people sweat on them and they are rarely cleaned.”
Setting out to test this theory for themselves, ELLE actually performed a yoga mat swab and the results were, well, scary. Amongst the findings was a bacteria commonly found in people’s mouths, ringworm, Athlete’s foot, an infectious disease called “flesh-eating-step” and a variety of staph.
But wait, there’s more. Research carried out by EllipticalReviews.com revealed an alarming stat that mats used in a hot yoga class presented a staggering 25,533 CFU (‘colony-forming units’). In other words, eight times dirtier than a toilet seat.
Before you set your yoga mat alight and swear off the practice forever, it’s important to remember these studies don’t speak for your mat or your gym.
However, to ensure your next yoga class isn’t going to give you a flesh eating disease, we do recommend wiping down your mat before and after every use.
bh recommends: Isocol Rubbing Alcohol Antiseptic
If you’re still skeptical, well you can always stick to walking outdoors or treating yourself to a nutrient-rich meal replacement shake to assist with weight management.
bh recommends: Rapid Loss® Meal Replacement Shakes
Did you use a yoga mat? Are you surprised by some of these findings?
96 Member Comments
Wow this just confirms the suspicion I already had, so I wasn’t being paranoid for always bringing my own mat to the gym!
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No wonder they rid of them in our gym BYO.
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Thank you for the timely reminder!
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Cleaning is the obvious part.
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Thanks for this beautiful article..would clean it regularly now!!
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I am very surprised by these findings, will need to clean it more now.
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great reminder, I get a damp cloth and wipe it down after use at home in the warmer months as I get sweaty but don't do it much in winter. Will be using the rubbing alcohol to kill off the bugs at least from now on!
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Add some drops of tea tree oil, I am not sure water will get rid of all of the germs and bacteria.
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8 times dirtier than a toilet seat???? Omg everyone please clean your yoga mats, I know I will be
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Just found some Isocol in a spray bottle, hubby uses it to clean his car windows but I am grabbing it for the mat....
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I use my yoga mat at home only but still wipe both sides down with a disenfectant wipe on each side after use and air dry. I've never liked the idea of going to a yoga class as there's just too many germs for me.
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I use the antibacterial wipes at the end of my yoga class.
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Ewwwww....I really need to clean my mat a lot more than I do now :(
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I use my own yoga mat, after every work out out side of my home ,I spray then air dry.
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I bring my own mat to the gym and clean with wet wipes after each use.
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That’s very diligent of you!
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Eek I hardly ever clean mine, I don't use it very often though, it's currently rolled up in my wardrobe lol
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Good to know. First I need to star with yoga. I have been wanting to do it for very long time.
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I wipe mine down with antibacterial dettol wipe after I use it everytime.
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Thanks for the reminder to clean my mat again!!!!
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I also think changing the mat once a year is best too. Fresh, new and doesn’t have the odour smell. What is best to use a tea tree wipe or spray?
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