Yoga is great for your mind, soul, and body. Yoga is most efficiently done on a yoga mat. However, since yoga can be very physically strenuous, yoga mats can become dirty and suffer from degradation. As such, yoga mat care and protection is of the utmost importance for all who practice yoga.

First and foremost, protecting your yoga mat before and after yoga sessions is necessary in order to keep your yoga mat in pristine condition for when you are ready to use it. Classic yoga mats and value yoga mats generally have small grooves in them which provide a non-slip surface upon which you can conduct your yoga procedures. However, when storing your yoga mat, these grooves can pick up dirt and debris and also rip and tear. Using a yoga mat bag to protect your mat is a simple and effective way to keep your yoga mat looking great. If your classic yoga mat or value yoga mat does not come with a mat bag, you can purchase one online at  sunshineyoga.com. Yoga mats are very easy to store once placed in a bag. They can be placed in your garage or under your bed and out of sight. The bag will prevent dust from settling on your mat, or animals and bugs from having access to the comfort of your mat. The mats from Sunshine Yoga are sturdy, affordable, and machine washable.

However, protecting your mat is not the only care required for a yoga mat. It is also important that you routinely clean your yoga mat. Take the time to clean your yoga mat prior to and after yoga sessions. This will prevent any buildup of dirt, sweat, and bacteria. Make sure you use an environmentally safe cleaning solution that is also safe for human contact. Ideally, a simple soap and water wipe-down with paper towels would be best. Yet, this method is time consuming. To save some time with cleaning your yoga mat, you can also use wet-wipes. Since yoga mats are composed mainly of rubbers and plastics, it is important that you make sure the cleaning solution you are using is compatible with these surfaces and will not dissolve plastics, rubbers, and paint.

Overall, it is important that you care for your yoga mat just as you would care for any other surface in your house that contacts both human skin and the environment.