Yoga Blog

 Cork Space is an eco yoga mat that can handle repeated demanding use. Although at first glance they may appear similar, cheaper TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers) or PER alternatives differ significantly in performance and in their environment impact.     TPE & PER Alternatives  Cork Space™ Non Slip Yoga Mat x Roll at the edges, hard to keep flat. ✔ Always stays flat, no edge rolling.  x TPE is made from the combination of petrochemical derived plastic and rubber polymers.  ✔ Renewable vulcanised natural rubber.  x Foamy unstable feeling.  ✔ High-density, firmly grounded, sturdy base.   x Cork layer bonded through adhesive, chips more easily.   ✔ Cork layer bonded through heat alone. x Better than PVC, but still lacking. ...

By choosing a cork yoga mat you are not supporting the negative environmental impact that other traditional yoga mat materials are creating. Most yoga mats are made from PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. PVC is a petrochemical product that requires heavy processing from beginning to end. This manufacturing process is highly dependant on fossil fuels which as we know, are not good for our environment. Cork is Environmentally Friendly Not only is the depletion of fossil fuels an issue but PVC yoga mats also contribute to the overwhelming issue of plastic waste in our oceans. Cork on the other hand is...

The majority of the worlds yoga mats are made from mass-produced throw-away plastics like PVC - polyvinyl chloride. They're cheap and easy to come by, but are they compatible with the ethos and demands of yoga? Unfortunately, plastic and pollutants are hard to avoid nowadays. Some we turn a blind eye to, while others we press our faces into; like our yoga mats!   The ethos of yoga is not to harm the self or others; so it seems ironic to have a plastic or PVC yoga mat that is non-renewable, uses finite resources, and ultimately makes its way into...

What is an eco yoga mat? Eco yoga mats are designed to minimise their effect on the environment. Typically this means a yoga mat that uses low impact materials that don’t create unnecessary waste during their production and after their use. They are usually biodegradable or recyclable and made from sustainable materials. There are a variety of different yoga mats on the market that all differ in their quality, performance and eco-credentials.This is introduction to the different types of eco yoga mat available and a breakdown of their strengths and weaknesses. What is the benefit of using an eco yoga...

Cork is harvested from the bark of the Cork Oak Tree that is found mainly in Portugal, Spain and Southern Mediterranean countries. Using hand tools, great skill and plenty of manual labour, cork is stripped from the living tree once every 9 years.  Under Portuguese law the Cork tree is protected and entire forests are safeguarded to protect their future yields, and the local industry they support.  With each harvest the Cork improves in quality and trees have been known to live for as long as 300 years, which means some of the first trees that were harvested commercially are likely to still...