Best Natural Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat- CorkYogis Review

Are you looking for the best yoga mat in the market? I know I certainly am. Like many beginners in yoga, I've struggled to find a perfect mat that is grippy, large and eco-friendly. I don't really like using plastic mats as they smell and are bad for the environment. Today I want to introduce CorkYogis, a lovely UK brand that sells the best eco-friendly yoga mats and accessories I've ever seen.

A bit about the brand- the brand was born from the idea that yoga accessories can be eco-friendly plus super ergonomic to use. The team wanted a product that was easy to use, grippy and natural to touch. Cork was the material that they chose because of it's amazing and natural properties. CorkYogis supports a charity called Destiny Reflection, a body that is a committed to tackling the problems of human trafficking and the challenges faced by human trafficking survivors. They aim to empower and educate survivors of trafficking to learn skills to find and create a better future. The charity provides free training courses in sewing and literacy to give the girls employable skills, they then sell handmade products made out of recycled sari material to create financial independence. The girls are also accepted in a family environment that they often never had, the girls are treated as individuals with their own individual journey and challenges to overcome.  

I got is this lovely Classic Cork Yoga Mat with Alignment Lines from the brand to kick start my eco-friendly yoga journey. Are you into hot yoga or sweat a lot in your palms? This lovely cork yoga mat from CorkYogis is exceptionally versatile for all types of yoga. I absolutely love how simple this mat is to clean. If you're practicing hot yoga, give it a quick spray down after every use. The only cleaning you need to do for this mat is spray and wipe it down. It dries very quickly if I want to use it twice in one day. It can even be rinsed with water or cleaned with vinegar spray for a simple freshen up. 

The top of the mat features an eco-friendly cork layer which is 1mm thick, which creates an insane amount of traction, no matter if the mat is wet or dry. The rubber on the bottom provides the perfect amount of cushion; it will not impede you during balancing postures but allows you to sit on your knees comfortably. The mat is 3mm thick, which means that it's super comfortable for the knees whether you're practising on hard o softer surfaces. I love how it's also quite lightweight (1.8kg) and easy to carry around, as it's not too thick to put into a suitcase or a carry-on bag. 

Cork is also great because of it's antibacterial properties. Studies have shown that your average gym yoga mat can contain more germs and bacteria than a toilet seat! Our priority at CorkYogis is to keep yogis fit on their spiritual journey. Cork is organically anti-bacterial so it provides the perfect clean and healthy surface for your yoga every time. 

The brand's materials come from bark in Portugal, which is carefully harvested from the tree every 9-10 years. The first harvest occurs when the tree is 15-20 years old, once the bark is taken from the tree it takes about 9 years for the bark to grow back and be ready for harvest again. The cork forests are regulated and managed with extreme care so not to damage the trees and creating this amazing renewable material. They only support fair trade farmers in Portugal, so everything's eco-friendly and labour-friendly. 

This yoga mat is super durable and soft, and looks sturdy enough for various types of activities be it yoga or pilates, weight training or anything else. I love this yoga mat for it's amazing design too, as it looks absolutely wonderful on my carpet and studio. CorkYogis sells some of the most gorgeous mats I've ever seen, and this cork mat is ultra comfortable and stylish, plus super photogenic! 

My favourite part of the mat is their alignment lines on the surface. It really helps me line up my feet and hands when I'm doing poses like downward dog or pigeon, and it's perfect for beginners or advanced yogis who need extra help when doing poses. 

Some other benefits of cork yoga mats include it's lovely natural top, it's durability, lightweight nature, flexibility and the fact that it feels super good to use. It motivates me to do yoga everyday! The quality of the yoga mat is second to none. It is well-made, and seems to be very sturdy. It will last me for years to come, and I'm so excited to practice on this everyday. 

Overall, I'm super impressed with the brand and their amazing yoga mats. By buying products from CorkYogis, you're helping a really worthy cause. I'm really a huge fan of this amazing brand and the products and mission that they've built. I highly recommend their products for any seasoned yogi out there!