Yoga mats in the gym

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
Just out of curiosity, does anyone how often these are cleaned, if ever? :eek: I took a class a couple of weeks ago & it occurred to me that I might be squirming around in untold amounts of other peoples sweat (and worse).
 
My guess is never. I used to use the mats at the gym to do my ab work, and they were visibly dirty, but the floor was too hard. It's gross, but I'm not a real big germ phobe, I kind of figure if it were really that bad, I'd be dead by now. I noticed people bring their own mats too.
 
It depends on the studio/gym. They should clean them. I have my own mat, so I bypass that concern, but one studio I attend has a strict cleaning schedule for the mats, props, and floors. As anal as they are about it though, it still wouldn't be enough for me.

Honestly, if you think you might take a yoga class now and then, I suggest buying your own $20 sticky mat (can be found at Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc). If you plan on taking yoga more often, then invest in a good (and a bit more expensive) mat. It's worth it.
 
I always bring my own yoga mat to the gym. Many gyms are notorious for their lack of adequate cleaning of equipment
 
Add to that the fact that mats aren't easy to clean. I wrestle with mine in our bathtub, give it a good soak, a scrub, squeeze excess water out with towels, and then hang it to dry. It's not a horrible process, but it takes effort (especially with my rubber mats).

I can't imagine a lot of gyms doing such a thorough job with multiple mats. I've read where some studios take their mats to the laundromat, but still...it's not every single day. Yet various people use one mat in a single day. Blech.

Get a Cathe mat! :)
 
I actually chimed back in to suggest getting your own mat. They're everywhere and if you search, you can get a decent price. I have two from BeachBody and I love them. Their mats are extra long for your TALL CHICK friend ;)
 
I have my own. I actually have several. C'mon you guys, remember who you're talking to here! :p Seems like such a hassle to tote them along w/all the rest of my crap, but I think I will next time I do a class. That is just NASTY!
 
Having been an instructor in several gyms I can tell you that it is likely that those mats have rarely, if ever, been cleaned. The members were supposed to clean them after each use, few did, and if they did they just quickly swiped the paper towel across the mats. Some of the mats smelled so gross that I could hardly go near them to put them away if I had to. I could hardly wait to go wash my hands. I always bring my own mat, I am too grossed out not to.

Shayne
 
I always take my own mat because I just don't know.

I even take mine with me on vacation. When I was in Jamaica our hotel had a beautiful spa with daily yoga classes. Their yoga mats smelled like butt! They were so nasty! I have a really thin travel one that folds up pretty flat in my suitcase.

Monica
 
I don't think I could use a communal yoga mat.
Just think of the positions you're in (like face right down on the mat), the amount of sweat that could be on them (and who knows whose sweat it is?). EEEW!

There are some pretty cute yoga mat bags out there. www.huggermugger.com and www.gaiam.com sell some.
 
And if you have a Harmony Mat that doesn't slide in and out of a mat bag too well, there are yoga mat straps. I got mine at Target for under $10, I believe.

Those of you who like to sew, you can make your own mat bag. It's a quick and fun project. I've made 3 that turned out really well, but the rubber mat I purchased later doesn't fit inside them...grr. Maybe someday I'll be inspired to make a bigger, 4th one.

DH carries a cheap, plastic yoga mat to work (they offer yoga for employees) in one of my handmade bags. It looks so funny, because I chose the patterns with me and the girls in mind, which means he's marching around with this mat bag made of flowers and hearts. :D I offered to make him one with like...a skull and cross bones or something. He replied, "Nah, I'm fine."

Every once in a while, I get the urge to make one with SpongeBob fabric. :eek:
 
If you don't want to drag a whole mat you could also get a mat towel. I use the non slip one from yoogitoes. They cover the whole mat. I got it because my hands sweat and I slip in downward dog. But it would be good as a shield for communal mats also!
 
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