My new ecoYoga jute mat arrived the other day so this evening I ventured into my local park to do some yoga. I live in London, and got this mat from a small company in Scotland who specialise in making yoga mats from sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. It’s nice to be using a mat that’s actually been made in the UK and hasn’t been made using slave labour in a developing country! It’s also the grippiest mat I’ve ever used — It’s seriously non slip. I feel completely supported.

Why get a mat made from natural materials?

“Yoga mats have become the major accessory to ones practice and with the ever increasing trend it means millions and millions of mats are out there being bought and disposed. That’s a lot of mats in landfill sites.

We believe the postures on your yoga mat are the beginning of a journey to protect and promote the health and well-being of your body, mind and soul. If this inner awareness is awakened one hopes it finds reflection in the external world. Practicing on a shiny glossy plastic mat made as cheaply as possible for maximum profit we view as the antithesis of yoga. It is a simple gesture to practice on a mat created with yoga in mind from renewable resources.”

We thought it would be lovely to be able to practice on something a bit closer to nature: something aesthetically considered but still have a good grip! Of course the choice is up to you!” — ecoYoga

Find out more about eco yoga jute mats. They’re made by an eco company in Scotland but they’ll deliver anywhere in the world.

Photography by Carrie Allen