Cork Yoga Mat by Gaia Guy

I tested out this awesome cork yoga mat by Gaia Guy, and to sum it up let’s just say it’s the best yoga mat I’ve used! Writing this post I had me thinking about the first time I was introduced to yoga, and how that has helped me with so much physical and mental healing.

Healing with Yoga

In my past I was someone who would get very stressed out. In high school and college I would get so wound up about exams that I would get into cycles of emotional and physical distress including panicking, cystic acne, and tense posture. Looking back, I’ve made huge strides on my spiritual care. I’m not nearly as high-strung as I used to be. I still get a little stressed here and there, but the way I handle my anxiety is much more in control. A big factor to this improvement was when I was introduced to yoga about five years ago.

I remember a distinct time in my life where I was really frustrated with my current situation. I took a meditative yoga class and walked in feeling upset. When the class was over I walked outside with so much clarity, love, and peace that the situation I was in seemed almost arbitrary. It was amazing to me that my problems could be healed holistically through meditation and yoga, rather than solely with prescriptions and therapists. I’ve dappled with yoga ever since, and sometimes pop in studios around Los Angeles.

Yoga Community meets Green Community

My friend and colleague is a yoga teacher and we’ve bonded over connections of the yoga community and the green community. I talked with her about the Seam Siren event I went to which was inspired by the idea that you can ‘wear your medicine’ by choosing natural fibers that have healing qualities in them over synthetic textiles. My friend told me that natural clothing is also encouraged in the yoga world to remain in tune with your natural spirit and body. Dappling with these correlations in my mind was around the same time my friend Ian contacted me and asked if I was interested in writing about this cork yoga mat!

Earth-friendly Gaia Guy

Ian runs the company Gaia Guy and sells a bunch of awesome eco-friendly goods like compostable toothbrushes and bamboo sunglasses! When it came to the cork yoga mat I thought how that must be a great feeling to ground yourself physically and spiritually with the world on a mat that’s naturally sourced. In fact, I chuckled a bit at the irony of striving to connect deeper with nature and the earth beneath you, while sitting on a cheap plastic yoga mat. Needless to say, I thought the idea was great, and I’m here to review this travel cork yoga mat out!

Natural and Biodegradable Yoga Mat

This cork yoga mat is 72 inches long and 24 inches wide and made with two layers. The bottom layer is made of natural rubber, and the top is made of renewable cork! The cork layer is nonslip, yet very smooth. It doesn’t leave indent on the hands when I apply pressure to it.

The cork yoga mat is also chemical free, biodegradable, antimicrobial, and eco-friendly! I love the paper label that was wrapped around the mat too which said, “You are choosing to buy a plant-based product. Gaia Guy and Mother Earth thank you!” I thought it was cool of Gaia Guy to include that message because it reminds us that we have the power to choose consciously to buy earth-friendly products, and that should be celebrated!

Another reason I love this mat is the way it looks. It’s very well-made and beautiful with the warm natural layers. It’s also gender neutral and natural looking, which actually makes it stand out among other mats I have used! It’s available in both the U.S. and Canada!