Oko Living: hand-loomed, herbal-dyed yoga mats for the eco-conscious

Jun 19

For centuries, yoga rugs have been the original tool used by master yogis and students to build balance and strength, with plastic mats only being invented in the 80’s. Designed to deepen your practice, purpose, and connection to natural wellness, Öko Living’s natural, biodegradable, and eco-friendly yoga rugs replace conventional yoga mats with the hope that this healthier alternative will once again return to its roots as the norm.

Are Öko Living Yoga Rugs Ethically Made?

These mats support talented Indian artisans and cultural preservation. Rich in tradition, it takes a full 15 days to create a single yoga rug. After GOTS certified organic cotton is cleaned, naturally lightened, and hand spun into yarn, it’s then dyed using an ancient Ayurvedic method that preserves the potency of the plants, and therefore the bioactive medicinal qualities. Next, the yarn is ethically and individually hand-loomed without electricity by skilled Indian artisans ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions, many of whom are even able to work from home, making each mat and each small variation unique to you. Natural tree rubber is painted onto the bottom for grip, and lastly, as a part of their tradition, mantras are played around the mats to purify their energy.

Is Öko Living a Sustainable Brand?

Practicing on plastic doesn’t feel right. While most traditional mats from box stores are made with PVC and can contain toxic chemicals which off-gas in your home, Öko Living’s yoga rugs are 100% natural, non-toxic, and free of man-made chemicals, heavy metals, PVC, BPA, binders and phthalates. Our skin absorbs what it touches; in this case, a mix of 20 aromatherapeutic herbs (including turmeric, neem and holy basil) known for their antibacterial, anti-fungal, immune support, skin-soothing and anti-stress properties. The clay color, pictured, is dyed with cherry plum (myrobalan). Coming into regular contact with Öko Living’s herbal-dyed mats allows our skin to assimilate the properties of the herbs, thus supporting our vitality — something a plastic mat just can’t do. When you’re face-down on your mat, the scent (not to mention the texture) awakens the senses and connects you to your practice, without the jolting smell of synthetic you may be used to.

Öko Living Yoga Rug Review

But how does it perform? Lighter than a traditional mat, it’s only 3.4 pounds, making it perfect to travel with, yet it’s extra supportive with 5mm of thick, 6-ply organic cotton cushioning. A non-skid bottom prevents slip, while unique ridges at the ends build strength and alignment and encourage proper positioning. The artificial “stick” of synthetic mats, actually hinders balance because praticioners will often dump their weight into their hands and feet, using friction to hold the body in place. Switching to a yoga rug, you’ll instead use your core strength to grow your practice.