Sustainable Yoga Workout
Feb 08, 2022
How do I make my yoga workout sustainable?
The climate crisis is considered one of the greatest challenges of our time. Therefore, more and more people are adopting responsible behaviour in their everyday lives.
For example, the number of those who frequently forgo animal products in their diet is growing strongly: In Switzerland, for example, according to the Veganz nutrition study of 2020, around 20.5 percent live flexitarians. This means that these people give up meat on at least three days a week. Around 2.6 percent have even adopted a vegan diet - and the trend is rising.
However, there are many other ways to make your lifestyle more sustainable. Did you know that you can also make your yoga workout sustainable?
We have put together some exciting tips for you to make your yoga sessions particularly climate-friendly. With a few small changes, you can make an important contribution to more sustainability.
What role does sustainability play in yoga?
Sustainability is a complex issue, an interplay of many small sub-areas. Because our ecosystem is closely linked to economic aspects. Starting with a conscious consumption of food, to the decision for fairly produced clothing, to the renunciation of certain environmentally harmful habits such as the regular trip to the city centre for shopping:
All the decisions we make every day have an impact on our ecological footprint. Especially for yogis who strive to act in harmony with their environment, the issue of sustainability is therefore extremely important.
We often ignore certain aspects that we can easily change: For example, how many yogis shop at the organic market but then perform their asanas in fast-fashion yoga pants that emit a lot of microplastics when washed?
Sustainability in yoga should always be holistic. Or at least this is worth striving for. Because hand on heart: none of us is perfect. But the will to change something for the better and to act mindfully is an important goal, especially for yogis. And this goal can be achieved with relatively little effort.
How do I make my yoga routine sustainable and environmentally friendly?
To make your yoga workout sustainable, you need high-quality, durable equipment. It is especially important that you use natural materials for your equipment that are environmentally friendly and avoid unnecessary waste. In this way, you reduce the production of greenhouse gases that arise during the production and disposal of the products.
Theless you have to consume and replace, the better for the climate. For this reason, it can sometimes be a better choice to reuse equipment you already have instead of buying something new. For example, you can buy or borrow used yoga equipment to reuse.
If you do want something "new", products made from recycled materials are a good choice. This way you can save valuable resources such as raw materials and energy - and ultimately also greenhouse gases - and do something good for the environment.
Sustainability and sportswear? Fits together perfectly!
You can already lay the foundation with your clothing. Since sustainability is already a big issue for many manufacturers in sportswear, you can find a large selection of sports leggings, yoga pants, tops, sports underwear and more in relevant shops.
It is especially important to pay attention to the composition of the materials and the production conditions. In our article on sustainable yoga wear you will find detailed information on this topic. We also offer a comprehensive selection of yoga wear made from recycled nylon in our new online shop.
Putting together yoga equipment sustainably
You can also choose your yoga accessories based on sustainability criteria. For example, look around at second-hand shops, flea markets or classified ad portals. You can often find yoga equipment in mint condition that someone else is passing on for a small contribution towards costs.
Whether it's a water bottle, yoga block or yoga mat - a bargain or two allows you to give high-quality yoga equipment a second life and avoid unnecessary waste at the same time. Many people are even happy to give away sports equipment. So it's definitely worth taking a closer look at the corresponding offers.
If you want to treat yourself to something new, you don 't have to have a guilty conscience. Because even when new, your water bottle or yoga mat can be sustainable.
At LUVIYO, for example, we use recycled PET and biodegradable natural rubber for the production of our mats. This combination of materials makes our yoga mats particularly durable and easy to clean. So you can be sure that you are making a sustainable investment in any case.
Plan a sustainable yoga session holistically
You can act in a climate-friendly way in the entire design of the yoga sessions. Because it's often the little things that make the difference in terms of sustainability:
- Short distances: Whenever possible, conduct your yoga session at home. Every route you save that you don't take by car or public transport saves greenhouse gases. Although buses, trams and the like would clearly do better here. Alternatively, you can get on your bike or maybe even walk.
- Create the right atmosphere: An environment that is as close to nature as possible has been proven to lower stress levels and thus offers you exactly the right environment for a yoga workout with a lasting relaxation or activation factor. Asanas can be performed excellently in nearby parks. And the surroundings are also suitable for groups. In your own four walls, you can create your own oasis of well-being that will allow you to benefit from your workout in the long term. Just a few indoor plants are enough for this. Let your gut instinct decide how much green you feel comfortable with in your home.
- Easy-care, robust materials: Choose sustainable yoga equipment that is easy to clean with a reusable cloth. This way you can benefit from your sustainable yoga equipment for a long time.
- Snacks: Your diet can also be part of your sustainable yoga workouts. Prepare healthy treats from fresh organic ingredients that will give you a good energy boost before or after your yoga session. If you pack them in a reusable box, you can avoid unnecessary packaging waste for protein bars and the like. You can replenish your water supply with freshly brewed teas, which you can carry in your reusable water bottle.
Make yoga workout sustainable
If sustainability is important to you as a yogi, you probably pay a lot of attention to mindfulness anyway. With our tips and suggestions, you can now make your yoga workout even more sustainable.
You can start with an inventory and then slowly work your way forward: Where do you already use sustainable yoga equipment, where can you increase your equipment and how? Which yoga routines and habits could you change in terms of climate protection?
Once you have identified your potential, you can easily develop it. We hope you have fun aligning your yoga sessions perfectly with your sustainable lifestyle.
