As promised in our last post! Presenting our new yoga accessories – Cork Yoga Mats and Cork Blocks.
Gracing the nostalgic hardwood floors in Yoga+
Let’s be real here. The truth is, none of us had ever tried out a Cork Yoga Mat. Nor a Cork Yoga Block. Using them for the first time felt a bit awkward, but not in bad way that is; it felt almost like a kid walking wobbly, but quickly realising they can run!
We had our yoga towels on standby right by the mat, feeling a bit distracted and worried about grip. You’ll know what I’m talking about – no other distractions are welcomed during a good yoga sesh. Personally, I had to mindfully disperse my reservations and thoughts about it right before we headed into Cat and Cow poses for warm up!
Before we knew it, the 60-minute practice was over. Then I remembered my concerns about grip. And right by my mat sat my unused yoga towel. So did their unused yoga towels.
In a nutshell, needless to say, I was impressed.
You’ll see why real soon. Let’s start right from the top.
Cork 101 Cork is mainly harvested from the Cork Oak tree that grows mainly in coastal towns by the Mediterranean Sea.
How is it done?
Well, the bark is stripped every 9 years. Yes, stripped! I had some reservations initially. The visual I had was akin to human skin getting stripped, until I saw this.
Just look at how thick the bark is! Courtesy of Wikipedia.
Being by the sea, the bark of Cork Oak trees had evolved itself to be able to withstand fluctuating weather conditions. The average lifespan of a Cork Oak tree is 300 years old and new trees can be harvested from the age of 25. Also, you’ll be glad to know that cork trees are never cut down. There are skilled men who specialise in bark extraction – they know how deep to cut and not accidentally harm the tree! Talk about Mother Nature and her intricate plans!
The main component of cork is a natural waxy substance called suberin. We’ll touch on that a little later. Basically, with suberin, cork is naturally an impermeable material which means, moisture can’t actually flow through it! So yes, that does make cleaning and maintenance even easier for you.
All in all, harvesting cork for products is an eco-friendly method that, as literally as it gets, uses what Mother Nature provides (:
TL;DR: Harvesting cork is eco-friendly, sustainable, and provides a natural, non-toxic and impermeable material!
Cork for Yoga Mats & Blocks
I believe I’m not alone when I say this – great grip is essential during a yoga practice! When I practice, devoting my attention and awareness to my breath more important than well, anything else for that sixty minutes. If I can take care of any variables that might disrupt my practice, trust me, I would.
Before a practice begins, I would usually place my yoga towel atop a mat without hesitation, because during the five minutes before practice, I would stretch a little on my own – child’s pose and downward dog. And even during these light stretches, I would already find my palms slipping because I have sweaty palms.
Another pre-practice favourite – using blocks to work on my shoulders! More often that not, foam blocks would shift or cave a little from pressure. Using a Cork Block for the first time was interesting – no shifting or caving, just a really solid base for me to really open up my shoulders!
To prove a point, here are candid shots of Angie and Bianca that pretty much captures their surprise after trying out our Cork Blocks (;
At this point, I have to be honest about something. The first time I practiced on my cork mat, I got really distracted. Not by traction issues.. but by the fact that I didn’t at all come close to slipping on the cork mat!
Five breaths in Downward Dog? Done. High lunge? Done. Bunny hops? Not a problem. Remember we talked about suberin? Yup, that’s exactly what helps with (;
Apart from unbeatable traction, stepping onto a cork mat felt nice, warm and a little springy! Cushioning is especially important for the wrists and knees when it comes to spending a few breaths with pressure on them. I’ll admit the bottom rubber surface definitely helped with that!
All in all, it was a surprisingly great experience! My mat did have some perspiration on the surface, but after wiping it down, it dried up pretty quickly (;
TL;DR: Cork Blocks are dense enough to provide a solid base – no more shifting and caving in. Fantastic traction, ample cushioning, easy to clean and dries fast!
Care Guide
Typically, we’d recommend cleaning the cork surface of your mat with just water and wiping it down, simply because cork is naturally anti-microbial. Air it out after a wipedown, and don’t be afraid to put it out under the sun for a while! As much as cork is impermeable, it is still an organic material and any residual moisture will encourage the growth of bacteria (;
If you are someone who takes hygiene very seriously, I’d recommend getting a mild organic mat cleaner. There are also many homemade cleaner recipes out there involving essential oils and vinegar, so have a go at that!
TL;TDR (Too Long; Totally Didn’t Read) A beautiful exceptionally eco-friendly investment that has ideal ergonomics, easy to maintain and long-lasting. Now available at Wisma Atria #B1-04, Bugis Junction #03-17 and our webstore. (See how subtly we slipped that in?) Till the next post about our next store, Stay grateful, generous and genuine.
Namaste
Sherilyn, Yogi and guest writer at Vivre Active
