Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats for Kids
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.22.07
Pint-size (or petite-adult) yogis and yoginis can now tote around yoga mats scaled down to their vertically challenged measurements.
The thick and foamy—and, more important, PVC-free and non-toxic—mats from Lotuspad are made from a new patented material known as thermoplastic elastomer, which has "no toxic off-gassing and does not release heavy metals and other dangerous pollutants into the environment during the manufacturing and disposal phases," according to the Lotuspad Web site.
The Lotuspad will break down over time into water and carbon dioxide, although not, the Cambridge, Mass.-based company says, before providing years of good use.
It comes in two sizes: 24x48 inches (in your choice or green or pink) and 24x66 inches (in blue). You can also purchase an attractive, matching carry strap handmade in the USA, which we favor over a traditional yoga-mat bag because it uses far less materials. One drawback: it's made from polyester grosgrain ribbon and not a more-sustainable textile like hemp, which should prove just as sturdy. ::Lotuspad
See also: ::aGaiN NYC Yoga Bags, ::Organic Cotton Yoga Rugs, ::The Harmony Natural Rubber Yoga Mat, ::Eco Mats by Eco Yoga, and ::Saka Unfur Yoga Satchel
OMFG!!!!!
I've made fun of the adult fools who are soooo into Yoga, its all the rage, and their dopey mats which will just end up in a closet collecting dust.
But now kids? That is insane. I swear, people are so lost these days. No direction, no life goals, and now so little parenting skills that kiddie Yoga seems like a good idea. No, not that it is bad, but it'll last about 5 minutes and then the kiddie mat will go in the closet next to house frau mom's and high stress dad's.
And these mats are still made from petrochemicals (oil).
But now kids? That is insane. I swear, people are so lost these days. No direction, no life goals, and now so little parenting skills that kiddie Yoga seems like a good idea. No, not that it is bad, but it'll last about 5 minutes and then the kiddie mat will go in the closet next to house frau mom's and high stress dad's.
Yes, it's far better that Mom and Dad just shove them in front of a TV.
Very useful critique.
OK, smartypants, you are ALMOST right on that. But, one could argue that at least the TV option means one less useless oil based mat to be used once/twice and never again.
Let me ask you some questions:
How many kids do you know who practice Yoga?
How many kids do you know have the patience to even begin to practice Yoga?
How many aimless upper middle class parents constantly grab at the latest fad, purchasing all the accoutremonts, not only for themselves, but for their poor kids? Like, ever other month?
Yoga for kids. That's worthy of a classic SNL sketch its so absurd.
To give a little more information about kids yoga to those who might not think that kids yoga is an absurd idea:
For all kids:
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/210
http://www.yogachicago.com/mar07/yogachildren.shtml
For ADHD and other special needs kids:
http://wholelifetimes.com/2005/10/yogakids0510.html
How yoga is being incorporated into many schools' PE curriculum:
http://www.yogaed.com/
I know many, many kids who adore their yoga practices - including the 2 kids in the photos above.
I agree with Katy and Annoymous. Just because you don't know any kids who practice yoga doesn't mean you can critiscise the idea - adn I'm sure some kids would enjoy it, especially if their parent sor family practices it.
Yea, and there are 7 year olds who can play the violin better than most adult masters too. You're missing my point.
Point: mass production of a green washed product (its plastic foamy stuff made from oil after all) marketed directly towards the knee jerk consumer who will end up using it a handful of times before tossing it in the trash, or storage (future trash).
Now, if this were made from a product similar to the eco foam that some auto manufacturers are using (made from corn I believe), I wouldn't have such an issue. Make sense?
A corn-based foam sounds interesting, is this available for mass production, and more importantly, does it make a good material for yoga mats?
TPE is not perfect, but it is an excellent alternative to PVC, since it does not release heavy metals into the environment during the manufacture and disposal phases. It's also biodegradable, unlike PVC which never breaks down.
But the real problem you seem to have with this is that it's about kids yoga, which you think is absurd. Why, i cannot imagine. You think that kids can't concentrate? Have you never witnessed a ballet class full of tiny little girls, or a kids karate class, or kids playing chess? Or for that matter, kids practicing yoga. It's a pretty cool thing, maybe you could take a moment sometime to witness it.
I know of 2 adults who practiced yoga as children. (And remember that there are plenty of Indian children who grow up doing yoga.) I dont disagree that yoga might be a fad but perhaps its a new incorporation into our own culture (like martial arts). Only time will tell. My own son does yoga in his preschool so be rest assured that his mat isnt collecting dust.
Kids dont do yoga? Hmmm.... I guess we should go tell the government of India to remove that from their formal curriculum then.
Some people would be better served if they widen their perspective just a bit more rather than critising us 'lost' and 'misdirected' parents.
kids doing yoga isn't strange. my older two children, 11 & 13, are in middle school and one of the many after school programs offered is a yoga class. it is always well attended, and those kids love it. if you happen to swing onto campus during the lunch breaks, you can usually see kids teaching their friends the newest pose they learned, or just showing off how flexible they are - since i don't eavesdrop, it's probably both.
kids doing yoga get the same benefits adults do, it lowers stress, is good exercise, improves concentraion, and makes you more flexible, among many other benefits.
we don't live in some 'hip' place like LA or New York, but in Central Texas, in Austin.
while there will always be parents, or just PEOPLE, who will grab onto any new fad, there are 1000's, of not millions, who do things like yoga because they FEEL GOOD.
:)
Yes, kids do yoga. My two sons (7 & 5 yrs. old) love it!!!
I applaud parents who see the value of physical fitness for children!! Yoga has helped my autistic boy relax before bedtime. It's fun and he loves that he has his own mat. I wish I knew they made eco-friendly yoga mats before I bought his. I will just have to buy him one when his wears his out, after all, he uses it every day!
It's funny how most people who only have negative opinions go under "anonymous". Anyhow, if concern for the environmental (fossil fuel) crisis due to our limitless consumerism is the problem for you, anonymous, you'll be happy to know that most people who practice yoga end up becoming much more aware of the vast ailments of consumer-oriented society than the average folk. Yoga actually makes us, and our children, feel more fulfilled, so we slowly leave our shop-craze behind because we find our own sense of satisfaction outside of consumerism. My daughter, by the way, has been doing yoga since the age of two, and she plays it every day with us.
cheers.
***OK, smartypants, you are ALMOST right on that. But, one could argue that at least the TV option means one less useless oil based mat to be used once/twice and never again.
Let me ask you some questions:
How many kids do you know who practice Yoga?
How many kids do you know have the patience to even begin to practice Yoga?***
Here is my answer:
I am a yoga teacher for kids - I teach ages 18 months - 13 yrs and it is a VERY gratifying and successful thing to do. I have three boys of my own - ages 4, 6, & 11 and they too have been doing yoga since they could walk. We do it everyday as a family, and they meditate for a good 15-20 minutes each day. They know how to calm themselves with breathing and meditation - it is 100% better than medicating them because they are hyper of active. It is VERY judgmental of you to think yoga for kids is not a "real" thing - it is VERY real, and yes better than TV or any CRAP modern society is forcing and manipulating our kids to need.
this is towards the people that look down on parents that do yoga with their children. You are the mort ignorant people in the world. You obviously don't know anything about yoga. It prevents disease, relieves stress and anxiety, and promotes health.
OMFG! YOU MUST BE THE WORLD WORST PARENT TO NOT WANT THEM TO BE HEALTHY BY DOING YOGA WITH YOU.