Repurposing your yoga mat

10 Ways to Recycle Your Yoga Mat

You hate to throw stuff out. You prefer to recycle it, give it away, or find another use for it. And then you had to replace your yoga mat. What is an eco-lover to do?

Gaiam, one of the leading distributors of yoga mats and related products, lists fifty ideas for what to do with your yoga mat when it's time to replace it. Ten ways to recycle your mat later, you'll be healthier, less stressed and breathe easier. Plus, by replacing your mat regularly, you won't injure yourself using a worn mat. Some of the clever reuses include:

1. Use cookie cutters to cut the mat into holiday ornaments
2. Cut down for placemats for pet dishes. Keeps the area neat while also prevents the dishes from sliding around
3. Clean the mat well and use it to line kitchen shelves
4. Use the mat to smother weeds in your garden.
5. Instead of buying a rug pad, use an old yoga mat (or two) to keep your rug in place. Rug pads also make vacuuming your rug easier.
6. Instead of packing peanuts, wrap pieces of a yoga mat around your valuables.
7. Strips of old yoga mat make colourful stair treads.
8. Use a piece as a welcome mat outside a kitty litter box. The mat's stickiness grabs the litter off paws preventing it from spreading throughout the rest of the house and protects kitty's paws as well
9. Cut into rounds and use as coasters
10. Cut a piece to use as a sunshade in your parked car when it gets really hot