Always bring your own yoga mat!

I hate to admit it, but I'm going to say that mats at studios aren't much better. I've had to use a funky smelling mat or two in a pinch and often (not always), mats are cleaned by studio clients in exchange for free classes, and who knows how diligent these volunteers are about cleaning. Ever since chatting with Pam the esthetician for the hot yoga skin care guide, I've been haunting by her little reminder to wash the face immediately after practice because we put our feet all over a space where our face will likely also touch.

To be fair, the study also points out that most of the germs weren't strains that will make you sick, but the fact that such a large concentration of germs thriving in the same space means that more dangerous bacteria are more likely to be found there as well.

Next time you use a community mat, make sure you wash your hands immediately after class and shower as soon as you can. If I have no room for my mat, I carry Stirlen Chi mat wipes to quickly clean the community mat before class. When I travel and plan on hitting a yoga class, I bring  my Yogitoes towel with me to spread over the community mat (a large towel will also do the trick).

If you're in between mats, like I was a few months ago, local company Natural Fitness makes a great range of affordable, eco-friendly mats and I love my Lotuspad mat. It's thick, cushy, made of recycled rubber and holds up to a hot yoga practice.