FAQS

Sweat works on a Jeevastra mat completely opposite to how it works on a rubber mat. As opposed to a rubber mat that becomes slippery with sweat, a Jeevastra mat absorbs the sweat which, in fact, improves your grip. Every Jeevastra mats has a strong antiseptic herb (turmeric / triphala / neem) infused in it that kills the germs keeping the mat clean. All you need to do is roll it out and let it dry naturally away from the sun. Given that the herbs do not let the germs survive, the mat does not smell of sweat when dry.

Hand wash or machine wash (gentle cycle) using organic or any mild detergent. The herbs have been infused into the fabric at an early stage, so there’s no risk of them being washed out. Do not dry it in direct sunlight as some herbs like turmeric and red sandalwood fade when exposed to the UV rays of the sun. Washing frequency depends on the intensity and type of Yoga that you do. But, typically, you don’t need to wash more than once or twice a month. Herbs like neem, turmeric, triphala, and tulsi keep the mat clean and hygienic for the next practice.

The bottom side of a Jeevastra mat has a unique natural rubber mesh that creates air pockets between the floor and the mat, thereby making the mat stick to the floor. The floor grip of a Jeevastra mat is as good as a rubber mats, and far better than the cotton ‘rugs’ you may have seen elsewhere.

A Jeevastra mat has a double weave of cotton and a natural rubber mesh, so it has enough cushioning for Yoga. However, those with sensitive knees may not find this cushioning to be enough. To them we advise to put a rubber mat under a Jeevastra for the extra cushioning. It’s important to ensure that their body comes in contact with nothing unnatural and chemical and that they’re breathing in the benefits of the natural herbs, they’re good.

Jeevastra mats have designed grip-lines to help your hands and feet get a better grip during Asanas. As such, there are no problems gripping on the Jeevastra mats. However, we have to appreciate that, for those used to rubber mats; this is a change of surface. There will be a breaking-in period when your hands and feet are still trying to get used to the new surface. It’s actually for the better because a Jeevastra mat will force you to engage your core better and further improve your technique. During this ‘breaking-in’ period, you may want to use a double mat (put a rubber mat under) to feel more confident about your grip. After a few days of practice, you would have gotten used to the cotton surface and can discard the rubber mat altogether.

To be honest, a Jeevastra mat may last you longer than you want it to. It obviously depends on how you use and maintain it, but Jeevastra mats will definitely last longer than the usual rubber mats. The herbs continue to benefit you till the time the colour remains on the fabric. You will know when it’s time to buy another Jeevastra when you see it discolouring. But it’ll be a long time before that happens.

Each herbal combination ensures that there’s at least one internal cleanser (Neem, Pomegranate shells, Triphala) and one calming stress-relieving herb (Tulsi, Vetiver) in each mat enhancing the quality of your practice. Further, one strong anti-bacterial agent (Turmeric, Triphala) is included in each herbal combination to kill germs from sweat and keep your mat clean. Each herbal combination also includes at least one herb that’s good for the skin (Neem, Turmeric, and Sandalwood) as your skin is in constant close contact with your mat. More about the different Jeevastra mat combinations on Option 1– Neem, Turmeric, Tulsi Option 2– Turmeric, Vetiver, Pomegranate Shells Option 3 – Triphala, Vetiver, Red Sandalwood

The cotton used is 100% organic and, unfortunately, the world we live in now it’s more expensive to make something natural and healthy. The herbs are picked from Agasthya forests on the western ghats. These forests are home to 2000 plant species, 400 of them native, most of them medicinal, and 50 of them endangered. Recently, UNESCO added these forests to its list of ‘most perfect biospheres’ in the world. The herbal dyeing is a manual and ancient process. The entire mat is hand woven. And all craftsmen/workers working on a Jeevastra are paid fare wage. No child labour is used, no animals are ill-treated, no chemicals are used at any stage of the process, and utmost care is taken while using natural resources like water and plants for no wastage and least impact on the environment. It takes 8-10 days to make one mat. The question people should be asking is ‘Why are rubber mats so cheap?’

If anybody ever saw a rubber mat being made, they would never use it. The amount of chemicals and PVCs that go into it to make the soft, cushiony feel is beyond imagination. There’s no price tag to good health. We all do Yoga for its benefits to our physical, mental, and emotional health. If the mat we are using has chemicals in it, it’s counterproductive to our practice. Another way to look at it is, if someone pays $100 for a mat and uses it for a year in which she practices say for 250 days, she is paying 40 cents a day. For good health, it will be the cheapest medical insurance in the world.