Rest for the Weary

Despite all the fun of the holidays, they can leave us feeling haggard once January 2nd rolls around, what with the stresses of traveling, house guests, and last-minute shopping amongst the equally stressed, irritated and haggard rank and file. After a harrying trip of my own, I found myself needing more than a little peace of mind before Christmas had even started, and while browsing for (last-minute) gifts at a (vastly overcrowded) athletic store, I found salvation in an affordable PVC-free yoga mat from Nike.

We mentioned a number of eco-friendlier alternatives in "BYO Yoga Mat" last November (traditional mats are made from PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, which leaches hormone-disrupting phthalate plasticizers and brain-damaging lead in addition to releasing dioxin into the atmosphere during production), but Nike's are a bit more affordable, at only $25 each for the smaller size (a larger mat is available for $50). They're made from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which is a compound of plastics that, due to its chemical structure, can always be recycled. Of course, the base material is petroleum and therefore non-renewable, but TPE does not require phthalates and doesn't leach chemicals like lead, as PVC does, making it a healthier material for you. TPE mats are also a good eco option for those allergic to latex, which is a common ingredient in some PVC-free mats.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one craving some post-holiday serenity: Nike's online store is currently sold out of these. But the company informs us that the mats are still available in brick-and-mortar stores (find one online at www.nike.com), and we found a few online sites with a healthy supply; see www.power-systems.com.

If the thought of visiting yet another store or fighting another crowd makes you weary, start the year off on the right eco footing: See if any of your friends has an old mat he or she wants to get rid of before you buy a brand new one.