Handwoven Hemp Yoga Mat / Runner

Rustic handwoven 100% hemp yoga mat. Thick 41 oz hemp weave. For those who prefer the close-to-nature look. Minimize washing. Always wash separately from other items as linting and color bleeds may occur.

The Rustico Organic Hemp Yoga Mat is made from 100% organically grown European hemp. We grow the hemp, comb the fibers, and hand-weave each hemp yoga mat at the Rawganique Atelier in Europe. Sweatshop-free artisanal craftmanship.

This hemp yoga mat can be used a topper for natural rubber mats or by itself on a carpet or wooden floor (will slide on smooth wooden floor).

The hemp yoga mat measures approximately 24" by 72" and is available in Natural color (unbleached & undyed) as well as a variety of seasonal low-impact biodegradable fiber-reactive dyed colors.

Rustic, village-handwoven hemp yoga mat. It's a thick 41 oz/sq. yard fabric, soft and cozy. To compare, linen shirt is usually 5-7 oz/sq yard, so this fabric is about 8 times thicker. Many customers love to practice on this hemp yoga mat because of its au naturel character (each piece is unique and completely organic and natural and looks and feels handmade). Good for most poses, except those that need slip-proof surface. You can do the inversions with your hands and feet on bare floor and use this hemp mat for other poses. Or you can use it as a liner on top of a natural rubber yoga mat. Though customers wash this hemp yoga mat in a washing machine, we recommend spot or hand washing and air drying. If using a washing machine, use front loaders and wash separately from other items as the hemp yoga mat will lint. Wash using gentle cycle. If machine drying, dry on low/gentle and remove before dry. Also, dry separately from other items. For more regular machine washing, we recommend our Ultimate Hemp Yoga Mat in the first tab.

Care: Not designed to be washed regularly (they were originally handwoven as rug runners and may customers found they really liked the rustic feel for yoga practice). It is rustic and hand-woven. If desired, machine wash separately from other garments (front loaders are preferred). Hang to dry. It will give off lint and the color may bleed.

More Info on Handwoven Hemp Yoga Mat:

Note: This product is hand made; each piece is unique, and variations and odd shapes are part of its charms. It is not suitable for someone who is particular about a specific size or shape. If need be, the bath mat can be cross-stretched and blocked to form a more rectangular size if it arrives not perfectly rectangular. Product is machine washable in cold water. Lay flat to dry (some customers report that they have successfully dried the hemp mats in the dryer on low/gentle/cool cycle with no ill effects).

How is your hemp yoga mat different?

It's a thick 41 oz/sq yard soft & rustic woven mat that's as pure and natural as they come. It's perfect for the inclusive philosophy of yoga which stipulates that all life forms, including planet earth, be respected. What better way to do that than practice on a sustainably made hemp yoga mat that's free of the stuff that harms the earth and you?

Is there a rubber backing on your hemp yoga mat?

No. We purposely did not use any rubber on our hemp yoga mat per customer request and concern. We want our hemp yoga mat to be as pure, sustainable, and natural as possible. See ways to add a grip surface to your hemp yoga mat in the next heading.

What surface is your hemp yoga mat good for?

It's ideal for carpeted or other gripping or frictive floors of many homes and yoga studios. In our yoga studio, there is a rather rough coir carpet (which provides a lot of traction) which does an amazing job of keeping the hemp yoga mat in place even through the difficult stretch poses. See photo at top.

To use with a smooth surface, you'd need some kind of a non-slip backing. Untreated natural latex backing for carpets or rugs would do just fine.

Many customers also use the hemp yoga mat ON TOP of their regular rubber yoga mats (or those provided by yoga studios). This way, during practice, which always involves deep inhalations, they are shielded from the chemical out-gassing of conventional yoga mats in addition to having a softer surface of the hemp yoga mat to practice on.

For those using this hemp mat as a meditation mat or yoga prop, any surface is perfectly fine, of course.

Compatibility: Of the grip type, non-skid yoga mats available out there, we've found 100% natural rubber yoga mats to be the safest. All foam yoga mats contain PVC, which is really toxic to human and planetary health, especially during deep breathing. Although comparatively healthier than foam mats, natural rubber yoga mats still smell (outgas) pretty badly, plus the surface feels unnatural against the the skin. That's why our customers use our hemp yoga mats on top of open-cell natural rubber yoga mat if they need a non-skid practice surface. This accomplishes 2 things: 1) it protects against the smell (and hence any chemical out-gassing) of the natural rubber mat 2) it provides a soft and natural contact with the skin. Hemp fabric wicks away moisture at a fast rate and is naturally anti-bacterial, so it's an ideal material for mindful yoga practice.