Who doesn’t feel better after a yoga class? Yoga is the union of the body, mind and spirit.It stabilizes the nervous system, decreases blood pressure, increases flexibility and endurance, and opens you up in ways that you may not have imagined.

Simran used to be a yoga teacher. She loves the practice even though she hasn’t spent much time on her mat lately. (“Yoga on the inside, baby!”) Sarah gets her yoga on every week and knows it does her body good.

But, as any student knows, the real practice starts when you walk out the door. That’s also where the rubber hits the road and your practice takes its toll on the environment.

Oh brother, that again? Yes, my dear yogin, that.

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After owning two very different yoga mats myself, I was eager to try what NF had to offer. The first mat I owned was made from natural rubber as well, but the traction on it was terrible: in less than 10 minutes, I was slipping and sliding all over! My second acquisition was also made of natural rubber, but was much better at helping me stay stable in my poses. The downside? It was quite heavy to tote around. When presented with the chance to test out the Natural Fitness Professional Yoga Mat, I accepted with excitement.

My new mat arrived speedily, packed in recycled newspaper. The label holding the mat together is made of strong, recycled materials (feels like flexible cardboard), and features info on NF's Zero Impact Program. An inch longer than standard mats, the smell of the natural rubber was immediately noticeable. As an individual who has a fondness for rubber, this didn't bother me, but for others, you might want to wipe down and air out the mat before you use it. Though it may seem small, the reversible factor of the mat was most pleasing, allowing me to choose which earth-toned color suits my mood for that particular day.

Wanting to give my new mat a tough time, I practiced three times in a row, in heavy cotton and with the windows closed (read: sweaty!). Despite the pseudo-pummeling, the mat's traction was fantastic - I didn't slip once. Having weak knees, I also made sure to do more than a fair share of kneeling poses, none of which caused me more than noticeable amount of discomfort. You'd be amazed how much an uncomfortable, unsupportive yoga mat can make you avoid practicing as often as you know you should. With a Natural Fitness mat, I look forward to my practice every day, along with that nice smell from the rubber trees. The rest of NF's products are more than worth exploring, all made from either natural rubber, bamboo, or hemp. After such a pleasant experience with my new mat, I'm bound to make another purchase from their website soon.

Note: As obvious as this may be, if you are allergic to rubber, then I wouldn't recommend using this mat.