Between flu season and COVID-19, everyone should take measures to stay healthy. Yoga can help boost the immune system. However, beware of yoga mats. A clean yoga mat is a must for a healthy practice. Believe it or not, exercise mats harbor many germs. In fact, they can have more germs than an airplane seat or a toilet. Can your yoga mat make you sick?
A Professor at Rutgers School of Medicine, Robert Lahitia, claimed, “A yoga mat is basically an inanimate object used to spread an infection.” We often wipe mats to visibly remove sweat or dirt, but most contain deep grooves that are home to hard-to-remove bacteria. A quick wipe of the mat’s surface leaves these crevices unreached. The germs that can make you sick are not removed.
Along with various types of fungi and viruses, Lahitia also stated, “A yoga mat is a perfect incubator for many of our skin infections.” If a mat is not cleaned properly after use at a studio, the next person using it will be in contact with those germs. This can be dangerous and create a liability issue for the studio.
Studies show that the germs on yoga mats are more than the common cold germs. Without disinfecting shared mats properly, these infections can infect other members. If a student has a staph infection, those germs could be clinging to your mats. Bacteria live longer in warm temperatures. Hot yoga practices can present even greater risks. A yoga mat can make you sick.
Are your yoga mats clean?
You may think you’re safe by scrubbing the surface of a mat with bleach. Although bleach is a good disinfecting product, studies show that bleach can be harmful to your lungs. Bleach may clean the mat, but it may not get into the crevices. You could be leaving bacteria on the mat.
To avoid spreading germs, some studios advise members to bring their own mats to class. However, the same problem of spreading germs remains. There are no proven home remedies that are 100% effective for sanitizing a student’s mat. Though the mat isn’t shared, the student can leave germs on their mat on the floor. Germs are everywhere. Household disinfectants and standard methods of cleaning aren’t truly effective.
How can studios avoid spreading germs?
MatFresher was developed to solve the challenges of keeping mats clean. It is the only multi-sanitizing mat cleaning machine that eliminates germs. MatFresher increases studio revenue and requires no investment. It’s a machine that brings peace of mind to your facility’s sanitization process.
Here’s how the MatFresher cleaning machine works:
- MatFresher starts with a two-sided roller system with soft brushes to gently remove hair and debris from the mat.
- Next, the machine applies a powerful, germicidal UV light to the mat’s surface. This application destroys up to 99.99% of the most common bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
- Then, a 100% all-natural cleaning solution is applied to the mat. This spray is 120x more effective than bleach and will never cause mold or mildew.
- Finally, MatFresher neatly rolls the mat for you and pops out the bottom. You’re on your way in 30 seconds or less.
It’s faster than cleaning a mat at home and guarantees results. Exercise is meant to cleanse the mind and body. Why let your yoga mat make you sick? Visit MatFresher.com today to learn more about how your studio can increase revenue and customer satisfaction.