India: The Importance of YOUR mat
On our first day of Yoga Therapy our teacher sat us down in the wee hours of the morning and asked us about our yoga mats. I thought this was quite strange, I mean come on ... a mat is a mat, right? (This is how we are starting our 2-month journey into the practice of healing?) It didn’t make sense; I have worked in so many studios that loan out mats for use, and in fitness clubs that provide mats to all students so for me having a shared space was all part of the yoga practice of union… oh how wrong I was. Here is what I learned from Dr. Mahesh Bhat on the importance of using your own mat, especially if you are going through a process of healing:
Your mat knows your energy. Energy travels with the flow of gravity: downward. Because of this your vital energy journeys to your feet and looks for the quickest escape out. Your mat acts as an energetic parachute; it “catches” your energy so that it can be put back into you during savasana. It also acts as a buffer between you and the world. Have you ever practiced yoga off of your mat or using a loaned one and been left feeling a little more exhausted than usual? Those who have their own mats might be able to relate to this. If you have never purchased your own mat it might be a challenging concept to grab, but I ask you to put your trust in me with an open mind as we talk about all of the amazing things having your own mat can do for you and your personal yoga practice.
Energy is a very real thing. We see representations of it all around us all the time. From the vibrant life-producing vitality of the sun, to the food we consume, to the emotions we feel, we are living in a chaotic world full of energy. Einstein taught us “energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another”. A really great example of this theory is Newton’s Cradle; a device named after Sir Isaac Newton, which demonstrates the transfer of energy through a series of swinging metal balls. You have probably seen these but never known the name (I didn’t know what the heck they were called and spent 5 minutes on Google typing “swinging metal balls” into the search engine—which gave, lets say, different results ranging from PG to NC17! — One ball strikes the other ones and only the last ball on the opposite side moves. It then swings back and transfers that energy through them all back to the original ball. Boom! Transfer of energy. As humans we are energetic beings. We convert food (which is basically edible sunshine) into energy using the Kreb cycle, which produces ATP through our mitochondria. This is scientific fact.
If we believe this science as true then why would we stop at the level of the physical? Emotions carry a lot of energy with them as well. This is why crying after a sad moment can leave us feeling exhausted for the rest of the day, or why being angry can hype us up more than any caffeinated drink ever could. Pure. Raw. Energy. Think now of how many times you have been having a rough day and went to yoga, or gotten into an argument over a parking space in the yoga parking lot and went into class? That energy didn’t simply disappear; you transferred it into a different form. You moved your physical body to release your emotional body, which opens up your spiritual body. THAT is the union of yoga. After understanding this concept it’s easy to see now why having a mat that is yours is so important. It’s like making sure you have your own energetic toothbrush!
Having your own yoga mat will prevent you from being overly fatigued in class because it has an energetic memory. Similar to how you know which rainbow sandals are yours as soon as you slip them on, they feel just right! Your mat remembers what you have put into it and can give back that energy that you so carefully cultivated. By using a loaner yoga mat you are risking absorbing someone else’s energy. You might be lucky and get the mat donated by a former teacher, or you might get the one from that a pissed off first time student who was brought by a friend to class and didn’t really want to be there. It’s a game of mat Russian roulette; you might strike gold, you might not, but the risk is yours.
Think of how many people out there are working through chronic depression, anger, fear… you don’t necessarily want to absorb that, especially if you are working through your own emotional process already. Now I’m not saying you should never borrow a mat. That’s much to absolute for the reality of life, instead I suggest that you have your own mat that you use regularly, clean often, and make memories on. If you happen to forget it at home or in the car one time, don’t freak out; just be aware that if you are not sticking a posture that is normally easy for you it might not be “you”. Dr Mahesh also suggests washing your hands and feet with saltwater (a cleansing agent) after using a loaner mat or coming in contact with people who drain your energy. Or better yet take a walk on the beach and let the ocean water cleanse you.
Another reason having your own mat is a good idea goes back to the energetic toothbrush example, only imagine it’s a real toothbrush. Would you want to share it? Probably not. I have worked in many studios and although they do their best to sanitize mats fully I also know that steps are often skipped or rushed through, especially on busy days with back-to-back classes. Most places use antiseptic wash that can actually be transferred onto your skin—especially if the mat is handed to you still moist from being cleaned without sufficient time to dry. And if you are sensitive to chemicals it can cause some discomfort. When you have your mat you have full responsibility to keep it clean. In yoga we call the act of cleaning yourself (internally and externally) and your surrounding space regularly saucha; cleanliness. The best part: you can use whatever cleaning process or scents you want! How delightful it is to step onto a clean mat and smell the exact thing you love; for me its sandalwood or peppermint. J
Your mat is the creation of your own personal universe. You can put whatever energy you want into this space; create whatever universe you desire. You can be strong and invincible, vulnerable and delicate, or somewhere in between. The point is it is your space. It is in India that I have learned the sacred nature of a yoga mat. Teachers always ask permission before stepping onto your mat here or using it for demoing, and they ensure that students do the same. It is not something to be walked over mindlessly; it is a magic carpet that transports those who use it to wherever they need to be. I love it when teachers use my mat because they put such strength and inspiration into it, but that’s just me. Here I have learned that respect and protecting the energy you want on it is of the upmost importance for your space to remain secure for you. If you don’t vibe well with someone and they ask to borrow your mat you have every right to say “no” without feeling guilty. You can even encourage them to find one that fits them and let them know how fabulous it is to have such a special space to practice on. Whether you buy a $5 mat from Target (or from the Rishikesh market—which is what I did here), or the newest LuLulemon/Manduka mat of the season, make sure it feels right to you. Price doesn’t matter, energy does.