Embracing sustainability in yoga extends the principles of mindfulness into daily choices, creating a profound connection between our individual well-being and the well-being of the planet.
The connection between sustainability and yoga is deeply rooted in the shared principles of mindfulness, interconnectedness, and a holistic approach to well-being. At its core, yoga encourages a heightened awareness of oneself and the surrounding world, fostering a sense of unity and responsibility. The yoga philosophy naturally aligns with sustainable living, emphasizing the need to consider the consequences of our choices on both a personal and global scale.
Mindful Consumption: Yoga teaches mindfulness, encouraging yoggies to be present in each moment. This mindfulness extends to the choices we make, including what we consume. Opting for sustainable yoga products, such as mats made from eco-friendly materials or clothing produced through ethical practices, becomes an extension of this mindfulness into our purchasing decisions.
Interconnectedness: Yoga philosophy emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings. This interconnected worldview extends to the environment, emphasizing that our actions have ripple effects. Sustainable living, therefore, becomes an expression of recognizing and honoring the interconnected web of life, where the well-being of individuals is intertwined with that of the planet.
Respect for Nature: Yoga fosters a deep connection with the natural world. This connection encourages an inherent respect for nature. Sustainable choices, such as using products that minimize environmental impact, become a natural extension of the respect cultivated through yoga practice.
Holistic Well-being: Yoga is not just a physical practice; it encompasses mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Similarly, sustainability is a holistic concept that goes beyond environmental concerns to include social and economic dimensions. Both yoga and sustainability advocate for a balanced, harmonious approach to life.
Ethical Considerations: Many yoga practitioners find that their mindfulness practice extends to ethical considerations, including the treatment of fellow beings, whether human or animal. This ethical awareness often translates into choices aligned with sustainability, such as supporting brands that prioritize fair labor practices and cruelty-free production.
This is why today we will discuss the best sustainable and eco-friendly yoga brands in Europe, so we can fully incorporate mindfulness into the yoga practices.
Top Yoga Brands for a Conscious Practice: Yoga Mats, Meditation Candles and Yoga Wear
Southern Shores
Let's begin with the basic element on a yoga practice: sustainable yoga mats. As their website likes to put it, the Southern Shores ‘whale-friendly mats’ are perfect for those traveling as they are extremely light. Southern Shores' mats are 100% natural and plastic-free, CO2 neutral, and 100% non-slip, offering top eco-friendly yoga mats.
This brand has made it its mission to protect our oceans by taking part in several projects. Every week people working for Southern Shores take part in the Clean Beach Initiative by clearing the Mediterranean Sea from harmful plastic and cigarette butts. But this is not all. Southern Shore also collaborates with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation to protect the welfare of these elegant mammals.
Best for: Yoga mat and yoga block
Why we love them: Plastic-free, on a mission to clean our oceans.
Yoga Tribe
Yoga Tribe is a sustainable company selling stunning mats that will bring a new exciting aesthetic to your practice.
100% biodegradable and entirely made from natural fair-traded materials, these mats feature a minimalistic design and warm colors to enhance your session.Some of the materials used by Yoga Tribe include tree rubber, collected from the sap of rubber trees and known for being sustainable, biodegradable, and durable.
Another curious material often used by this brand is jute fiber. The plant from which jute fibers are derived is mainly found in India, as well as a few countries in Southeast Asia, and gives work to millions of people in rural areas.
Best for: conscious yoga mats
Why we love them: Wonderful yoga mat aesthetic, eco-friendly materials, focus on workers' welfare.
Manduka
With a humongous variety of mats to choose from, every expert yogi should be aware of this brand! The majority of Manduka's mats are made of 100% natural rubber and come in a vast array of happy colors to brighten up your practice.
The choices are truly endless. From a light mat to take with you on your next trip to unique extra-large square mats that will fit all your intricate poses.
Best for: Yoga mats and towels
Why we love them: A huge variety of products made from sustainable materials.
Sho Moon
Why not take your relaxation to the next level with some scented candles? Made from 100% pure essential oils avoiding all types of boosters or synthetic fragrances, Sho Moon’s candles can bring a new sense of peace to your practice.
The wax used for the creation of these products is completely vegan and free from paraffin, soy, palm, beeswax, and synthetic additives.On top of this, Sho Moon decided to take a stand against consumerism, making its candles fully refillable.
Best for: Yoga candles
Why we love them: Refillable candles, amazing scents.
Off with Nature
Off With Nature offers a variety of clothes perfect for your yoga sessions. From tank tops to leggings and joggers, this is the brand to opt for if you need a new yoga wardrobe made from organic cotton.
Own Off with Nature's products are made from 100% organic cotton. This means that no harmful pesticides are used in its cultivation and that plants are grown by farmers practicing crop rotation, a technique that helps preserve the natural fertility of the soil. Using organic cotton also means cutting down greenhouse gas emissions by up to 94%!
Own Off with Nature takes care of its employees by collaborating with third-party companies to make sure that all the people involved in the manufacturing processes work in an ethical and safe environment.
Best for: Yoga wear made from organic cotton
Why we love them: Organic cotton and focus on employees' welfare.
Seela Studio
This is another great brand to check if you’re looking for yoga clothes. With a variety of bras, leggings, tops, and shorts, this brand can help you find your ideal outfit for your next yoga session.
In particular, when shopping for this brand, try to look for deep blue clothes. These are usually made from castor bean fibers and colored natural dyes. This initiative was taken to minimize the amount of plastic, from which lots of sports clothes are usually made from, ending up in the ocean. But this is not all. Seela Studio also donates money to the No More Plastic Foundation to further finance the cause.
Buying one of their 'Restorative green’ clothes, on the other hand, will help finance reforestation projects. For every item you buy, Seela Studio donates 2% to an initiative whose aim is the reforestation of the Gula Gula Food Forest in Indonesia.
Best for: Yoga wear
Why we love them: Active in several projects to save our planet.
YOIQI
As Yoiqi’s website points out, “We don't produce fast fashion, but rather timeless favorite pieces.” Comfortable on the mat and fashionable once you step out of it, this brand sells leggings, bodysuits, tops, and shorts for all yoga lovers.
Yoiqi’s products are made from organic eco-friendly materials such as fine Egyptian cotton grown without neurotoxins and pesticides.
On top of this, the company makes sure that all its Egyptian employees work under fair conditions. Not by chance, all Yoigi’s production processes, from plant cultivation to clothes manufacturing and distribution, take place under one roof with the collaboration of the brand's production partner SEKEM, a company that has been promoting sustainable agriculture in Egypt since 1977.
Best for: Yoga ware
Why we love them: Best sustainable materials, focus on workers' welfare.
Organic Basics
Organic Basics sells a variety of yoga ware from bras to tops. This brand has five factories in Europe and three outside of it. More specifically in Egypt, India, and Vietnam, where the brand employs skilled professionals by offering fair retribution and creating a healthy and inclusive work environment.
On top of this, whenever you buy from Organic Basics you can choose to support a non-profit of your choice. This company has teamed up with Beam Impact so that clients can donate 1% of their purchase to their favorite charity.
Best for: Yoga wear
Why we love them: Focus on workers’ welfare, donations to your favourite charity.
