Mountain Rose Herbs Blog

DIY Yoga Mat Cleaner Sprays with Witch Hazel

Written by Jessicka | January 16, 2019

At the outset of a new year, many of us contemplate how to incorporate new healthy habits into our lives. For some of us, that means hitting our yoga mats more often for strength, stretching, and de-stressing. Finding more time for yoga is one of my personal goals, and to help inspire myself to embrace my mat, I decided to tinker with some new mat cleansing spray formulas to freshen up my routine.

If you’ve ever taken a yoga class, particularly a hot yoga class, you know that rolling up a yoga mat splattered with sweat is a recipe for some serious funk in-the-making. After your flow session has concluded, it is recommended that you spray down your mat with a cleansing spray to neutralize any sweat or bacteria that your efforts have left behind. Many of the mists I have found over the years focus on two basic essential oils: lavender and tea tree. These oils are both excellent choices for their own list of reasons, but I was looking to achieve a little something different this time around. I decided to stay away from the somewhat medicinal aroma of tea tree in favor of a more harmonizing spray that would help to maintain my post-yoga mood.

Inspired by our Chakra Essential Oil Kit, I decided to incorporate some of the energetic aspects of other essential oils in my repertoire for my new mat spray variation. I used the oils in the Chakra Balancing Blend as a guide, then drew upon my intuition for what I felt would create more balance and peace in my practice.

My nose and heart came up with two different blends. One is more suitable for a Yin or Restorative Yoga class, and the other is more fitting for an invigorating class, like a Vinyasa flow. Keep in mind that you can certainly cater the essential oils to your preferences. If you’re looking to tap into a specific energetic zone, feel free to use the essential oils found in the Chakra Essential Oil Kit as a guide.

Yin Yoga Mat Spray

Makes about 8 ounces of spray.

Ingredients

Vinyasa Yoga Mat Spray

Makes about 8 ounces of spray.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Fill clean, dry 12 oz. mason jar or glass pantry jar half way with dried thyme leaf.
  2. Fill the rest of the jar with witch hazel extract. Be sure liquid covers the herb.
  3. Infuse for 2 to 3 days, shaking 1 to 2 times a day. 
  4. Strain thyme infusion with cheesecloth or a funnel with strainer insert, then pour liquid into an 8 oz. spray bottle.
  5. Add appropriate essential oils (see recipes above).
  6. Shake well before each use. Apply liberally to your yoga mat and enjoy the fresh aroma! 

This mist was crafted to ensure a hygienic practice while maintaining harmony on your mat. The nature of the essential oils used in this spray make it suitable for use before and after class. Just be sure your mat is fully dry before beginning, to avoid any involuntary floor poses!

Pro Tips:

  • Essential oils can differ in viscosity. Vetiver, in particular, is a thick oil and can more easily be added to formulas with a dropper top. Please keep in mind that dropper tops are not intended to be used for long term storage, as the rubber will degrade over time.
  • If you are going to make a custom blend of essential oils to use for this recipe, keep in mind the aroma of the thyme leaf and witch hazel.

 

 CURIOUS ABOUT MAKING AROMATIC SPRAYS? 

 Learn About Making DIY Sprays With Essential Oils! 

 

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