From crow pose to tree pose, yoga evokes a physical and spiritual connection with nature. Through the concepts of karma and ahimsa, yoga teaches that every action – no matter how small – has consequences. By challenging yogis to mind their breaths, the practice fosters an awareness of self and a better understanding of the self’s role in his or her environment. Much more than a physical exercise, yoga encourages well-being and kindness on and off the mat. In these ways, yoga is inherently environmentally friendly. Nonetheless, the practice of yoga consumes natural resources. Yoga studios are most often heated with coal, and yoga mats are generally made of plastic that never biodegrades.
In response, many yoga studios are making conscious strides towards a more sustainable lifestyle. The Green Yoga Association (GYA) is an alliance of 251 (and growing) studios that have committed to greening their practices. Clothing in the studio’s shop, and collect old yoga mats to donate for reuse.
The GYA suggests that each individual studio focus their efforts on one major environmental issue. A studio that concentrates on water issues might make a commitment to fix leaky faucets (which make up almost 14% of home water usage)2 and convert its standard toilets to low-flush toilets (which can save up to 5 gallons per flush)3 . A green studio does not have to abide by any specific standards to earn the “green” title, so make sure to ask what your studio is doing to be green. I bet there’s even a sustainably run yoga studio near you! Cities with sustainable yoga are popping up all around the world, including Toronto, Canada, Noida, India, San Francisco, USA, and Tulum, Mexico. To find one in your area, browse this directory .
Yoga is practiced in many forms. There’s hatha and vinyasa, ashtanga and iyengar, integral and moksha, and so on. Some types of yoga, especially those that rely on well-heated rooms, are less environmentally friendly than others. In bikram yoga, the studio must be heated to 95 degrees and above. Temperatures that high necessitate at least a couple of space heaters and a lot of fossil fuel power. Some studios are wisely supplementing their gas heaters with roof-top panels to use clean energy instead of traditional and dirtier energies. However, installing solar panels can be expensive and many yoga studios rent their space and thus may not have the decision-making power to install solar panels.
Thanks to all the different types of yoga, bikram enthusiasts are welcome to experiment with similar types of yoga that are gentler on the environment. Moksha yoga also relies on heat and a standard set of poses but has strict environmental standards for studios, such as sustainable building standards and natural cleansers. But you shouldn’t expect to find a moksha studio near you. Because Moksha was founded in as recently as 2004, only about 30 studios are devoted to the practice.4
Practicing at home may seem more eco-friendly because it doesn’t require a commute, but its environmental impact in fact depends on several factors. When you practice alone, do you play a video, turn on the lights, and heat your room above its normal temperature? If you do, it might make more sense to travel to a studio, where the room’s light and heat is shared among many yogis, not just one. As an added bonus, practicing with others benefits your practice. In my experience, listening to another yogi’s ocean-sounding breaths deepens my own breath. If you’re going to use natural resources to do yoga, why not make it the most rejuvenating experience possible for you? However, if you do practice at home in the natural light or outside and at your home’s normal temperature, then you are doing great with your sustainable yoga practice!
As a fellow yogi, I recommend experimenting with different types of yoga, finding the type that best suits you, and then learning about how to practice your preferred form of yoga in the most environmentally friendly way possible. To start, follow these simple tips:
- Choose a yoga studio close to home. To warm up your muscles and breathe easier, bike or walk to practice.
- Talk to your yoga teacher about the studio’s environmental values. What good things is the studio doing already? How could it improve? Don’t be afraid to speak up.
- Apply the concept of carpooling to yoga. Invite your friends to your yoga class. The more people, the higher the room temperature, which leads to less space heaters and less fossil fuel consumption per capita.
- If you practice at home, light beeswax candles instead of traditional candles or turning on the lights. When the weather is nice, head outside.
- If your yoga studio still offers reusable water bottle instead. If you don’t have a bottle, donate to the Green Yoga Association and get a complimentary bottle!
- Before heading off to a yoga conference or retreat halfway around the world, consider your plane’s fossil fuel emissions. Offset your carbon emissions with a carbon credit or, better yet, choose to attend an event closer to home.
- Purchase a jute, organic cotton straps.
- Buy less yoga stuff. From 2004 to 2008, the number of yogis in the U.S. decreased by about one million, however, the money spent annually on yoga products and services nearly doubled during those four years. We’re all guilty of buying an extra yoga mat or towel or that cute new tank that we don’t really need. During your next yoga practice, consider this quote: “When asked what gift he wanted for his birthday, the yogi replied: ‘I wish no gifts, only presence.’” – Unknown
All this being said, don’t brood too much over what you or your fellow yogis should or shouldn’t be doing for the environment. Yoga teaches us to let go and move on, not to pass judgment on ourselves and others. Keep Mother Earth in mind and heart, and be confident that in time you will find balance.
