Yoga is good for your mind and body, including your skin. Yoga mats, on the other hand, might not be. Using someone elsea??s yoga mat for an hour could lead to an infection.
Fungal infections are common and appear as athletea??s foot, toenail fungus, and ringworm. Unfortunately, the fungus can survive on surfaces like mats long after the infected person has left. Although most people blame the gym locker room when they develop athletea??s foot, you can catch the fungus from a variety of places anytime you walk barefoot.
Fortunately, even if the fungus comes into contact with your skin, it doesna??t always lead to infection. Dry, cracked skin, or soft, wet skin disrupt your primary defense against the fungus — the densely packed barrier of skin cells, oils and proteins on your healthy skina??s surface. Here are??five ways to prevent taking a fungus home with you from your next yoga class:
1. Bring your own mat. At least you know what you have.
2. Use an alcohol sanitizer on your hands and feet after your class. Sanitizers with at least 60 percent??alcohol are excellent at drying up the fungus and killing it long before it has a chance to infect you.
3. Clean your yoga mat. Use a solution of??one part vinegar to??three parts water and scrubbing will act as a fungicide. You can add a few drops of essential oils to the wash so that your neighbor doesna??t think that vinegar smell from your mat is coming from you.
4. Take a shower after class. Be sure to scrub your hands and feet with soap and water. Fungus sitting on the surface of your skin can easily be washed off.
5. Keep your skin healthy. Damaged, cracked, or moist skin is vulnerable skin. Dry your feet well and use antiperspirant on them if you have trouble keeping them dry. Moisturize daily to preserve a protective barrier of healthy skin which will keep infections out.
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