Yoga products made of cork are cool
Is it corked? Yes, it’s corked. Not your glass of wine but your yoga block. There’s a large selection of yoga products made from this sustainable material. My conclusion? Cork is cool.
Yoga is trendy. Yoga products made of cork are even trendier. I’m not, as it seems, as neither the sun salutation nor the upward facing dog are for me. Therefore, I passed the new yoga items by Sveltus on to my wife Daniela. She recently started taking a Hatha Yoga class again and has tested the cork mat, block and other yoga accessories. She also asked Pascal de Carvalho, certified Yoga teacher, for his opinion.
The cork mat
The non-slip bottom side is made of foam, the antibacterial top side is made of cork. Pascal noticed that in certain poses, which require a good grip, he started to slip. Therefore, he doesn’t recommend this mat for Vinyasa Flow Yoga. As Pascal is tall, the mat is slightly too small for him. Nevertheless, he can imagine using these cork mats in his classes for children and young people, as it has a good thickness and feels comfortable.
What Daniela likes about this mat is that it smells nice and, compared to many competing products, has a good look and a good feel. According to Daniela, the cork mat is very light, which is great if you’re walking or cycling to your yoga class, and it’s easy to clean. Would she recommend it? Absolutely.
The cork roll
The cork roll is very good for certain asanas, which focus on the spine, and can be used for stretching and relaxation exercises (savasana). Again, Daniela and Pascal prefer the natural material over plastic products. On top of this, Pascal has been working with spelt cushions in meditation or for certain back exercises. However, these deform, which is a disadvantage compared to the stable cork roll. Therefore, this cork roll gets a thumbs up from both Pascal and Daniela.
The cork yoga wheel
According to the manufacturer, this wheel is ideal to support your movements and to lead you into the desired pose. It helps to stretch the whole body and develop flexibility. The cork design makes this yoga wheel sturdy. What does the yoga teacher think about it? «The outer edges press too hard into the back, which is uncomfortable. In terms of size, the wheel is just right for me and is great to stretch the spine.»
What’s Daniela’s opinion? «This tool looks fun. My first thought was: what is it for? For me, this wheel is too big and bulky. It might be for those who are more advanced. I don't need it.»
The cork ball
Pascal says: «The cork ball is very good for releasing tensions in the body. The good thing about this ball is that it’s hard to squeeze, so it releases blocked energy.» Daniela considers the material is a huge advantage. Compared to other massage balls, cork feels good and is neither too hard not too soft.
The cork block
This block allows you to challenge yourself to perform some of the more difficult poses and movements in your yoga sessions. It features a non-slip surface, is easy to grip and very resistant thanks to the cork design – according to Sveltus’s marketing department. Daniela’s opinion? Just like the ball, she likes the natural material better than the plastic many other products are made of. Pascal only uses cork products in his classes.
First impressions
All in all these are good products, which definitely meet the requirements of a yoga teacher. Cork feels better than plastic. On top of this, many other yoga products contain PVC, which isn’t environmentally friendly and is bad for your health. Using cork yoga accessories is definitely a step in the right direction. In a nutshell? Cork is cool.
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Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
