The principle of the "closed-loop", the closed material cycle, was the most important criterion in the development of this yoga mat: it is made from secondary raw materials and can be recycled. The production process uses offcuts from the foam industry, which accumulate in large quantities, particularly in mattress production. Only the thin backing fabric in the middle, the coating, the cotton band and the logo (made of hemp) are newly produced for the yoga mat. And at the end of its useful life - because even a yoga mat designed for longevity has to be replaced at some point - it can be recycled itself, preferably back into a yoga mat. In this case, you can therefore return the yoga mat to hejhej-mats. But it takes a few years of yoga practice to get to that point.

For this, the "hejhej-mat" has everything that makes a good yoga mat. With a thickness of 5 mm, it provides pleasant cushioning but still offers sufficient stability, which is an advantage for dynamic yoga styles and is easy on the joints. Although the mat weighs a little more as a result, it quickly lies flat on the floor after unrolling so that you can start your yoga session straight away. Its textured surface provides grip, while the TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) coating on both sides ensures slip resistance: on the floor and for hands and feet. The closed-cell surface also prevents moisture or sweat from penetrating the mat. This makes the hejhej yoga mat suitable for sweat-inducing styles such as bikram yoga, which is performed at 40 °C room temperature (although a cotton cloth should be used here).

Even though the hejhej yoga mat is all Swedish: It is produced entirely in Germany, from the material to the manufacturing. The manufacturer works together with a workshop for people with disabilities, who sew on the logo and pack the yoga mat.

Gentle hatha yoga, calm yin yoga, flowing vinyasa yoga or powerful, dynamic ashtanga yoga - whichever style of yoga you prefer, the right yoga mat is just as important for your yoga practice as good instruction. And as diverse as the types of yoga are, the choice of yoga mats on the market is just as large. Although natural materials such as fur, cotton, cork or leather are particularly suitable for yoga as one of the Ayurveda components, plastic mats have proven to be particularly effective for dynamic yoga styles. Not only do they provide better cushioning when practising the various asanas and vinyasas, they are also sweat-repellent and can be wiped clean. So far, so good - or not, as plastic is rightly a controversial material which, in addition to its advantages, also has many disadvantages for the environment. Anna Souvignier and Sophie Zepnik were of the same opinion and therefore searched for yoga mats made from recycled and recyclable material - in vain. What could be more obvious than to concentrate on developing a closed-loop yoga mat instead of searching? After all, both are not only enthusiastic yoginis, but also studied sustainability management in Sweden. This allowed them to bring their experience and knowledge from both areas into the development of their yoga mat. The result was a completely recyclable yoga mat - which also meets all the other criteria that are important to them - and their newly founded company hejhej-mats. They have since expanded their range to include other products that are also recyclable.