If you discover that your "sticky mat" has become a "stinky mat," perhaps it's time for a gentle cleaning. How can you tell? Get into child's pose and inhale. If your mat doesn't pass the smell test, here are some easy cleaning instructions from the website eHow:

How to Clean a Yoga Mat

By Kristie Leong M.D., eHow MemberUser-Submitted Article

If you're a student of yoga, you know how important your yoga mat is to your
stretching success. It might surprise you to learn that yoga mats at health
clubs can be a source for athlete's foot due to ineffective cleaning of these
mats. If you have your own yoga mat, you'll need a plan to keep it clean and
free of germs and odor. Here's how to clean a yoga mat and keep it looking fresh
:

1 Don't share your mat.
This is the first simple rule of avoiding a fungal or bacterial infection from a yoga mat. Buy your own mat and make it exclusively yours. Don't share it with anyone. Consider your yoga mat to be as personal as your toothbrush and you'll reduce your risk of contracting a nasty foot infection.
2 Use your washing machine.
Most people don't realize they can clean their mat in the washing machine (unlike the guy in the picture, don't attempt to do any yoga poses with your mat during the wash cycle). Use cold water along with a mild detergent and stop the dryer before it goes through the spin cycle. Once removed from the dryer, lay the mat out to dry completely before storing it. Avoid exposing your mat to heat as this can cause the fibers of the mat to break down.
3 Cleaning a slightly soiled mat.
If your mat only has light soiling and doesn't require a cycle through the washing machine, you can mix a cup of warm water with several drops of mild detergent to create a dilute, soapy mixture. Use a sponge to gently massage the soiled areas with your homemade solution. Follow up by sponging down with a sponge dampened in warm water. Allow your mat to dry thoroughly.
4 Clean it lightly after every use.
To keep your mat looking and smelling fresh, spray it lightly with a mat cleaning spray. To make your own all-natural mat cleaning spray, add three drops of tea tree oil, two drops of peppermint oil, and two drops of lavender oil to distilled water. Mix thoroughly and place the solution in a spray bottle. Spray your mat lightly after every use and wipe it down gently with a damp sponge.
5 Have a regular cleaning schedule.
To keep your mat looking and smelling great, have a regular cleaning schedule. In addition to spraying it after every use, place it in the washer every three to four weeks for a more thorough cleansing.

But my mat's crummy!
If your yoga mat is crumbly, it's past its prime. Time to invest in a fresh mat. My mats last about three or four months with regular use and cleaning. Personally, I prefer to purchase my sticky mats from what are euphemistically labeled, "secondary retailers." In everyday language, that means discount stores such as TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's, Nordstrom's Rack, etc. I recently scored a number of mats for less than $13.00 a piece; most were only $10.00. It pains me to spend $20.00 or more on any mat. Your mat choice is a personal one; I also drive an economy sedan and shop for bargains. If you don't have the time or inclination to scrounge, you can pick up a yoga mat from the mini-store downstairs or another sporting goods retailer. If you have a need for a super-cushioned and thick mat, or maybe you are so tall (more than 6 feet, 4 inches) that you need extra length. If looking particularly cute and having a matching mat is important for your ensemble, go crazy. The internet is your best source for any specialty shopping; just type in "yoga mat + retail" and revel in the vast array of possibilities.

Who needs a mat? 24 Hour Fitness has lots of mats in the Group X room!
Yes, there are lots of mats in the Group X room, but they have limitations. First of all, they are not at all sticky and can slip out from under even the most careful yogi. Secondly, the gym's mats are too short for most adults and will "narrow" your stance in most standing poses. And finally, those mats are used by many, many people and are impossible to clean. Speaking of sanitation, use them at your own risk, and place a large towel over them so that you don't have skin-to-mat contact. Of course, you can certainly use the gym-provided mats as extra cushioning for seated poses, under your own personal mat.

After this post gets up on the web, I'm taking all my mats to the washing machine. I did an outdoor yoga class in Claremont last Saturday and the students used the mats on a concrete driveway. They got dusty and grimy, so it's time to give them a quick wash. I want my next child's pose to pass my own smell test.

Until next week, namaste,
Nancy