How to Fold A Yoga Mat

OK, disclaimer up front: part of this post might offend natural blonds everywhere. For this, I am truly sorry. And it's really not my fault...I am merely relaying a true story.

A very dear 'real life' friend who happens to be smart, funny and blond has made the determination that I am a Natural Blond! More than once. Gasp. I know, shocking. Apparently, sometimes I say or do things that she thinks are not phD-worthy.

Case in point: I have done yoga for over twelve years. My mat is so well-loved that I have worn little "bald patches" where my Downward Doggin' Feet go - about 62 times every time I practice. For every vinyasa (a series of poses in yoga that ends in a Downward Facing Dog), my little (or rather large) bare feet scrape little particles of yoga mat, which end up scattered on the mat itself. Then, when I end up face-down in Child's pose, the little bits of mat stick to my sweaty face. Cute.

Yes, I'm the one who pops into the market on the way home with blue yoga mat dandruff stuck to my cheek. The poor checkers try not to stare, but just like with huge pus-filled zits, facial yoga dandruff is really hard to ignore. 
 
I digressed. My point was that I've done yoga for a really long time, and until last year, I did not know how to roll my yoga mat. Don't get me wrong, anyone can roll a mat. The trick is to roll it up without getting the sweaty cooties from the studio floor back onto your mat, where your face will eventually lie (leading to embarrassing moments at the grocery store).

I think about the ick-factor at the end of every class, however as soon as the mat goes into its leopard print carrying bag, I have that opioid-like serenity that makes me say 'whatever'.

I lurrve my yoga bag!

One day, I was at my hard-core step class at the legendary Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, Ca. The instructor is a fabulous woman named Heidi. Not a yogini, but obviously a smart cookie, she provided a classic A-HA moment for me while we rolled up the borrowed yoga mats for working our abs. She taught us how to roll our mats... sans micro-organisms.


Yoga mat Folding 101A:

1. Bow your head in gratitude for the practice of yoga & thank your instructor
   
2. Slowly stand up- try not to pass out
3. Do not Roll your mat
4. Fold mat in HALF!! I will repeat this part: Fold mat in HALF!
5. NOW roll mat as usual.
6. Insert into Leopard Print Bag and squeal because it's so darned cute
   
7. Buy Greek yogurt with (clean) yoga-mat dandruff on your face
   

The theory goes like this... the part of the mat that will touch your face will only ever touch your face, and never the floor! And the yucky underside that touches the dirty, sweaty floor will always touch the floor and not your face! GENIUS!! BRILLIANT. Thanks Heidi!!


Q:  Do you practice yoga? Do you sport embarrassing facial yoga-mat dandruff?