Ditch your imported PVC yoga mat… and choose a French-made wool yoga mat instead!

Those who have joined my retreats here in the land of Mont Blanc know that I have always preferred to use thick wool blankets instead of yoga mats. They come from my grandfather’s house, where I cut and repurposed them. I simply never liked artificial mats.

You may also have noticed that my own classic yoga mat is actually a traditional Tibetan handwoven wool rug, with the shape of a Tibetan carpet. It’s very precious to me, not only for its craftsmanship but because it was offered to me by my parents after their trip to Tibet.

✨ Today, I would like to introduce you to wool yoga mats made in the Larzac region, France.
I haven’t tested them myself yet, but I trust in their quality. If you happen to buy one, I warmly invite you to share your feedback in the comments of this post.

According to their website:

• 99% of so-called “eco-friendly yoga mats” are either derived from the petrochemical industry or produced from natural materials imported from South America or Southeast Asia.

• 90% of the wool produced in France each year is thrown away or burned. This is not only an ecological absurdity but also a missed opportunity to value an exceptional natural resource. No less than 700,000 kg of wool are produced each year by farmers in the region.

This producer is working to revalue this resource by creating wool yoga mats from Larzac. Each mat contributes to strengthening a local and ethical economy.

👉 Buying one of their mats means supporting their commitment to revalue wool from Larzac and ensuring fair pay for local farmers. The wool used comes from Larzac sheep, the same herds known for producing AOP Roquefort milk. Farmers follow strict pastoralist standards, and whenever weather allows, their flocks graze freely on the lands of southern Aveyron.

⚠️ Keep in mind: some PVC yoga mats (especially cheap ones) still contain phthalates (endocrine disruptors) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These substances can be released through heat or sweat, particularly during intensive use, posing risks for pregnant women, children, or those with allergies. Breathing deeply while absorbing toxins from your mat clearly goes against the very principles of our practice.

⚠️ And as for so-called “ethical mats”, most are made from rubber sourced at the other end of the world… so let’s consume locally whenever possible!

The company offers several models:

• a meditation mat,

• a yoga mat,

• plus options (strap, customization, etc.).

Spiritually speaking, choosing a local and natural yoga mat allows us to align with the values that guide our practice.

➡️ Buddhist understanding is governed by the law of interdependence.

Thus, the making of a yoga mat involves an entire chain of causes and conditions, and invites us to reflect.

How is the mat produced?
Does it respect workers’ rights?
Where is it made, and what does this imply in terms of transport?
What is it made of? Are its components natural or chemical?

➡️ Honoring life in alignment with the Bodhisattva vows

The petrochemical industry destroys natural habitats, pollutes the waters, and kills fish, birds, and insects. Using a product born of this chain — even unconsciously — means supporting a process of suffering. PVC is tied to structural violence: invisible, yet very real.

The Bodhisattva vows call us to cultivate awareness in all our actions, even the most subtle ones, in order to relieve suffering across all realms of life.
Thus, when we meditate and practice on a mat, we are invited to connect the purity of that mat with the purity of the inner ethic we commit to when placing our mind.

➡️ Because all things are interdependent, our environment shapes the states of our mind.

Clarity of mind is a profound meditative state, energetically pure. According to our levels of perception, we may experience places and objects as more or less pleasant.

Every atom carries its vibrational imprint — and therefore every object as well. Sitting on a mat made of natural materials is far more beneficial than sitting on one made of chemical, harmful molecules, which carry a less balanced vibration.

Some, upon reading this, may think I’m exaggerating — and that’s fine. Everyone has their own view, their own perception, and their own progress in the subtle realms of spirit and energy. Yet, the more you refine your awareness, the more you walk the path toward subtle perception, the more you will sense the difference between sitting on a PVC mat, a wool mat, or directly on fresh grass.

Personally, I have always felt that a rocky ground was preferable to a PVC mat. We must prioritize inner comfort over outer comfort… the subtle over the material.

➡️ Choosing our mat can become more than practical — it can be an intention, an offering on the path.

Yes indeed! Choosing a mat that respects nature becomes an offering to the Earth and to future generations. Let us not forget: our mat is also part of our altar! It is the place where we sit to engage in our practices. We honor it just as we honor the altar itself.

We might walk on the rug of the room with our shoes — the rug upon which our meditation mat rests — but we do not walk on the meditation mat itself… do we?

To engage in our practices on a consciously chosen mat is to make an offering to life itself.

✅ Well, that’s it — I believe we’ve gone all around the mat.