How to wash a yoga mat?

You might have heard of SAUCA aka cleanliness. Or you have heard that you should clean your yoga accessories such as yoga mat or cotton yoga rug.

But how to actually wash a yoga mat? 

Let’s take a look at the most frequent questions among the Yogis!

Can yoga mats be put in the washing machine?

That depends on the material of your yoga mat and size of the washing machine 🙂 
Most of the yoga mats on the market are produced from polyester or PVC materials. These materials don’t handle higher temperatures therefore your yoga mat might fall apart. If not by the cause of the temperature – it will get rolled over and over in the machine and will be damaged because of the impact of the process. 
On the other hand, If you get yourself a cotton yoga mat or Mysore yoga rug, washing will be super easy. 
Since the yoga rugs are mostly made of pure cotton – they are water and washing friendly. Not only absorbing the sweat but can be washed in the washing machine on gentle program or in the cold bucket wash.

How often do you wash your yoga mat?

Man practicing yoga in the park
That is very individual. Depends where, how and how often do you practice. Also if you sweat a lot during your sessions or not. In case you practiced in the park or you had your yoga rug outside, it’s better if you wash it before next practice. 
man practicing chaturanga dandasana on cotton yoga mat
If you had a very challenging hot yoga or ashtanga yoga practice – do not let your rug stink because of absorbed sweat. When the yoga mat stinks it’s already a bit late. Try not to reach that point and wash it before.

How do you clean a yoga mat naturally?

Soap nuts for natural wash of yoga rug

The most natural way is to vacuum clean your cotton yoga mat. Afterwards you can use natural detergent, mix it in the bucket and dip it in. Let it soak in the the water for not more than 10-15 minutes and then gently hand-wash it. Or you can use some natural powder available in your closest store.
If you do not want to it it manually wash your yogarug on a gentle eco program in the washing machine. The soap nuts are also a very popular option when coming down to natural washing. 
If you decide to go for that option, please do that after 3-5 washes because of the color bleeding.

How do you clean a rubber yoga mat?

That is a bit of a challenging question. You can swipe up the surface with a wet cloth. Use some essential oils such as mint or eucalyptus to prevent creation of bacteria. 

You can also splash some water and wipe it out but it will never be as clean as you would put it in the washing machine. 

What’s next…

That’s why we highly recommend you to get yourself a natural organic cotton yoga mat from Leela!
 
You will always have the opportunity to practice on a clean surface. Your skin will get benefits from the Ayurvedic herbs in the mat. No more bacteria and dust disturbing you and your Yoga practice. 
It’s super sweat absorbent and washable. When you sweat it’s not slippery and gives you perfect natural grip. 

So what are you waiting for? 
It’s about time to upgrade your practice!Man practicing handstand on cotton yoga mat
You deserve it!
Have a look and pick one! 

Take care & Practice clean, 
Martin & Monika 

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Yoga Rugs

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Natural incense sticks

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Incense Holders

Massages

A full body Ayurvedic massage with warm herbal oils, slow enough to let the muscles soften and the mind actually settle, not just for the hour, but after it too.

Philosophy

A good massage does more than loosen tight muscles. It gives the nervous system a chance to actually stand down, something most people rarely allow themselves.

Every session uses warm herbal oils selected for the individual and the season, and moves slowly and deliberately rather than rushing through a routine. The aim isn't just physical relief, it's a state your body can carry with it after you leave the table.

What's included

Single session, 90 minutes
A full body Ayurvedic massage with warm herbal oils, a gentle focus on calming the nervous system, a few quiet minutes to rest before you leave, and a cup of tea or herbal drink afterward.

or

3 session bundle, 90 minutes each
The same full body Ayurvedic treatment, repeated across three sessions, so the body gets the chance to release tension step by step rather than in one attempt. Booking three together saves 11 euro per massage, 34 euro in total, compared to booking single sessions.

Why a bundle, not just one session
One session brings relief. Repeated sessions let the body relax more deeply each time, since the nervous system responds differently once it starts to trust that rest is coming again. If you're dealing with ongoing tension rather than a one off knot, the bundle is built for that.

Meet your practitioner

Monika has been practicing massage since 2019 and trained in Ayurvedic healing massage with Naga Kumar in Mysore, India, a training that focused as much on how emotions show up in the body as it did on technique.

She starts most sessions with a short conversation, since stress and tension tend to settle in predictable places, the shoulders, the back, the jaw, and understanding what's going on in someone's life helps her work with those patterns rather than around them. She also studied Past Life Therapy with the same teacher, which shapes how she approaches each session as a whole, looking at the physical, emotional, and energetic layers together.

Yoga has been part of her life for many years and gave her a strong foundation for understanding how the body stores and releases tension. She brings that awareness into every massage, so you leave not just relaxed, but more in tune with yourself than when you arrived.

Perfect for

Someone who feels stressed, tired, or overloaded. People who sit a lot, travel often, or carry tension in the body without quite noticing until it's there. Birthdays, holidays, thank you gifts, or simply because someone deserves it.

FAQ

Yes. Just include the recipient's name when you book, and Monika will send a personalised card with their name on it.

Yes, the bundle is intended for a single recipient across all three sessions.

The recipient books at their own pace, whenever suits them best.

Warm herbal oils are chosen individually, based on the person and the season, to support the whole system rather than a generic blend.

One session helps.
Three change something.

Consulting & Yoga Therapy

Wellbeing isn't a single appointment. It's a process, and we walk it with you.

Philosophy

Most people arrive at a consultation already knowing something is off. Low energy, disrupted sleep, digestion that never quite settles, tension that sits in the same place no matter what you try. What's usually missing isn't effort. It's a clear picture of what's actually happening, and a plan that fits your life instead of a generic one.

That's what a Leela consultation is built to give you. We start by listening properly, then map your Ayurvedic constitution and current imbalance, and turn that into something concrete you can follow, paired with treatment that supports the shift rather than just relaxing you for an afternoon.

What this workshop actually gives you

Initial Ayurvedic consultation and assessment
A full session covering your current health concerns, digestion, sleep, energy, and emotional balance, your daily routines and habits, and your Ayurvedic constitution alongside your present imbalance.

A personalised lifestyle and diet plan
Following your consultation, you receive a tailored program built around your dosha, including daily routine recommendations, a diet plan aligned with your imbalance, stress relief practices, and small lifestyle adjustments meant to hold over time, not just for a week.

Guided therapeutic treatment
Depending on the package, this includes a series of therapeutic massages such as Abhyanga, booked at your own pace to support and continue the shift the consultation starts.

How it works

You start with the consultation, either online or in person. From there you receive your personalised plan. Any included treatments get booked on your own schedule, ideally spaced out over four to six weeks for the strongest results. The aim isn't a single good session, it's a steady shift you can feel and sustain.

Who this is for

This is for you if you're feeling out of balance, stressed, or low on energy, want to start Ayurvedic healing in a structured way rather than guessing, are dealing with digestive issues, tension, or disrupted sleep, or simply want deep relaxation paired with guidance you can actually use afterward.

FAQ

Yes, the first Ayurvedic consultation and assessment is included at no cost as part of the process.

It depends on your plan, but a typical arc runs four to six weeks from your first consultation through your final treatment session.

No. The consultation is designed to explain your constitution and imbalance in plain terms, no prior knowledge needed.

Yes. While we recommend spacing them within four to six weeks for continuity, the exact timing is up to you.

Start with a real conversation.

Understand your body before you try to fix it.

Workshops

A structured, video based course in Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation, rooted in traditional Indian yoga, built so you can practice with real understanding instead of just following along.

Intro

A structured, video based course in Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation, rooted in traditional Indian yoga, built so you can practice with real understanding instead of just following along.

What this workshop actually gives you

  • A clear breakdown of each technique before you're asked to practice it, so you understand what you're doing and why
  • Guidance on how techniques combine, since Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation were never meant to be learned in isolation
  • A path for progressing once the basics are solid, not just a single fixed sequence
  • Every technique demonstrated on video, so you can watch, follow, and rewatch as needed
  • Enough grounding to practice independently, without needing a class to keep you accountable
  • Email support if something doesn't click and you need it explained differently

What's inside

12 video modules, over 2 hours of instruction
Taught directly by Martin and Monika, both trained in Indian yoga traditions, blending the theory behind each technique with how to actually practice it.

A companion eBook
A written summary of every technique for quick reference, plus a curated list of recommended books, documentaries, and films for anyone who wants to go deeper than the course itself.

Ongoing support
Questions don't stop when the course ends. Reach out by email any time something needs clearing up.

Why this course

Yoga content online is everywhere, and most of it has drifted a long way from where the practice actually started. This course doesn't try to reinvent anything. It distills what Martin and Monika learned through years of traditional training into a format you can actually get through, no padding, no filler modules, just the techniques and how to use them.

FAQ

No. The course is built to take you from the basics through to independent practice, one technique at a time.

Self paced. All 12 modules are video based, so you move through the material on your own schedule.

Email support is included. If something in a module isn't clear, you can reach out directly.

A working understanding of Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation you can practice on your own, plus the eBook as a permanent reference.

Learn it properly, once.

The techniques. The context. The way they were meant to be taught.

Trips

Leela Trips are immersive journeys built around Ayurveda, yoga, and time away from everything that keeps your body on alert. Small groups. Real guidance. Nothing rushed.

Philosophy

Leela Trips are immersive journeys built around Ayurveda, yoga, and time away from everything that keeps your body on alert. Small groups. Real guidance. Nothing rushed.

We build every journey around one simple idea. The body already knows how to rest, digest, and heal. It just rarely gets the conditions to do it. So we remove the noise, the schedule, the constant choosing, and replace it with structure that supports your nervous system instead of taxing it.

That means smaller groups than you would expect, real Ayurvedic practitioners instead of a spa menu, and enough unscheduled time to actually feel the difference.

How a Leela trip is structured

Every trip follows the same underlying rhythm, even when the destination changes.

Part one, healing
The first stretch of the journey is built around Ayurvedic treatment. Daily consultations, herbal therapies, gentle movement, and a diet designed to support digestion and detoxification rather than restrict it. This is the part where the body starts to soften and the nervous system gets permission to switch off.

Part two, integration
From there, the trip moves toward simplicity. Yoga practice, breathwork, walks, workshops, and evenings that end early instead of late. Less doing, more noticing. This is where what you learned in part one starts to settle into something you can actually take home.

Our upcoming journey to Nepal follows exactly this shape, five days at a traditional Ayurvedic clinic near Kathmandu, followed by a stretch of mountain living near Pokhara.

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Who guides you

Leela trips are led personally, not handed off to a local operator once you land.

Monika's path into yoga and Ayurveda began in a traditional Yoga Gurukula in India, where living alongside her teachers shaped how she understands the practice, not just as movement, but as a way of living. Her training since then has covered Ashtanga yoga, Yoga and Ayurveda therapy, Ayurvedic massage in Mysore, and cleansing techniques studied across Nepal and India.

That background shapes every trip. Treatments are chosen with intention, the pace respects where your body actually is, and nothing on the itinerary is there just to fill a day.

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What to expect

Small groups, usually no more than around eight people, so the experience stays personal rather than logistical. Private or shared rooms, all meals prepared with digestion in mind, daily Ayurvedic treatment during the healing stretch of the trip, and daily yoga and meditation throughout. Full guidance from Monika from arrival to departure. Space to rest, journal, or simply do nothing, built into the schedule rather than squeezed around it.

FAQ

Expect two distinct phases. The first is treatment heavy, herbal therapies, oil massage, and gentle movement. The second is more active, with daily yoga and longer walks. Both beginners and experienced practitioners are welcomed at their own pace.

No. Trips are designed around where your body is now, not a fitness level you need to arrive with.

Groups stay small, generally no more than around eight, so the guidance stays personal rather than diluted across a crowd.

International flights, visas, travel insurance, and any personal purchases beyond the trip itself.

Deposits secure your place in a very limited group and are non refundable, since spots that open up are hard to fill on short notice. Full policy details are shared once you book.

Some resets need more than a weekend

Explore our upcoming journeys, or talk to us first if you are not sure which one fits.