Green up your workout!

You recycle, use your canvas tote bag when you grocery shop and even plant vegetables and herbs in your backyard – but have you ever thought about greening up your workout gear? Whether you enjoy taking a brisk jog, relaxing with yoga or lifting weights, they all need workout clothes that are performance oriented and comfortable.

Thanks to ecofriendly and forward thinking companies, we can now apply green philosophy to our workout gear:

Shoes. Starting at the bottom, shoes serve the most important role our workout. Vibrams FiveFingers shoes are “as close to barefoot while wearing a shoe” you’ll get, with some lines even created from at least 50% of recycled scrap metal. Brooks Green Silence running shoe is as sustainable and recyclable as they come and is the only shoe with a biodegradable midsole! For more mainstream brands, New Balance, Reebok and Adidas all use recycled materials in their shoeboxes and papers. Asics use environmentally safe EVA foam and run a recycling program.

Clothing. REI’s ecoSensitive label identifies products that contain a high percentage of recycled, rapidly renewable and/or organic fibers. Patagonia has a long standing commitment to the environment. They offer an array of eco-sensitive clothes and a program to recycle old Patagonia workout gear. PrAna was built on the philosophy of being good to the planet so it’s no surprise that their clothing is sustainable. Alo, Gaiam and Nau are other great companies to check out next time you consider purchasing new workout clothes!

Water bottles. While water is essential to a workout, the plastic bottle on the other hand isn’t. Plastic water bottles generate significant waste every year with only 27% recycled in the United States. And on top of that, the long-run cost will begin to pile up! Opt for a reusable water bottle. Companies such as Nalgene, Sigg and Klean Kanteen provide top end environmentally friendly options. Nalgene bottles are made from polycarbonate, Sigg from aluminum and Klean Kanteen from stainless steel – so take your pick; you can’t go wrong with any of these choices.

Fitness Products. For the yoga junkies out there, Gaiam and Jade are two leading companies with green yoga mats. Gaiam’s mats don’t contain harmful phalates and their towels are made from bamboo, organic cotton and hemp. Jade makes their mats out of sustainable, natural rubber and for each mat sold a tree is planted!

You may pay a little more upfront but the long-term benefits towards the planet are unmeasurable. So when thinking about nurturing your body, make sure to nurture Mother Earth as well!