Even if you love doing yoga and going to the gym, it can be gross to think about all the bacteria and illness flying around in such a sweaty, community setting. While colds, coughing, and sneezing usually come to mind, there are also other infections, such as MRSA and athlete’s foot, that are hanging around waiting for you to catch them. That’s why ThePureBag™ exists! Our yoga gear is not only mold- and mildew-resistant, it also leverages healthcare-quality vinyl and embedded silver for antibacterial protection. We don’t mean to toot our own horn, but there is no other yoga bag on the market that can offer you that level of protection.
What our Germ-resistant and Durable Yoga Bags Protect Against
Even if you go to the yoga studio or gym and keep to yourself, you’re still in a community setting. That shared space can carry all kinds of bacteria and germs, especially if you’re sharing equipment, towels, shower areas, or clothes. While you’re breaking a sweat, the previous person may have left behind some gross microorganisms that thrive in moist areas for several days and can cause infections, including:
- MRSA – this is a staph infection that does not respond to most antibiotics and causes a rash, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain. It is passed from skin-to-skin contact or sharing towels, clothings (should be clothing), mats or equipment that have come in contact with sweat and haven’t been properly cleaned. Gyms and locker rooms are the two most dangerous areas for contracting MRSA.
- Athlete’s Foot – closely related to ringworm, athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that causes a scaly red rash as well as itching, burning, and stinging between the toes on the foot. Walking around the gym, yoga studio,locker rooms, and showers barefoot are the most common ways people get athlete’s foot. However, you can also get it if you share towels or clothes with an infected person.
- Strep Throat and the Common Cold – usually you can tell when someone is sick, but it can be harder to determine when it’s the start of something more serious. Strep is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat and is often accompanied by a fever and fatigue. Community settings, such as the gym or yoga studio, can be very dangerous if someone unknowingly has strep.
- Plantars Warts – caused by HPV, plantars warts are hard, small warts on the bottom of your feet. While not everyone who comes in contact with this strain of HPV will develop warts, there is still a chance you will develop a plantars wart if you walk around barefoot at the locker room or by a pool area.
Why this Protection Matters
With the exception of plantars warts, all the conditions listed above are highly contagious. That’s a big reason why gyms, yoga studios, and locker rooms are hotbeds for infection. Even if you are very diligent and take all the necessary steps to protect yourself, you cannot guarantee the people around you have done the same. Our yoga bags are the only bags that use antibacterial and antifungal materials throughout to ensure no germs make it back home with you. Learn about what makes our bags different here, or you can check out our selection of germ-resistant and durable yoga bags, mat wraps, cinch bags, and zippockets. Our products protect your health AND look great. What’s not to love?
