a note on movement + wellness essentials
moving with intention
I’ve done yoga off and on for years and tried pilates a few times, but like most things — life gets busy and I fall out of my rhythm. When I decided I wanted to start practicing yoga again I decided it was time for a new yoga mat and some new gear.
This was around the same time I started going down the rabbit hole of our plastic detox, which is when I learned that most conventional yoga mats are made from PVC — one of the most environmentally harmful plastics. So naturally I started looking for better options. I came across a few brands — Rituil and Oko Living are worth knowing about when you're looking to invest more — but I wanted to find something that didn't require that much commitment right now.
I knew I wanted a cork mat. They’re eco-friendly, naturally antimicrobial, and the grip actually improves as you warm up and sweat — the opposite of most mats. After a little more digging I landed on the Gaiam cork mat and block. Natural cork surface, TPE rubber base rather than PVC — a meaningfully cleaner alternative than a traditional yoga mat.
I’ve been carrying that same thoughtfulness into other parts of my movement routine. Most conventional activewear is made from synthetic fabrics that release microplastics every wash — and those microplastics end up in waterways and eventually back in our bodies. Your pores are also more open during a workout, so what’s sitting against your skin matters even more so. I’m still working on finding pieces I love — in the meantime I found some basic cotton tanks that work well as a starting point, and I’ve linked them in the provisions shortlist below.
I’ve also included the clean ingredient protein bars we’ve been reaching for lately, plus the stainless steel water bottles we use daily.
I don’t share any of this to make movement feel complicated — it really doesn’t have to be. A cork mat, a cotton tank, and 20 minutes in the evening has genuinely been one of the best things I’ve added to my routine lately. But even a 15-minute walk on your lunch break will do wonders. Start there!
xx
Victoria
The Provisions Shortlist
Movement + Wellness
Gaiam — Cork Yoga Mat · natural cork surface, TPE base · cleaner alternative to PVC · note: TPE is synthetic but free of PVC and latex
Gaiam — Cork Yoga Block · solid cork, no foam
Egles — Dumbbell Weight Bars · stainless steel core, silicone coating
Amazon — Cotton Basic Racerback Tank Tops, 4 piece · 95% cotton, comes in various colors
Bambaw — Stainless Steel Water Bottle, 32 oz · stainless steel, bamboo top
Prima — Ancestral Protein Bar Cacao · grass-fed whey + collagen, beef tallow + honey
Jacob — Mixed Berry Protein Bar · grass-fed protein, clean ingredients
If you found something here worth sharing, send it to a friend and invite them to join the collective — more provisions coming soon.
A note: some links in this post are affiliate links. This never influences what I recommend — I only share products we genuinely use or brands we trust.