With Earth Month officially here, we want to promote ideas that can be adapted any time of year for the biggest impact. Being the yoga-and-fitness-lovers we are, we thought of how many things exist in our current routine that can be swapped for better choices. More often than not, the better choice is not just better for the planet, but for ourselves as well. Read on for 10 different ways to make your routine a bit more green.

Work out from home.

With a global pandemic still happening, there’s never been a better time to work out from home. You’ll save both time and money by cancelling your commute, and you’ll also infuse your routine with greener habits. With Alo Moves, you’ll have access to thousands of classes and series from the best instructors in the business covering not just yoga, but also meditation, strength training, barre, HIIT, Pilates, and more for the fraction of the cost of an annual gym membership.

Opt for a reusable water bottle.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to ditch the plastic water bottles. Not only are they harmful to the planet (over 50 billion of them end up in landfills each year in the U.S. alone!), they’re also bad for your health — over 90% of plastic water bottles tested by the WHO contained microplastics. Go for a reusable bottle in glass or stainless steel. We love the Alo Glass Water Bottle; it’s BPA- and phthalate-free, non-toxic, and can hold up to one liter.

Make your workout gear more sustainable.

When choosing workout clothing, opt for outfits that can serve more than one purpose. Grab yoga leggings that can take you from the studio to running errands, or layers that serve as cozy loungewear at home as well as a warm layer you can grab for a walk around the neighborhood. Also, take a look at what your gear is made of and go for sustainably made products whenever possible. We love the Alo Yoga Warrior Mat, which is made from 100% ethically sourced, all-natural rubber.

(Did you know: Alo Yoga is a 100% sweatshop-free and eco-aware company with a globally-accredited platinum certification from WRAP, the largest independent watchdog organization, which verifies that the factories and offices operate in the most ethical and humane ways. Alo Yoga also uses low-water dyes and has solar-powered headquarters to reduce their eco-footprint. Learn more about Alo’s eco-aware practices.)

Shorten your post-workout shower.

Depending on the type of shower head you have, you can use anywhere from two to five gallons of water per minute. While nothing feels as good as a shower after a sweaty workout, even shaving off a couple of minutes can save a significant amount of water. Try timing your next shower and resolve to keep it under a certain limit. An even better choice would be to take a bath — it uses less water overall and it’s beneficial for recovery.

Make your own DIY yoga mat cleaner instead of wipes.

Disposable wipes, while convenient, are not good for the environment. Instead of cleaning your mat with disposable wipes, make your own DIY yoga mat cleaner and wipe it down with a microfiber towel.

Go for minimal equipment.

Some of the best exercises you can do for your body require little-to-no equipment. Pare down your equipment to the most necessary items and scale back on energy-using machines to avoid cluttering your space. While the vast majority of our classes on Alo Moves can be done with just a mat, depending on what you practice, you may want to also invest in a pair of yoga blocks, some select hand weights, and a yoga strap. You can also see which props you can substitute with items around the home.

Snack sustainably.

Ditch premade protein bars with lots of packaging and make your own pre-and-post-workout snacks. You’ll save money, know exactly which ingredients are in them, and won’t contribute to collecting more packaging waste.

Here’s a few recipes from our blog that we recommend:

Chocolate Chia Pre-Workout Granola - Try this homemade granola to properly fuel you for your next workout.
Healthy Mango Recovery Shake - This vegan shake is easy to digest, allowing your body to focus on recovery.
Orange Vanilla Protein Bars - These no-bake bars are packed with whole-food ingredients to nourish your body after a sweaty session on your mat.

Clean up your post-workout skincare routine.

Products that have less than stellar ingredients in them aren’t good for the planet, and they’re not good for you. Make over your skincare routine and replace any items with harsh and harmful ingredients like phthalates, parabens, and synthetic colors or dyes with clean beauty picks. We can’t get enough of Alo’s clean beauty line, the Alo Glow System, featuring serums, creams, and cleansers that have rigorous safety standards and gorgeous, glowy results.

Infuse more greenery into your workout space.

Can you ever have too many houseplants? We definitely don’t think so! Add some green to your at-home yoga space with some indoor plants (we love these easy-care plant recommendations). Not only will they give your space all the calming vibes, they’re also amazing at improving the quality of indoor air and have even been featured in a study where they were shown to reduce stress levels.

Rethink how you get around.

Making healthier choices can be applied to our lifestyle as a whole, rather than solely during the time we’re working out. Whenever possible, see how you can swap your usual mode of transport for something more eco-friendly, like biking or walking. You’ll reduce your personal carbon footprint and fit in more fitness throughout your day — win-win.

Channel all the earthy, outdoor vibes with our Alo In the Wild yoga and fitness workouts. Get started for free today with a 14-day trial to Alo Moves.

10 Ways to Make Your Workout More Eco-Friendly