Australian Yoga Journal — July 2017

PHOTO: PAUL MILLER

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THE AIR

Home should be a sanctuary, but

according to the Environmental

Protection Agency, the air within most

houses (and office buildings) can be

more polluted than the air outside in

even the largest, most industrialised

cities. The culprit: volatile organic

compounds like formaldehyde,

which are off-gassed from plastics,

upholstery, furniture, and other

synthetic (and so-called ‘natural’)

materials. While it’s nearly impossible

to prevent this indoor air pollution,

there is a low-tech purification fix:

houseplants. “Plants are as efficient

at filtering air as some of the most

high-tech machines,” says Renée Loux,

green-living expert and author of Easy

Green Living. “Plus, they’re beautiful

and add moisture to the air.” Here, we

offer Loux’s advice on finding the right

plant for you:

If you don’t have a green thumb ... try

a snake plant. “They tolerate neglect

very well and are easy to nurse back to

health if they start looking sad,” says

Loux.

If you travel a lot ... try aloe. This

succulent thrives in desert conditions,

so it can easily go a week or two

without water. Just be sure to leave it in

a sunny spot, as aloe needs lots of light.

If your home doesn’t get a lot of

light ... try a spider plant. These aren’t

as sensitive to low light as other plants.

“Keep in mind that a lack of sun will

mean they grow slowly,” says Loux.

If your home is drenched in sunlight ...

try a rubber plant, which thrives in

direct sunlight and is one of the most

effective formaldehyde removers.

If you love to buy cut flowers ...

instead try potted peace lilies, mums,

or Gerbera daisies, all flowering plants

that scrub the air.

MEGHAN RABBITT

20

july 2017

yogajournal.com.au

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