I’m a qualified nurse and a parent — someone who is naturally risk-averse and trained to spot potential safety hazards. When I bought a new yoga mat, I was horrified to discover that the carrying strap could easily form tightening loops, essentially creating an accidental noose if a child got hold of it.

Yoga mats are found in millions of homes, often belonging to parents — especially mothers on maternity leave or caregivers exercising at home. These straps are usually left in shared family spaces such as living rooms or kitchens, where young children can reach them.

Despite this, no safety warnings or design safeguards exist for most yoga mat straps. The loops are typically made from strong, smooth webbing that can tighten quickly and hold under pressure — a clear strangulation risk if wrapped around a child’s neck.

Other everyday products with similar risks — like window blind cords, children’s clothing drawstrings, and baby harnesses — are already regulated to include breakaway clips or non-tightening designs. There is no reason yoga mat straps should be exempt from the same common-sense standards.

We’re asking the UK Government and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to:

• Review the safety of loop-style yoga mat carrying straps 
• Require simple safety features, such as breakaway buckles, Velcro fastenings, or fixed-length loops that cannot tighten
• Mandate clear warning labels advising users to keep straps out of children’s reach.

These are low-cost, practical changes that could prevent a completely avoidable tragedy. Yoga accessories are marketed for wellbeing — they should not pose a hidden household danger.

Please sign and share this petition to help protect children and their families from tragedy, by ensuring that yoga mat carrying straps are designed with basic, child-safe features.