FAQs

Your yoga mat passes through The Performance UV’s high-intensity UV-C light chamber, exposing both sides to a short blast of concentrated germicidal light that deactivates microorganisms by destroying their DNA.

1. Simply place your loosely rolled mat onto the feed bar, so it unrolls toward the back.
2. Feed your mat down into the machine, and release when the rollers engage.
3. Roll up your mat as it exits the bottom of the machine.

No. In passing a mat through The Performance UV, the total exposure to the mat is about a second. If you used The Lightworker every day of the year, your mat would receive an annual total exposure of a little more than 7 minutes. Matsana (the orginal machine that pre-dated the Performance UV) conducted accelerated 10 year daily exposure testing on several brands of mats, including Manduka, Tapas, Lulu Lemon and generic varieties. None of them showed any change in flexibility, elasticity, color, cushioning or surface texture/appearance.

No. The Performance UV’s radiant energy is contained within the machine, and the UVC bulbs are only on for about 30 seconds, as the mat is being passed through the machine.

UVC radiation CAN cause severe burns (of the skin) with prolonged exposure, and eye injuries (photokeratitis) could result from looking directly at the source. As always with UVC light, avoid direct skin exposure to UVC radiation and never look directly into a UVC light source, even briefly.

No. The UV-C lamps in The Performance UV operate at a different frequency than ozone producing lamps.

No. The radiant energy that does the work in The Performance UV is contained, out of sight, in the light chamber of the machine. The thin line of visible light when one looks directly down at the top of the machine (Don’t!) is reflected light and is extremely low energy. Measured on a radiometer, the light energy from the thin line registers about the same as indirect daylight lighting coming from windows.

Yes. Mat odors are caused by pungent smelling, sulphur compounds in the waste excreted by bacteria. When you rid the mat of the bacteria excreting the waste, you also get rid of the smell. Germicidal UV-C light requires line-of-sight to be effective, so if your mat has not been cleaned for some time, it is possible for target organisms to be shielded by layers of crud. For The Performance UV to be most effective in maintaining your mat in a fresh condition, it may be necessary to first give a good cleaning to heavily soiled or neglected mats.

No. UV-C wands, by design, are to be used by untrained consumers in uncontrolled environments, and, for safety, the power of the lamps is severely limited. Waving around an underpowered hand-held device is no match for the controlled process and sheer power of The Performance UV. Your mat passes through The Performance UV’s enclosed, high-intensity, UV-C light chamber at a regulated rate of exposure and ensures that every square inch of your mat, on both sides, receives a powerful and effective dose of germicidal UV-C light.

No. Unlike sprays, wipes, or oils, that sometimes use toxic chemicals, bleach or other active liquids, The Performance UV is a dry process and leaves no residue. And unlike some mats with undisclosed, embedded germicidal agents, you may place your face on your Performance UV sanitized mat with absolute confidence and peace of mind.

Very. The Performance UV is made in the US, primarily from aluminum, the most plentiful metal in the earth’s crust. Aluminum is also very easy to recycle and commands high prices from aluminum producers, ensuring that little, if any, finds its way to landfills. The feed bar is made from metal, again, sought after and easily recycled. The lamps are recycled by the same facilities that recycle fluorescent lamps.

The Performance UV is designed and built for the long haul and once delivered to a studio, ends the cycle of diesel-powered, greenhouse gas-producing, shipping and restocking of heavy, liquid, mat cleaning agents. It also helps to halt the endless production and disposal of plastic bottles for those liquids and the disposable wipes and their packaging that end up in landfills.

And in spite of Performance UV’s powerful UV-C lamp array, it uses very little of electricity.

First, we apologize for the inconvenience and, in a brief description, please tell us what happened. We are constantly trying to improve The Performance UV and your suggestion could be the next new feature!