The Incredible Story of the Yoga Mat

Discover the story of your yoga companion!

Are you one of those who practice the art of postures on a soul mat? Your yoga mat is your best ally in this discipline, your spiritual space all to yourself, a meeting point between body and mind. It represents the private zone, isolating you from the ground where everyone walks. It is a place to take time for yourself and slow down the hectic pace of the days. Thus, it reflects your personality with its design and colors. But, do you know its history? Today, it is non-slip for more safety and even eco-responsible (made from ecological materials such as natural rubber). But, did you know that this had not always been the case? Moreover, at the beginning of the practice of asanas, yogis did not use yoga mats . They simply practiced on the ground. Meet the ancestors of your non-slip yoga mat .

In the beginning, yoga was practiced without a yoga mat.

Yoga, which originated in India, has been around for many years. However, at that time, yoga mats did not exist. So how did Indian yogis do it? They practiced directly on the floor. You must be wondering how they did it? At that time, yoga consisted of sitting on the grass in order to meditate and become aware of your breath. So, no need for a mat! Those with fragile buttocks used animal skin.

The 1800s: The famous yoga mat

It was only at the end of the 1800s that a kind of braided cotton mat, called the yoga mat, appeared. Indeed, it was during this period that a new way of doing yoga arrived with the famous asanas. So, it was necessary to have more comfort, especially for the back and joints, especially since some postures were demanding. But, this had nothing to do with the yoga equipment that adheres to the ground with great cushioning that you know today.

Angela Farmer or the origin of the first not at all practical yoga mattresses

In the 60s, yoga arrived in the West. This is where the yoga mat , if you can call it that, was born, thanks to Angela Farmer, a German teacher. But what does it look like? A piece of foam mat! The first yoga mattress was born! In 1980, this floor mat, called a "sticky mat", was manufactured in large quantities with the help of his father Richard Farmer. Unfortunately, this accessory was not at all durable, because after a while it crumbled.

The emergence of the environmentally unfriendly PVC yoga mat

In 1990, PVC yoga mats (meaning polyvinyl chlorate) appeared on the market. They were much better, because they were stronger and more durable. No more yoga equipment that crumbled as it was used! The only downside was that they were not at all ecological, because they were not recyclable and not environmentally friendly. But the organic yoga mat did not exist yet!

Finally, a non-slip yoga mat!

In order not to slip, both beginners and experienced yogis placed a towel on their yoga mat . However, this was not at all practical, because it moved at the same time as the postures and had to be replaced, which hindered relaxation and concentration. This is good! The non-slip yoga mat was invented and they no longer needed to use towels that were unsuitable for the practice. Even if their hands sweated a lot, the yogis did not slip and they were no longer distracted.

The eco-friendly yoga mat for eco-conscious yogis

After all this journey, the eco-friendly yoga mat finally saw the light of day in the world of yoga, in the early 2000s thanks to the British company Eco Yoga. However, it was not non-slip. You couldn't have it all! Well, yes, because from 2013, it was an organic and grippy yoga mat that came out of the factories, as you know it today, made in particular from natural rubber and known under the name of Liforme, the Manduka, Jade, Mad yoga and Tayrona yoga mats .

Discover all our organic yoga mats on the Tayronalife online store.