Since when did the yoga mat become a fashion statement and sacred space?
As a yoga teacher, I find this shift toward materialism and individualism ironic juxtaposed against the wisdom and moral codes in ancient yoga texts. How did a material item evolve from nonexistence to the nucleus of asana practice? Let’s travel through time and explore the mat’s evolution and rise to popularity.
Pre 20th century-early 20th century
You won’t find many photos of yogis predating the 20th century, but 18th-century
Kangra paintings, like this
one, show Swamis (master teachers), Rishis (saints), and students meditating on blankets, mats of natural materials, and tiger skins.
One of my favorite
photos of
Paramahansa Yogananda, shown in his book, The Autobiography of a Yogi, captures him in full lotus on a pelt of leopard hide. If Paramahansa was able to manage without a Manduka Pro, then surely anyone can — right?
