Manduka International Site

August 8th, 2012

Karson Mcginley - Founder Of Happy-U

A Manduka Mat? Yeah, I have one of those. It actually saved my life.

I was riding my bike home from a yoga class two years ago, and had my Manduka Pro strapped on my back across my chest. When the car hit me, my body hit the windshield, my mat unstrapped, swung around, and slid perfectly under my head as I landed in the middle of the street.
I landed like this:

Okay, not really, but in my mind I did.

Although I had broken my back, my head was perfectly protected on my mat/pillow, and considering I hadn’t been wearing a helmet, I knew my angels had been looking out for me that day.

I eventually healed my back through my yoga practice, denying the suggested surgeries from the docs at the hospital. And ever since then, I’ve had a pretty serious love-affair with my mat. Not just the mat itself (although you couldn’t pay a bagillion dollars to take it from me), but everything it represents. That I was flexible & strong enough to land gracefully (I mean, did you SEE that picture??) and not shatter every bone in my body; that I was capable of healing MYSELF, through the practice of yoga, meditation, and good ol’ faith & optimism; that I was so divinely protected by the universe that I get on my mat every morning and smile at the majesty of it all.

So thank you, Manduka, for saving my life, with the help of the little angels who carried the mat to its perfect position. My head is grateful, my heart is full, and I am totally enthralled and grateful for it all.

Sincerely,

Karson McGinley
Yoga Instructor, San Diego, CA
Founder of HAPPY-U: A Holistic Approach to Positive Psychology & Yoga
www.happy-u.org