Manduka US Site

September 2nd, 2010

Featured Retailer: Yo Yo Yogi

Manduka is proud to announce Yo Yo Yogi in Portland, Oregon as this month’s featured retailer!

Imagine visiting 100 studios in just 100 days. Say what?! That’s the adventure Alex and Terri from
Yo Yo Yogi did Summer 2009. Starting in Seattle, they ventured south to San Diego with their Manduka mats in tow and coined the journey "have yoga mat will travel..." Now a bit more settled, Alex and Terri have recently opened the doors to their dream studio with a “come one come all”, playful and happy spirit.

“Slingin’ our ‘never leave home without it’, Black Mat PRO, and armed with the schoolin’ that yoga was a hell of a lot more than just a good sweat... we returned to our chosen land of Portland, Oregon to open our flagship studio. Here, our ‘most excellent adventure’ comes to LIFE!” says Alex.

Yo Yo Yogi...mind-bendin’, body stretchin’, peace-providin’ YOGA!

August 23rd, 2010

Free Wallpaper Downloads

We don’t just practice yoga on the mat, it’s part of our world. Our practice is there where we learn and play and grow. Keep Manduka with you in the background. Download free #practice wallpapers for your desktop and iPhone right here.

August 16th, 2010

Show Us Your Manduka

And we could show you $100 Manduka bucks.

It’s simple. Just snap a picture of you with your Manduka mat (don’t worry, this isn’t a photo contest) and share it with the community by uploading it here, or by posting to Facebook or Twitter. Every Thursday we’ll randomly pick a pic to win $100 Manduka bucks, good towards anything in our store. Plus, we’ll post a bundle of shots each day on our blog, so be on the lookout – we want your pose to inspire us all. Snap. Share. And you could be shopping on us. Share now

This promotion ended 9/16/10. Thank you for participating!

August 15th, 2010

We Are Family

By Eka Ekong

In the Spring of 2010, eighteen amazing yoga teachers dedicated their time, their energies and their hearts to show not only their love of yoga, but also their love of Manduka. I was lucky enough to be a fly on the wall (or on a yoga mat). James Wvinner was the photographer, and to see the world through his eyes was truly a delight. Kasey Luber recorded the day’s activities with humor and honesty.

In the morning, Charlie Samos, Susan Sterlace, and Melanie Lora Meltzer were the first to appear. We chatted about new products. They warmed up their bodies in the cold studio, and then and got on some eKo lites. I was lucky enough to watch them playfully practice on their mats, and share in the happiness and ease they had with each other. Throughout the day, more Ambassadors arrived and gleefully jumped on the Manduka Mats: Caleb Asch, Travis Eliot, Kishan Shah, Brock and Krista Cahill, Kia Miller, Annmarie Solo, Jill Miller, Simon Park, Sara Ivanhoe, Ashley Turner, Brynn Rybacek, Jessie Schein, Elise Gulan, and Stella V. Wilkins. Everyone was excited to see each other and they greeted one another like a loved one who had been away from home for too long. Some brought their own Manduka mats, which they spoke about like a badge of honor, and with a level of reverence that shared their gratitude for their mat of choice.

There were lots of hugs, laughter, eating, and we talked about life, love, yoga, and everything in between. It was incredible to be in the company of so many gracious yogis, who are extremely dedicated to their practices, and to the elevation of the human spirit. We may not look the same, talk alike, or see life with the same eyes, but all of our paths have led us to this practice, and to Manduka. We are each connected by yoga, but also by the mat beneath our feet, and it easily felt like I was home, with family…

August 9th, 2010

Attitude Determines Altitude

By Ricky Tran

Maitri karuna mudito 'pekshanam sukha dukha punya apunya vishayanam bhavanatas chitta prasadanam

According to the great rishi Patanjali, there is more than one path to yoga.  In other words, one does not have to practice asana, pranayama and meditate to achieve the state of yoga, which is a peaceful mind. In sutra 1.33, Patanjali prescribes four (4) attitudes to be cultivated toward four (4) distinct objects (people). When these four attitudes are cultivated toward 4 distinct objects over time, one's mind will automatically become clear and lucid.

These four attitudes are:
Friendliness
Compassion
Delight or Appreciation
Indifference / Equanimity

The four objects (people) are:
Those who are in their agreeable space. People who are content or happy.
Those who are not in their agreeable space. People who are unhappy or suffering. Opposite of the 1st type.
Virtuous people.  People that do good things in this world. People who are living their dharma.
People of vice. People who do things deemed wicked by society.  Opposite of the 3rd type.

Explanation:

By cultivating an attitude of friendliness toward people who are happy, you become like these people. Surround yourself with those who have what they want and want what they have and you will soon find peace of mind. It is said we become who we hang around.  

By cultivating an attitude of compassion toward those who suffer, you will soon find peace of mind. You don't want to have joy or delight when you see someone suffer. Likewise, you wouldn't want to have compassion for those who are happy and content.

By cultivating an attitude of delight or appreciation toward people who make this world a better place, you will find peace of mind. When you see someone do something good, like return a lost wallet, you should have delight and appreciation. When you see someone help an elderly or disabled person across a busy street, you should have an attitude of appreciation. When this attitude is cultivated toward these types of people, you will soon have peace of mind.

By cultivating an attitude of indifference toward those who do bad things, your mind will become clear and lucid. If you surround yourself with people of vice, you soon will become a person of vice. If you hang out with thieves, you too will soon be a thief. According to Patanjali, one should not have an attraction or even an aversion toward this type. If you become unaffected by these individuals, you will soon find peace of mind.