BE THE CHANGE
Upaya Handwoven Yoga Mats are made from khadi — natural, handspun fibres, free from toxins and made with care for the environment and human health.
Choose to move away from PVC and mass production of harmful materials toward a truly sustainable product.
KHADI
HANDSPUN AND HANDWOVEN, NATURAL FIBER CLOTH
HAND SPUN: Natural fibers, drawn out and twisted together by hand to form a yarn.
HANDWOVEN : Handspun yarns woven together using a handloom.
Khadi is made from handspun and handwoven natural fibers. From the harvest to the yarn to the weave, the material is made by hand without the use of electricity. It is a textile that holds the story of nature and sustainable economies, community and ancient craft.
Weavers in villages across South Asia have been producing Khadi yarn of hand-spun cotton and silk for milennea.
Handloom textiles are created sustainably and hold the stories of the seasons, local agriculture and human ingenuity.
Wearing Khadi has a different feeling than wearing industrially produced fabrics – khadi drapes and breathes with a supple softness in a rhythm that can only be created by skilled human hands. The feeling is truly luxurious.
Handwork naturally results in variations. We cherish these imperfections for their human touch.
« If we have the khadi spirit in us, we would surround ourselves with simplicity in every walk of life »
- Mahatma Gandhi
Upaya Handwoven Yoga Mats are made from hand-spun and woven natural fibre cloth, called khadi in India.
Khadi is more than a fabric, it is an "art de vivre", a symbol of independence and a return to essentials. It was promoted by Mahatma Gandhi as swadeshi, meaning self-sufficiency.
India has always been a land of immense natural resources and talented artisans. The 18th century saw an influx of many European countries that created trading companies — the British East India Company soon became the most prominent of these. India came under British rule and in 1857, the first simmering of discontent toward foreign rule became visible. In 1917, national sentiment took the form of the first revolt against colonial rule.
Mahatma Gandhi became the leader of the non-violent struggle for India's freedom. One of Gandhi's first actions was to launch a civil disobedience movement and convince the Indian people to abandon factory-made clothing that was manufactured by British companies using Indian cloth. This action symbolized a national spirit that urged Indians to respect their land and culture.
Khadi, or hand spun and hand woven Indian cotton fabric, became the weapon of the non-violent Indian population against their colonial rulers.
Khadi is made by hand in homes in Indian villages, using a cotton yarn spun on a wheel, or "charkha". It is a fabric that is woven with the utmost respect to the environment.
SOAK IT IN
NATURAL DYES ARE BIODEGRADABLE, GENERATE ZERO WASTE, PRESERVE WATER QUALITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE NUTRIENT CYCLE OF SOIL.
Derived from locally sourced plants and minerals, natural dyes draw from thousands of years of Ayurvedic knowledge.
Ayurveda, a natural system of medicine, originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. The term Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda translates to knowledge of life.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and our skin’s pores are constantly breathing, absorbing, and releasing. The fabric touching our skin becomes a part of this continuous cycle.
Skin absorbs the healing qualities of medicinal herbs infused into ayurvedic natural dyes.
TURMERIC
Turmeric acts at the cellular level on inflammation and oxidation, alleviating the effects of pathologies such as arthritis, anxiety, high blood fat levels and metabolic syndrome. Turmeric has many medicinal properties, including strengthening the overall energy of the body, relieving gas, improving digestion, regulating menstruation, dissolving gallstones, and relieving arthritis.
INDIGO
Neelini is Indigofera tinctoria, popularly known as true indigo. Belonging to the family Fabaceae or Leguminosae, this herb is widely known for its treatment properties of reducing fever, maintaining the health of the liver and spleen, bones and joints.
MARIGOLD
According to Ayurvedic medicine, the flowers and leaves of marigold have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antimicrobial, and antiepileptic effects. Marigolds are generally administered in tinctures, ointments, and infusions to treat inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.
GIVE ME PEACE
“The way the mat absorbs humidity reminds me of how our skin sweats to cool us down. It’s not about being damp or uncomfortable but about creating a cooling effect, much like the natural process of the body regulating itself.”
— Michelle, Puerto Rico
