Yoga has come a long way in the past few decades in terms of product offerings.
It used to be that it was very difficult to find functional and comfortable yoga attire and equipment, but Manduka was definitely a groundbreaking company when they decided to offer yogis what they needed the most: great yoga products!
Manduka was founded in the early 2000’s by yoga enthusiast and instructor, Peter Sterios. At the time, the yoga market was quite small but Manduka changed that.
Today, Manduka remains a leader in the market, despite the fact that there are thousands of companies offering the same thing.
So, how does Manduka do it? And what sets it apart from its competitors? Let’s take a look at 29 fascinating things you probably didn’t know about Manduka!
1) Manduka’s classic, black yoga mat continues to sell out.
Manduka’s PRO and PROlite yoga mats are bestsellers in the yoga mat market and show no signs of slowing down.
The PRO mat was the very first product created by the company and is now considered to be a classic item that is still very relevant today.
There is a good reason why this yoga mat continues to a favorite among yogis: it is 100% non-slip, lightweight and has been made according to the highest standards of quality and workmanship.
Many Manduka customers who invested in a PRO yoga mat when the company first began, still have their mats and this is testament to how incredible this product actually is!
2) They are an international brand, selling their products in most countries.
Manduka was founded in the USA but it soon began selling its popular yoga clothing and equipment to other countries.
Today, regardless of where you are located in the world, you can buy a Manduka product and have it delivered to your home.
Very few countries do not sell Manduka products, making them very much an international brand.
3) Peter Sterios founded Manduka because he wanted to create a yoga mat that was more functional.
Back in the late nineties, Peter Sterios was a yoga enthusiast who was experiencing problems with the yoga mats currently on the market.
He found that yoga mats were either too thin, poor quality and/or very slippery and would slide all over the floor whenever he tried to do another yoga pose.
This was incredibly frustrating to him and, because no one else was doing anything about it, he decided to be the ground breaker.
After almost a year of consultation with world-renowned yogis and instructors and gathering key information, he came up with an innovative design for a better yoga mat.
Sterios’s yoga mat was the first of its kind to offer enough cushioning and to be completely non-slip.
Not wanting to compromise on quality at all, this proved to be one of the best decisions he ever made as his new yoga mat soon became a bestseller among the yoga crowd.
4) To date, Manduka has sold upwards of 2 million yoga mats- and counting!
It is not surprising that Manduka has now sold over 2 million of their iconic yoga mats.
While newcomers enter the yoga market every day and design their own versions of Sterios’s yoga mat, no one has ever managed to create one that has experienced as much notoriety as Manduka’s one.
The only drawback to Manduka’s yoga mat is the price: it is more expensive than most yoga mats. However, expert yogis know that it is well worth the money and you could actually be saving in the long run as Manduka’s mats last for ages and simply do not break!
5) Manduka offers a very unique range of yoga clothing.
As Manduka began showing signs of doing well, Peter Sterios decided that it was time to branch out and offer the yoga market more.
A few years after his beloved yoga mat was introduced to the market, he decided to design a range of yoga clothing for both men and women.
This range of yoga attire is probably the best quality you can find anywhere with impeccable stitching, premium quality fabrics and incredible functionality.
What’s more, Manduka yoga clothing can be used to perform other sports and looks great if you need something lightweight and comfortable for running errands or taking a long haul flight.
Manduka is continuously innovating and creating more amazing products, so their customers constantly have a wonderful sense of anticipation of what is next.
6) It is a great company to work for.
Although the company only consisted of Peter Sterios in the beginning, it now employs thousand of people and continues to show growth each year.
As a CEO, Peter Sterios is a great leader and is not averse to rolling up his sleeves and getting down to work alongside his employees.
Manduka’s offices have a wonderfully calm and happy atmosphere and it is clear that everyone enjoys working for the company.
Anyone who applies for a job with Manduka must adhere to one key requirement: they must be passionate about yoga and teaching others about it.
Manduka’s headquarters features a relaxing zen garden and staff are encouraged to take regular yoga breaks whenever they need them.
Want to apply for a job at Manduka? Take a look at their website and browse their openings, but be quick because they are a sought-after place to work for!
7) Manduka has been operating for over 2 decades.
As mentioned, the yoga clothing and apparel industry is saturated and there are always new companies entering the market.
This has made it very difficult to remain competitive and only the strong now survive.
It is not unheard of for newcomers to last less than a year, so what has Manduka’s secret been? Well, they have a very strong company ethos and their actions reflect their goal of doing good and spreading the word about yoga.
Also, they have a no-compromise approach to quality, functionality and comfort. This is ultimately what every yoga expert needs and there is nothing worse than buying a pair of yoga pants, only for it to fall apart after a few months.
With their zero tolerance approach and their dedication to preserving the environment, Manduka embraces everything that yogis hold dear and their customers have remained loyal over the years.
This is definitely something to be proud of and we look forward to seeing them retain their top position in the future.
8) They often have flash sales and give hefty discounts.
For Manduka, their business operations are far more than simply trying to make money.
If you read their company mission and values, you will notice that they have a genuine desire to teach the world about the benefits about yoga. To this end, they offer yoga instructors and teachers attractive discounts in their online store and encourage them to be repeat customers.
In addition, they also have regular flash sales where they heavily discount their products. This is like heaven for any yogi!
9) Manduka was the very first company to create a non-slip yoga mat.
Before Manduka introduced their famous non-slip yoga mat to the world, a few yoga companies had tried (but failed) to do the same thing.
At the time, yogis often found that companies would claim to have created a non-slip mat, but after a few weeks of use, they would start losing their traction.
Manduka’s innovative non-slip mat is truly what it says on the tin: it is 100% non-slip, regardless of the yoga pose you assume, and regardless of how old the mat is.
Many older yogis have not forgotten this and love supporting the company that broke so much ground back in the day.
11) Manduka’s yoga mats are not only functional, but are considered to be home decor!
Most people would never dream of decorating their living spaces with a yoga mat, but if you consider the esthetic value of Manduka’s yoga mats, you will see how this is possible.
In recent years, Manduka has introduced a range of eco-friendly yoga mats that feature attractive colors, pretty patterns and unique designs that are great for enhancing the look of your home.
It was no coincidence that Manduka created these mats as they wanted their customers to have mats that were functional, as well as decorative.
12) They have a neat range of organic yoga mat cleaners.
Any yogi will tell you that after a few months of heavy use, your yoga mat will inevitably become grimy, dull and begin to show fine cracks.
Manduka has innovated a fantastic range of organic yoga mat cleaners that invigorate your yoga mat within minutes!
After spraying your mat with their eco-friendly product, layers of dirt disappear and any cracks are filled, leaving you with a yoga mat that looks as good as new.
Of course, it helps that this product is non-toxic and doesn’t harm the environment.
13) Manduka has a great program for yogis and yoga instructors.
Manduka is passionate about telling the world about the benefits of yoga on one’s physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
To encourage this ethos, they have a great program that teaches aspiring yogis everything they need to know about yoga.
If you are interested in learning yoga or even teaching yoga, it is well worth taking a look at this program.
14) Yogis believe that Manduka’s PROlite mat is the best investment you could ever make!
Manduka makes no apology that their PROlite yoga mat is expensive. However, if you consider the quality, its longevity and its excellent functionality, the investment is definitely worth it!
15) When Peter Sterios designed his world-famous yoga mat, he consulted with expert yogis throughout the world.
Peter Sterios did not create Manduka’s first yoga mat in a hurry as he wanted to create something that would really make a difference in people’s lives.
Over the course of almost a year, he consulted with expert yogis throughout the world as to what they valued the most in a yoga mat, and what was lacking in the ones currently on the market.
The result was a yoga mat that took the world by storm and continues to do so.
16) Manduka only uses green materials to create their clothing and equipment.
In line with their company values, Manduka uses only green materials in the creation of their products.
They will simply not compromise on this point and buying a Manduka product should therefore allay any guilt you feel about your carbon footprint.
17) When Manduka was started, their yoga mats were sold via word of mouth.
Manduka was not always the large and successful yoga company that we know today.
In the early days, it was a one-man start-up and Sterios’s mats were sold in his local community via word of mouth.
18) Manduka is the only yoga company to have designed a yoga mat especially for moms.
Are you a new mom or do you have a kid under the age of 5? If so, you have probably found that it is quite tricky when trying to practice yoga with a little one in tow.
Manduka has listened to the plight of new moms and has created a groundbreaking yoga mat especially for moms!
The Equa Round is big and round enough to accommodate your little one while you are doing yoga and encourages your child to mimic your movements as well. After all, you are never too young to learn yoga!
19) Manduka’s yoga mats are the antithesis of cheaply made and hazardous mats.
No one will argue that Manduka’s yoga mats are a little on the pricey side, but this is for a reason.
They are expertly made, are non-slip and, most importantly, they contain no toxic or hazardous materials.
You only have to browse online shopping store websites to find yoga mats at a fraction of the price of a Manduka one. Sadly, these yoga mats are cheap as they are manufactured using questionable materials that may have health consequences for you.
What’s more, buying a cheaply-made yoga mat is no guarantee that it was not made in a sweatshop or using child labor. Definitely something to avoid!
20) Manduka’s Yogitoes yoga mat towel is considered to be an essential for Bikram yoga.
Fans of Birkam yoga know that things can get very hot and sweaty in your yoga room.
Manduka understood this early on in their journey and created a special yoga mat towel for this purpose.
The Yogitoes yoga mat towel will not slip, even if you are covered in sweat and the temperature in the room is causing your yoga mat to have condensation on it.
In addition, these yoga mats are made from reused, plastic bottles so you can have peace of mind that you did not harm the environment by purchasing your yoga mat towel.
21) Manduka has a very low carbon footprint.
Peter Sterios personally ensures that his company does not contribute in a significant way to the earth’s carbon footprint.
The processes that Manduka uses in their manufacturing process are considerate about the environment and they ensure that their carbon emissions are as low as possible.
22) Many yogis consider Manduka to be superior to Lululemon.
Everyone knows about Lululemon and the fun, brightly-colored yoga clothing and equipment they sell.
Lululemon has risen exponentially in popularity over the years, but many expert yoga instructors still believe that Manduka’s product offering is better.
Yes, Manduka is pricier than Lululemon but once you have a Manduka product, you can be sure that it will last you for years, if not decades.
23) Manduka uses as little water as possible in the manufacturing of their products.
The beautiful hues and colors you see in Manduka’s product line are the result of low-water dyes.
Manduka is passionate about preserving water, which is one of the world’s most precious resources.
24) They have a great range of men’s yoga attire.
From lightweight shorts and t-shirts, to socks and yoga pants, Manduka is one of the only yoga companies to have a vast collection of attire for men.
This line has been specially designed with the male body in mind and features high-tech fabric that expertly wicks moisture and sweat away from the skin.
All too often, yoga companies fail to recognize that yoga is seeing an increased male following who all need great quality yoga clothing to suit their needs.
25) Manduka’s blog is one of a kind.
Want to learn more about yoga, improve your technique or read the latest news in the world of yoga?
We recommend checking out Manduka’s amazing blog section on their website that features some of the highest quality content in the industry.
You will be sure to go away having learned something new about your favorite hobby.
26) Manduka took its name for the Sanskrit name for “frog”.
A lot of thought went into the naming of Peter Sterios’s new company.
He wanted a name that would resonate with his customers, as well as a name that would have a relevant meaning.
Manduka means “frog” in Sanskrit and evokes images of a human adopting the stance of a frog while doing yoga. Very appropriate!
27) Their social media platforms are very interactive and exciting.
Manduka fans love spending time on their social media platforms as their content is unique and very interactive.
This shows that Manduka truly values their customers, fans and followers and there is always something new and interesting happening, so keep tuned!
28) Your Manduka yoga mat will improve with use.
Unlike their cheaper counterparts, Manduka’s mats actually improve with age and use. This is due to the premium quality memory foam in each mat and the fact that a Manduka mat simply does not break or crack.
29) They have big plans for the future.
Finally, one of the most interesting facts about Manduka is that they are continuously innovating and creating new products that are unlike anything else the yoga community has seen.
They have hinted that they have big plans for the future and, knowing Manduka, these plans are going to blow us all away!
