Halfway through my first yoga class on a cork mat—a gift from a friend—I had one overwhelming thought: why wasn't everyone in the room using one? 

I was at the peak of my hot yoga era, doing a heated flow class. Unlike with my regular mat, I didn't need a towel for grip—no more fabric tangling around my feet—and there was zero slipping and sliding. While other students waited for the right moment to adjust their sweaty towels or concentrated on not slipping during a transition, I just focused on my practice and it was such a freedom. I was on a giant coaster that kept me super secure from sliding and felt so clean compared to a sweaty mat and towel.

Then there was the other obvious factor—the fact that cork is a sustainable material.

Looking around the room, I saw the irony: here were people driving electric cars and eating vegan diets to save the planet, while practicing on mats that were off-gassing toxic fumes and destined for landfills.

It was and is still the norm though and I, like everyone else was so used to the norm that it had never struck me as contradictory before. Since my cork mat had been a gift, I didn't feel superior to anyone—just genuinely puzzled why these sustainable alternatives weren't the norm, especially in such an environmentally conscious community.

After savasana, I wiped off my mat with a hand towel and began rolling it up. It was a bit stiff and difficult to roll. During savasana I couldn’t help but notice it was a bit less cushy than my other mat. Perhaps with time it would soften, I thought. For hot yoga it was still the clear winner, but for Yin yoga or a relaxing sound bath, I had to admit, my other mat would be more accommodating. As for looks? True, its plain brown surface wasn't exactly inspiring, but the practical benefits and sustainability far outweighed any aesthetic concerns—I never looked back at my old mat.

This went on for months—until my mat began to emit a strange smell. Cork is naturally antimicrobial and doesn't retain odors, so I was puzzled. That's when I discovered the truth: the mat's top layer wasn't pure cork, but a blend with 'other materials'—materials that, unfortunately, did retain odors.

I really did not want to give up on cork as it had truly transformed my experience of doing heated workouts. I could not go back to transporting sweaty towels in my car all the time and the laundry that followed. This experience sparked my mission: to create a cork mat without compromise—one that would roll up as compactly as traditional mats, feature a genuinely 100% cork surface that stays fresh, and look as beautiful as it performs.

Through dozens of failed prototypes and frustrating setbacks, the perfect cork mat was finally born, one that I was happy and proud to share with the world. Nothing makes me happier than hearing people tell me their Karmadillo mat has become their favorite. 

Since launching our first standard sized mats in 2023, sold out of our VW Bus on S. Congress, Karmadillo has quickly become a beloved local brand in Austin. Our 6mm luxe mats which just launched this year, are larger, maximizing the typically allotted individual space in a yoga class, and are easier on those with sensitive joints. Please drop a comment below and let me know your experience using cork mats and what other products you’d like to see from Karmadillo Yoga Supply.

XOXO,
Leslie