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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Pricey Yoga Mats Defy Recession

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(Newser) – Consumers are cutting back in all sorts of ways amid the recession—just not when it comes to yoga. Sales of designer mats, which fetch in the ballpark of $100, are surging, reports Time. One leading company, Manduka, has seen sales shoot up 87% on Amazon in the last 4 months. It's now teaming up with the national Dick's chain to take advantage.

What gives? Yes, the mats are good quality and offer traction and joint support. But a series of other factors are at play. More stressed people are taking up yoga, and they are generally young, well educated, and rich. "In other words, yogis are yuppies," writes Sean Gregory. "And if there's one thing yuppies do, it's copycat their brethren." When they see others with the mats, they're swayed. "Look at me: I've got a Manduka; I'm totally into yoga."

A yoga guru in Germany leads his charge.
A yoga guru in Germany leads his charge.   (Getty Images)
The Manduka PRO mat.
The Manduka PRO mat.   (www.manduka.com)
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PosterNutbag
May 27, 09 8:10 PM CDT
Marketing consumerism defies the teachings of yoga. You know the thin piece of rubber that goes in between a rug or carpet and the hard floor? That, cut into a body sized rectangle, is what the yoga mat is. It was BKS Iyengar's invention but he was too busy teaching and practicing yoga to ever think of patenting or marketing his yoga props. Reply
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Ioptout
May 28, 09 12:13 AM CDT
I bet if I walked in a yoga place with my quilt that I fold 5 times (to make that rectangle) the chicks would be @ myBallz DOT com. (free quilt) Reply
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sache
May 28, 09 11:49 AM CDT
Yoga is suppose to relieve stress but it would totally stress me out to pay $100.00 for a "must have mat". Guess i won't be taking up yoga anytime soon ,at least not the Manduka mat needing kind. Reply
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