Big Raven Yoga’s Fall Collection Celebrates Art, Intention, and Everyday Practice
Autumn has a funny way of slowing things down. The air shifts, the light softens, and suddenly everything feels just a little more deliberate. Mornings call for sweaters and tea instead of iced coffee and rush. The world turns amber and gold, reminding us—quietly, insistently—that it’s okay to breathe again.
For many of us, fall isn’t just a season. It’s a cue. A time to return to routine, deepen intention, and reconnect to self. And for those who roll out their mats daily, it’s also the perfect time to refresh the space where that connection happens.
That moment of renewal? It’s what Big Raven Yoga was made for.
Known for our bold, artist-designed yoga mats, Big Raven Yoga turns everyday practice into an experience of beauty and meaning. Our mats aren’t background props; they’re visual companions—each one a piece of functional art that tells its own story. And this fall, our newest collection feels like a love letter to the season of change.
The Art of the Practice: Why Artist-Designed Yoga Mats Matter
A yoga mat is such a personal thing. You spend hours on it—stretching, sweating, breathing, crying sometimes. It becomes a witness to your growth.
Big Raven Yoga understands that better than most. Instead of mass-producing standard prints, we collaborate with independent artists to create original designs—unique yoga mats that you won’t see on Amazon or at the local big-box store.
Each artist brings something completely different. Some work in watercolor, capturing delicate movement and emotion; others use bold geometry or abstract textures. The results are mats that don’t just support your body—they inspire your mind.
There’s a reason yoga enthusiasts across the country are switching to our mats: because when your mat feels intentional, your practice does too.
Fall: The Season of Return and Renewal
There’s an old yoga belief that fall is a time for grounding. After the fiery energy of summer, autumn invites balance. In Ayurveda, it’s associated with vata dosha—air and movement—meaning it’s the perfect time to seek steadiness and warmth.
That might mean trading hot-power classes for yin and restorative flows. It might mean longer meditations, journaling after class, or simply practicing gratitude for the changing world outside your window.
The fall yoga mats in Big Raven’s collection mirror that feeling perfectly. Deep rusts, smoky greens, cool blues, golden accents—they echo the color palette of the natural world. Each design feels earthy and alive, like rolling out a forest floor beneath your feet.
And somehow, that changes the energy of practice. The mat becomes part of the ritual—a soft, familiar space where breath meets art.
Inside the Studio: How Big Raven Yoga Mats Are Made
Every Big Raven Yoga mat is printed to order in the brand’s Minnesota studio—an airy, creative space where the hum of printers mixes with the scent of rubber and ink.
The process is meticulous. Each design begins as a high-resolution digital canvas created by one of Big Raven’s guest artists. From there, it’s carefully color-corrected, balanced, and printed using water-based, non-toxic inks that won’t fade or flake.
The top surface is microfiber suede, which feels velvety soft to the touch and actually gets grippier as you sweat—a far cry from slick PVC mats. Beneath it, a thick natural rubber base provides stability, cushion, and zero curl.
What results is a mat that’s as eco-friendly as it is beautiful: biodegradable rubber, solvent-free adhesive, no harsh chemicals. Everything—printing, packaging, shipping—is done in-house by a small team of makers who genuinely care about what they create.
It’s art with ethics.
Meet the Artists Behind the Mats
The soul of Big Raven Yoga lives in its artist collaborations. Each contributor brings a distinct visual voice—and together, they form a global tapestry of creativity, mindfulness, and connection.
Rachel Pohl
Known for her vibrant mountain landscapes, Rachel’s designs radiate motion and joy. Her Autumn Paintbrush mat feels like standing inside a sunset—streaks of crimson, amber, and ochre blending into each other like fire meeting sky. It’s bold but balanced, wild but calm—the exact energy of fall.
Lyn Sweet
Whimsical and imaginative, Lyn’s art often includes floating creatures, surreal dreamscapes, and unexpected color combinations. Her Flying Octopus design is legendary—proof that yoga can be playful and curious at any age.
Denise Griffin
A watercolor artist from the Berkshires, Denise paints the natural world with gentle precision—mountain mist, birch bark, flowing rivers. Her designs, like Autumn Stream or Forest Meditation, have a grounded, meditative quality that pairs beautifully with quiet flows.
Each artist receives a commission whenever their mat sells, so when you buy one, you’re directly supporting independent creators. That’s a big deal in an industry where art is often treated as decoration rather than expression.
Color Psychology and the Yoga Mat Connection
It’s no accident that certain colors soothe us while others energize. In yoga, color plays a subtle but powerful role in mood and intention. Big Raven’s fall yoga mats are a master class in this.
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Warm rust and terracotta tones foster grounding and stability—ideal for root chakra work.
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Deep greens and forest hues promote balance and heart-centered calm.
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Golden yellows ignite creativity and optimism.
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Muted blues and grays invite introspection and quiet focus.
The right mat color can set the emotional tone for your entire practice. It’s not about matching your leggings—it’s about aligning your mat to your mood.
Why Unique Yoga Mats Create a More Intentional Practice
There’s a subtle shift that happens when your mat feels like yours. You treat it differently. You unroll it with care. You notice the art beneath your hands, the way it mirrors your breathing rhythm.
That’s what Big Raven Yoga is really offering: a mat that transforms routine into ritual.
When you’re practicing on something handmade, thoughtfully designed, and ethically created, you’re reminded to move with that same mindfulness. You start showing up differently—not just on the mat, but in how you approach your day.
And that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?
Fall Favorites: A Closer Look at the Collection
This year’s autumn lineup is a mix of returning bestsellers and new designs that feel perfectly tuned to the season:
🍁 Autumn Blaze
A deep, fiery pattern that feels like movement itself. Ideal for energizing morning flows when the world still feels half asleep.
🌄 San Juan Mountain by Hannah Wilson
Inspired by the rugged Colorado peaks, this design blends topography and watercolor with effortless grace. It’s for those who find their calm in the wild.
🪵 Woodland Whispers
Perfect for grounding sequences, Yin, or any practice where you want to feel rooted and calm.
🌞 Golden Sunburst
Great for flows with a touch of brightness — sun salutations, morning practices, or moments when you want your mat to feel like a soft sunrise.
Turning Your Practice into a Fall Ritual
Fall encourages ritual—lighting candles, sipping chai, pulling on thick socks before practice. Your yoga mat becomes part of that sensory rhythm.
Here are a few ways to make your practice feel more intentional this season:
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Warm up slowly. Start with grounding poses like Child’s Pose or Cat-Cow.
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Add scent. Burn a stick of sandalwood or diffuse cedar and orange to echo fall’s earthy sweetness.
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Bring sound. Swap high-energy playlists for soft acoustic or ambient music.
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Reflect. After practice, jot down what you’re letting go of this season—and what you’re calling in.
The mat beneath you isn’t just a tool; it’s the anchor for all of it.
Gifts That Carry Meaning
If you’ve ever struggled to find the right gift for a yoga-loving friend (or yourself), a Big Raven mat is a clear winner.
Unlike mass-market mats, these artist-designed yoga mats have emotional weight. They’re thoughtful, personal, and beautifully made. They say: I know what matters to you.
Pair one with a locally made candle, a cotton yoga strap, or a handwritten note. Suddenly, you’re not giving a product—you’re giving a moment.
And if you want to make it really special, Big Raven Yoga even offers custom mats printed with your own artwork or design. Imagine giving someone a mat featuring their own painting, logo, or mantra. That’s not just a gift—it’s legacy.
Caring for Your Mat (and Yourself)
Good news: these mats are as low-maintenance as they are lovely. The microfiber top resists dirt and absorbs sweat, while the rubber base stays flexible over time.
To clean: Hose it down or hand wash with cold water and hang to dry for a long, colorful life. The mat will not fade or bleed. (If you live in a very sunny or very arid environment, your mat should dry in a day; otherwise, it might take a couple of days. You may want to consider buying TWO mats if you do yoga every day and don’t want to use a damp one.)
But caring for your mat is also about caring for your practice. Hang it somewhere visible. Let it remind you that stillness is productive too.
Community at the Core
Behind Big Raven Yoga is a small team in Spring Grove, Minnesota—a creative hub known for its companion retreat space, Big Raven Farm. Here, yoga, art, and connection collide.
Guests come for weekend retreats filled with yoga, creativity, and chef-prepared meals (yes, there’s often homemade granola and jam). It’s a living extension of what Big Raven Yoga stands for: mindfulness made tangible.
The same people who host those retreats are the ones who print, package, and ship your mat. Every order, every design, passes through real hands. And that matters.
Why Fall Is the Moment to Begin Again
Maybe you’ve fallen out of routine. Maybe your mat has been collecting dust for a while. That’s okay. Fall is forgiving that way. It invites you to start small—to show up imperfectly but consistently.
A new mat can be a powerful symbol of that restart. When it’s beautiful, functional, and filled with meaning, it becomes a space you want to return to.
And in a world that moves too fast, that’s no small thing.
Learn more about our fall collection here.