There are probably easier ways to start a business than having someone accidentally walk away with your yoga mat. But that's exactly how Big Raven Yoga began, although the story actually starts a couple of years earlier with a bicycle accident, several surgeries, and a rather long recovery.
It's hard to believe we're celebrating eight years of Big Raven Yoga. When I look back at everything that's happened since we launched in 2018, I sometimes wonder what I would have thought if someone had told me that losing my old black yoga mat would eventually lead to hundreds of designs, collaborations with talented artists, and yoga mats finding their way into homes all over the country.
Since we're celebrating our eighth anniversary with something special for Black Friday, I thought this would be a good time to look back at how we got here, including one of our earliest designs that some of you might remember.
The Yoga Mat That Started Everything
In 2016, I had a pretty serious bicycle accident. I broke my leg, developed a dangerous complication called compartment syndrome, and spent the next several months recovering from multiple surgeries. It was a long and difficult recovery, and one of the things I missed most was practicing yoga.
When I was finally able to return to class about nine months later, I brought along my trusty black yoga mat. I'd been practicing on that same mat for about ten years, and while it wasn't particularly beautiful, it was familiar. My hands and feet fit perfectly into the worn spots, and after everything I'd been through, being back on that mat felt wonderful.
Unfortunately, that reunion didn't last very long. After class, someone accidentally took my mat home and left theirs behind. They looked almost identical, which was probably how the mistake happened. I tried to track it down, but it never turned up.
I was pretty upset about losing it, especially after everything I'd been through with that mat. Eventually, though, I decided it was an opportunity to find something better. I started shopping for a new one, figuring that after ten years, there must have been all sorts of improvements in yoga mats.
Well, that turned out to be quite an education.
I couldn't believe how little had changed. There were plenty of inexpensive mats, but I wasn't impressed with the materials, thickness, or durability. And when it came to the artwork, there wasn't much that interested me. I wanted something that felt good to practice on, would last, and was beautiful enough that I'd actually enjoy looking at it.
Apparently, that was asking quite a lot.
I began researching what it would take to create the kind of mat I wanted. What started as a search for a replacement turned into two years of learning about materials, printing processes, manufacturing, and design. There was considerably more involved than I'd originally imagined, but the more I learned, the more interested I became in making it happen.
By 2018, Big Raven Yoga was born.
If you'd like to read more about the accident and everything that happened afterward, I shared the longer version in Our Origin Story. It's quite a story, and one I'm glad I don't have to repeat!
Meet Peony Moonchild
One of the things I remember most about those early days is how much fun we had exploring artwork. I've always loved unusual images, vintage illustrations, beautiful colors, and designs that combine things you wouldn't necessarily expect to see together. I didn't see any reason why yoga mats couldn't be just as interesting as the artwork we hang on our walls.
Our first collections were named after people, and many of the designs featured strong female figures. They were quite different from the traditional yoga mats available at the time, which was exactly what I had in mind.
One of those early designs was called Peony Moonchild, and I thought you might enjoy seeing her.
Peony Moonchild, one of our early Big Raven Yoga designs.
She's quite something, isn't she? There's a vintage woman in an elaborate costume, surrounded by enormous pink peonies, with two overlapping moons behind her. The background is a soft, dusty pink with delicate geometric lines connecting little black dots. It's an unusual combination, but I've always loved the way the different elements come together.
Looking at Peony Moonchild now reminds me how much those early designs reflected my own interests. I loved old photographs and botanical illustrations, but I also liked artwork that was whimsical or mysterious. Putting those things together on a yoga mat seemed perfectly reasonable to me, although I'm sure some people wondered what on earth we were doing!
We weren't trying to create artwork that looked traditionally associated with yoga. We wanted to make something people would choose because they genuinely loved looking at it, something that made their mat feel a little more personal.
Eight Years of Making Artful Yoga Mats
Over the years, we've expanded our collections considerably, although I don't think our artistic direction has changed all that much. We've simply found more things we'd like to explore.
We've created florals, botanicals, fantasy-inspired designs, whimsical illustrations, and mats with words and sayings. Some are filled with color and detail, while others are much softer and quieter. Through our Guest Artist Collection, we've also had the pleasure of working with artists who bring their own styles, techniques, and ideas to our mats.
I like having that variety because people's tastes are so different. Someone might fall in love with a vintage design like Peony Moonchild, while someone else would much rather have a peaceful botanical illustration or a mat with a saying that makes them smile. I certainly wouldn't want every mat we create to look alike, and I wouldn't expect everyone to love the same designs I do.
I've also learned that predicting which designs people will love is nearly impossible. Sometimes we'll finish a mat that I'm convinced will be everyone's favorite, only to have another design get all the attention. Then someone will write to tell us how much they love a mat I might not have chosen for myself. I enjoy those surprises, and they're a good reminder that artwork means different things to different people.
Creating all those designs has been an education of its own. A yoga mat is six feet long and two feet wide, which gives us plenty of room for artwork, but it also presents some interesting challenges. Something that looks beautiful on a computer screen doesn't always translate the way you expect when it's enlarged to full size.
We've spent plenty of time adjusting colors, moving elements around, and trying to figure out why something that looked perfect yesterday suddenly doesn't look quite right today. There have been designs that came together easily and others that required more adjustments than I'd care to admit. Occasionally, we've had to accept that an idea simply wasn't going to work the way we'd imagined it.
Of course, while the artwork is usually what catches someone's attention, the materials have always been just as important to me. After all, the whole reason Big Raven Yoga started was because I couldn't find a yoga mat that had everything I wanted.
We spent a considerable amount of time researching and testing materials before launching our first collection. I wanted a mat that provided good cushioning without feeling unstable, stayed in place during practice, and had a surface that felt comfortable against the skin.
We eventually settled on a soft, brushed microfiber suede surface with a natural tree rubber base. Our mats are six feet long, two feet wide, and 6 mm thick. The microfiber provides excellent traction, particularly as it gets a little damp, while the natural rubber base helps keep the mat stable.
The artwork is infused into the fabric using dye-sublimation printing rather than simply being printed on top of the surface. That means our designs don't scratch or peel off, something that's especially important when you're creating a yoga mat that's meant to be used, cleaned, and enjoyed for years.
We've continued using that same basic construction as our collections have grown, which has allowed us to concentrate on creating new artwork rather than constantly changing the mats themselves.
And we've learned quite a bit about the people who use them, too. Not everyone who purchases one has a regular yoga practice. Some use them for stretching, meditation, exercise, or simply spending a little quiet time on the floor. I've always liked that because I don't believe you need to practice yoga a certain way, or for a certain amount of time, to appreciate having something beautiful beneath you.
I wrote about that idea in our blog, Why We Keep Things We Think Are Beautiful. I've always believed that the things we use every day deserve just as much beauty as the things we put on display.
One of my favorite parts of this business is hearing from people who tell us how much they enjoy their mats. Sometimes it's the cushioning or the stability they appreciate, and sometimes it's simply that the artwork makes them happy every time they unroll it. I love knowing that something we spent so much time creating has become part of someone's daily routine.
When I look at Peony Moonchild today and then browse through our newer collections, I can see how much we've expanded what we offer. We've welcomed more artists, explored different styles, and learned a great deal about what works on a yoga mat. But the things that mattered to us when we started still matter today.
And we're certainly not running out of ideas. Every time I think we might be getting caught up, something else catches my attention, whether it's a flower in the garden, an old photograph, or a color combination I hadn't considered before. I have a feeling that list of ideas is going to be with me for quite a while.
A Little Anniversary Celebration
Looking back at those first collections has made me realize just how much has happened in eight years. And since our anniversary falls around Black Friday, we thought we'd celebrate by going back to 2018, at least with our prices!
We're celebrating eight years of Big Raven Yoga with our biggest sale ever! This special anniversary offer will include our Big Raven Original yoga mats. Guest Artist designs won't be included.
The sale will run from Friday, November 27, through Monday, November 30, 2026, and we'll announce all the details on Monday, November 23.
I'm keeping the rest of the details to myself for just a little longer, but I think you'll enjoy what we have planned.
If you're already receiving our emails, you're all set. You'll hear about the sale as soon as we announce it. If you're not on our email list yet, we'd love to have you join us. We share new collections, artwork, occasional special offers, and other happenings at Big Raven Yoga, and we'll make sure you hear about our anniversary celebration, too.
In the meantime, you're always welcome to explore our yoga mats.
I certainly didn't expect that losing my old black yoga mat would eventually lead to all of this. What started as a frustrating afternoon after yoga class has given us the opportunity to work with talented artists, explore hundreds of creative ideas, and connect with people all over the country. And I still find it rather funny that the whole thing started because two plain black yoga mats looked exactly alike.
To everyone who has purchased a mat, shared our artwork, recommended us to a friend, or followed along over the years, thank you. Whether you've been with us since Peony Moonchild or just discovered Big Raven Yoga recently, I'm so glad you're here.
I still have a running list of ideas for new mats, and every time I think we're making progress on that list, I find something else I want to try. I suspect that won't change anytime soon, and I'm looking forward to sharing more of those ideas with you.