What is it about yoga that we love so much?  We all have our reasons for practicing, but what keeps us so religiously driven to this ancient discipline?  The answer to that question is unique to each individual, but there are commonalities that inspire us as a yoga community.  The desire to grow and encompass inner peace, to envelope mindfulness, to devour the ability to listen to and decipher our inner voice, and most importantly to leave the world behind when we’re on our mat.

Yoga is a thirst to pursue personal growth while honing a skill that slows our chaotic world to a soothing hum, coupled with a need to feel good about the causes we support.

Enter The Willey Family

Yoloha Yoga Wiley Family

 

Chris is a graphic designer, photographer, web designer and part time surfboard builder. Cliff, an aerospace engineer.  Michael, also an aerospace engineer designing lightweight composite seats for airlines. Lisa, a nurse at a family practice center and Peta a translator and law assistant.  Led by Lisa and Cliff, the Willey Family is an earth conscious and outdoorsy family that fosters a passion for healthy living and mindfulness.  Among their many talents and attributes the tie that bonds this incredibly talented family is, you guessed it, yoga.

 

Wiley Family yogaAcro yoga on Yoloha cork mat

 

It was Chris who changed the direction of this family’s journey.  During his quest to source eco-friendly and durable materials for his surfboards he stumbled on a sustainable resource that would change the path of the entire Willey Family.  Cork.

 

Chris Willey experimenting with cork on SUP Board

 

Chris began experimenting with cork and found that not only was it easy on his conscience it was the answer to all the problems he faced while trying to source a safe and dependable product for his surfboards. The further he learned of this sustainable, durable and anti-microbial material the more he knew he had so much more to create with this product.  One night while working into the daylight hours he created his first cork yoga mat.

Aloha in the Hawaiian language means peace and is a greeting commonly used by the surfing community, projecting warmth and welcome.  Chris decided to combine his two passions; yoga + surfing and Yoloha Yoga was born.

 

Yoloha Yoga's Willey family

 

The Cork Oak Tree is the only tree in the world that regenerates stripped bark. Cork is collected by peeling the bark of a tree which grows mainly in the Mediterranean area.  No trees are cut in the process and they are harvested by hand every 9 years, creating over 100,000 jobs.  Harvested trees actually absorb five times more carbon dioxide than unharvested trees.

 

 

The underside of the mat is composed of safely recycled rubber, ensuring these mats are comprised of 100% renewable and recyclable materials.  A quest that was crucial for Chris when sourcing resources for his mats.

There are so many reasons to love Yoloha.  A small family-owned and community grown company focused on a passion for creating eco-friendly products that help us sleep soundly with good conscience.  These mats and accessories are handmade in America with an anti-microbial, lightweight and quick-drying surface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Willey family cares so much about each personal experience with their mats, they honor a 60-day return policy and even stand by a lifetime guarantee that if you are not content, even 20 years down the road, they will work with you to ensure your happiness.

I have personally spoken with Chris on several occasions and couldn’t help but get caught up in his contagiously positive and engaging attitude towards these mats.  He cares so much about the longevity of the mats that none of them are rolled until the day they are shipped.  Until then, they lay out and are personally inspected before delivery to ensure they will lay flat for your first class.

 

 

Yoloha offers several styles of mats ranging from 1.5mm – 5mm in thickness, depending on your needs.  All of them are lightweight ranging from 6lbs to just 1.5lbs for portability. I had the privilege of trying one of their signature mats, part of the Nomad Series called the Tropical Vibes Nomad Cork Mat 

 

Yokohama cork yoga mat

 

It wasn’t out of the box for more than five minutes and even my kids couldn’t stay off of it!

Let me forewarn you, so you can mentally prepare yourself for the attention you are going to get when you walk in with this mat.  Every class I attended I knew the second I unrolled my Yoloha Mat I would draw a crowd, with inquiries about everything from the production process to the purchase price. It’s a yogi magnet!  Even my cat couldn’t resist!

[clickToTweet tweet=”WARNING: Yoloha Yoga cork #yoga mats are a yogi magnet. ” quote=”WARNING: Yoloha Yoga cork #yoga mats are a yogi magnet. “]

 

Cat on a mat. Yoloha yoga mat

 

Once unleashed, you are instantly transformed to a Yoloha state of mind, ok I went a little far there but you get what I’m trying to convey.  The design is both soothing and mentally transporting. I even enjoyed the smell of the mat (yes, I just said that).  Who knew cork was so enlightening!

 

Yoloha Yoga cork mat and blocksYoloha cork yoga mat

 

I often struggle with certain poses that put too much pressure on my elbows and knees, forcing me to give in before I should.  With the combination of the cushion of the cork and foam,  I could hold these poses longer and fall deeper in the stretch.  I had no idea so much of my success hinged on the mat I was using.  The cork also increases surface grip, which in the past was another deal breaker for me.  For more, you can even sprinkle a bit of water with your hands on the mat to add grip.  The cherry on top (or bottom, depending on how you look at it) is the slip resistant foam on the bottom which is also free of PVC, plasticizers, and latex!  You proudly carry this little gem into class!

 

Yoloha Yoga cork matFamily acro yoga on Yoloha Yoga cork mat

 

Yoloha speaks our language, caring for our bodies and our environment so we can namaste with a 100% no worries.

They are also using their success to give back with their Giving Mats for every Giving Nomad Cork Yoga Mat you purchase a mat will be donated to a child in need through the Holistic Life Foundation allowing children in underserved communities a chance to heal with yoga and mindfulness.  Amazing!

 

Love More with a Yoloha Yoga cork mat

 

Yoloha Yoga's other cork productsYoloha Yoga's cork yoga wheel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoloha isn’t just about mats, they also offer bag, straps, yoga mat sprays, towels, accessories, and apparel. All available online at YolohaYoga.com

Now that I’ve bragged about my mat, it’s time to give one away!

Yoloha is giving away a Genuine Cork Yoga Mat absolutely free exclusively to TryBelle Magazine readers!

The giveaway is now closed.  The winner of the Yoloha Yoga Cork yoga mat is:

Charity Banman

Thank you to all who entered.  Stay posted for more!

To Enter All You Have To Do Is:

  1. Comment below – How would a Yoloha Cork Yoga Mat inspire your personal yoga journey?
  2. Share this post link on social media. (Yes, we do check before we qualify our winners.)
  3. Like TryBelle Magazine’s Facebook Page
  4. Receive a bonus entry for following us on Instagram @TryBelleMag and commenting on our Yoloha Giveaway post.

 

GIVEAWAY RULES:

  • Giveaway contest is International.
  • Giveaway contest begins at time of publication: May 25, 2017 and ends June 7, 2017 11:59pm EST.
  • Winner(s) will be randomly chosen and notified by email by June 14, 2017.
  • Winner(s) must reply to notification email by June 21, 2017 11:59pm EST.
  • Failure to accept prize within the designated timeline will result in forfeiture and a new winner(s) may be chosen.
  • Decision on winner(s) is final and prize is non-negotiable, non-substitutable, and non-transferable.
  • This is a sponsored post and your gift comes directly from Yoloha Yoga.
  • Our Legal Terms

 

Go ahead and enter now so you too can own a Yoloha Genuine Cork Mat and start experiencing the difference!

 

[clickToTweet tweet=”Enter for a chance to win a Yoloha Yoga cork #yoga mat. #giveaway” quote=”Enter for a chance to win a Yoloha Yoga cork yoga mat!”]