Manduka was born from an idea that you could make a better yoga mat in a health-concious and non-harming way. In the late 90s, Peter Sterios, an architect who loved yoga, designed a little black mat that enabled him to enjoy his practice without slipping or sliding. The name Manduka pays homage to Peter's mentor Shandor Remete, whose core teachings always included the ancient Hatha Yoga Pradipika pose, Mandukasana or frog pose.