10 Ways to Take Your Yoga Practice Off the Mat in 2025
Yoga is an ancient mind, body, and spiritual discipline originating from Northern India. Throughout its rich and dynamic history, the actual practice of yoga has come to encompass both physical practices and subtle practices, such as breathwork, energy work, mantra, meditation, and more.
But often, the term “yoga” gets conflated with “asana,” or the postures that we do in the physical yoga practice. With our modern society's emphasis on aesthetics and external appearances, yoga poses on a mat are often misconstrued as the sole expression and purpose of yoga.
But making shapes on the mat is just one element of this perennial practice. In fact, many scholars posit that the original aim of doing asana was just to prepare the body for prolonged seated meditation.
In this article, we’ll explore some ways that you can take your yoga practice “off the mat” and beyond the physical expression.
First, what does it mean to take yoga off the mat?
In a very literal sense, there are many yoga ways to engage with yoga that don’t ever require stepping on a mat. Meditation, for example, can be done just about anywhere.
But in a more symbolic sense, taking your practice “off the mat” means transferring the wisdom learned from the embodied practice into your daily life. It means keeping that flexibility, strength, balance, mindfulness, and compassion that we cultivate in the yoga room alive in our day to day interactions — with others and with ourselves.
As yoga teacher Aadil Palkhivala writes in his book, Fire of Love: For Students of Live and Teachers of Yoga:
“True yoga is not about the shape of your body,
but the shape of your life.
Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived.
Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been;
yoga cares about the person you are becoming.
Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose,
and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.”
Taking your practice off the mat means shifting from a performative mindset to embodying the essence of yoga in any setting, regardless of who's watching.
10 Ways to take Your Yoga Practice off the Mat in 2025
1. Prana (Breath) Awareness
Prana means “vital energy,” or breath. Breathing is one of the core principles that separates a yoga asana from regular stretching. It’s also one of the most accessible tools that we all have, and can tap into at any time, anywhere!
Bringing more awareness to your breath throughout the day sounds simple, but it can be a truly transformative practice.
The mind and the body communicate through the breath, which is why breathing is so powerful for nervous system regulation. By structuring our inhales and exhales, we can bring ourselves into a physiological and psychological state of calm.
Becoming conscious of our breath is also an opportunity for mindfulness. When we turn our attention into the internal experience, we can drop into a focused, meditative state. When we operate from this place of calm, we tend to be more patient and less reactionary with our thoughts, words, and actions.
2. Ahimsa (Non-violence)
Ahimsa is the first of the five “Yamas,” or external ethics, of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and it translates to non-violence. Non-violence doesn’t just mean not hurting other people, but reducing our level of harm to all living things.
There are many ways to express ahimsa off the mat— from the foods we choose to eat, to the way we engage with others, and even the way we engage with ourselves. We can also extend this idea of non-harming and compassion towards our shopping behaviors. Choosing sustainable, consciously made products, is an act of ahimsa towards the planet.
3. Satya (Truthfulness)
The second of Patanjali’s Yamas, Satya can be best translated as truthfulness. It goes beyond simply refraining from lies; Satya encourages us to live authentically, speak with integrity, and align our actions with our deepest values.
Practicing Satya means seeking clarity about our thoughts, emotions, and intentions, as well as the impact of our words and deeds on others.
Off the mat, Satya can be applied in myriad ways. It might mean setting boundaries in relationships to honor your authentic needs or acknowledging mistakes at work with courage and accountability. It's a call to embrace honesty with kindness, ensuring that our truths are expressed in ways that nurture rather than harm.
4. Aparigrapha (Non-posessiveness)
Aparigraha, often translated as non-possessiveness or non-attachment, is another vital principle from the Yamas. It invites us to examine our relationship with material possessions, relationships, and even our expectations. Aparigraha teaches that clinging—whether to objects, experiences, or outcomes—creates unnecessary suffering and limits our freedom. By letting go of the need to accumulate or control, we make space for clarity, contentment, and gratitude in the present moment.
Off the mat, practicing Aparigraha might mean decluttering your home, keeping only what truly serves or brings you joy, and resisting the urge to acquire excess. It can also involve releasing the grip of emotional attachments, such as the need for constant approval or the fear of losing something or someone. Aparigraha encourages a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity, reminding us that we are enough without external validations.
5. Saucha (Cleanliness)
Gecko's Saucha Spray Yoga Mat Cleaner - coming to our website soon
Saucha is one of the “Niyamas,” or internal ethics, of the Yoga Sutras, and it means cleanliness. Saucha emphasizes the importance of creating purity and order in both our internal and external worlds.
On a physical level, Saucha encourages maintaining a clean and healthy body, as well as fostering a tidy and organized environment.
Beyond the tangible, it extends to the purification of the mind and heart—cultivating thoughts, emotions, and intentions that uplift and support our well-being.
6. Santosha (Contentment)
Another one of Patanjali’s Niyamas, Santosha means contentment. It’s important to highlight that contentment is not the same as happiness. Instead of seeking for peaks of elation, contentment is about entering an equanimous state of acceptance, regardless of external circumstances.
Practicing Santosha means embracing the present moment fully, finding peace in what is, rather than longing for what could be.
And it’s called a practice for a reason.
In today’s highly competitive and consumeristic culture, it seems that we can never have — or be — enough. But if we can actively practice bringing awareness to this paradigm, challenging the idea that we need more, and inviting in gratitude, we can enter into this space of contentment.
7. Swadhyaya (Self-study)
Swadhyaya, the fourth of the five Niyamas, refers to self-study. It can mean introspection and internal reflection, or actual study about the nature of the human condition, both of which cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves.
To put this into practice off the mat might mean journaling about your experiences to uncover recurring themes, or meditating to observe your inner world. It may also mean connecting with ancient yogic texts or reading philosophical works that inspire and challenge you.
There are many classic yogic texts that contain timeless wisdom, such as the aforementioned Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. However, there are also many modern books, documentaries, and podcasts by contemporary yogis that may feel more accessible and less intimidating. Study can be very illuminating for your yogic path, so crack open a book and see if something sparks your interest!
8. Kula (Community)
Kula, often translated as community or tribe, emphasizes the importance of connection and collective energy. While it is not explicitly part of the Yamas or Niyamas, Kula is deeply rooted in yoga’s philosophy of unity and interconnectedness.
A strong Kula nurtures a sense of shared purpose and reinforces the idea that we are never alone on our journey. It’s also reciprocal, and asks us to show up authentically, offer support, and create a safe space where others can do the same.
Your Kula may be your local group of like-minded yogis, but you can also apply the principles of a Kula to all of your communities — neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family.
9. Sankalpa (Intention)
Sankalpa is the Sanskrit word for intention. It’s a powerful yogic concept that focuses on aligning your inner desires with purposeful action.
Unlike a goal, which often stems from external pressures or achievement-oriented thinking, a Sankalpa arises from the heart and reflects your deepest values and aspirations. Sankalpa is also not to be confused with “manifesting,” which is entirely results-focused.
Intentional living is less about striving and more about connecting with your true essence, helping you create a life rooted in authenticity and purpose. Often, we go through life on auto-pilot or following a script written by someone else, but connecting to our Sankalpa can bring us back to our true “why.”
Just like we often do before starting our yoga practice on the mat, try setting an intention at the beginning of your day, year, or before heading into a big project, event, or major decision.
10. Seva (Service)
Rooted in the Sanskrit word sev, which means to serve, Seva translates to selfless service, and reflects the yogic principle of giving without expecting anything in return.
Seva goes beyond acts of charity to encompass a deeper, heart-centered offering of time, energy, and compassion for the benefit of others. It teaches us to transcend the ego and recognize the interconnectedness of all beings, fostering humility and love in the process.
In life, service can be practiced in countless ways, from joining a global project organizations like Yoga Gives Back, to volunteering at a local organization, to simply offering a helping hand to someone in need. The essence of Seva lies not in the magnitude of the act but in the intention behind it.
When you engage in service from a place of genuine care and without attachment to the outcome, you can simultaneously embody many of the Yamas, Niyamas, and create a ripple effect of yoga in the world.
Gecko’s Mission: Taking Your Practice Beyond the (Cork) Yoga Mat
Although we have a deep love for the physical practice here at Gecko, we know that the practice extends much wider than the perimeters of our mats.
That’s why from the very beginning, our Sankalpa was to help yogis practice better yoga, both on and off the mat.
We believe that a yoga mat shouldn’t be a benign piece of equipment that’s exempt from yogic values. Rather, it should be an embodiment of them.
We view our cork yoga mats as the literal and metaphorical foundation that we build our practice on, which is why they are made sustainably, ethically, and always with lots of love in Portugal.
