According to a 2023 survey, around 11 million people in Japan practice yoga at least once a year. Yoga participation now exceeds jogging, with one in ten people making yoga part of their lives. A yoga mat is an essential part of that practice. Yet, however carefully we look after it, there comes a time when it needs replacing. As instructors and studio operators, we have spent countless hours with yoga mats: the excitement students feel when they first buy one, the days of practice, and the sweat along the way. Is it right to simply throw away a mat full of memories as a "consumable"? That question led to the birth of SATANAMA Lab. SATANAMA Lab is an upcycling project that transforms used yoga mats into new items, making use of the material's absorbency, softness, and breathability. Rather than recycling mats by breaking them down into raw materials, we want to offer a more environmentally friendly choice by changing their shape using as little energy as possible. The time you have shared with your yoga mat can stay close to you in everyday life, in a different form. SATANAMA Lab proposes a new habit: passing on the life of an object. Satoshi Miya / Maiko Kurata The SATANAMA Lab Team