MTMA: How to Roll Your Mat, or WWMD?

After you've finished your practice, flip your mat over so you have the underside facing up. Start the tightest roll you can get with your big Manduka.






Use your foot as another stablizing point as you continue to roll that fat spliff of a mat. (Note that I'm also multi-tasking by doing a foot drill of lifting my arch, grounding my toe mounds and lifting my toes. Very Iyengar-esque. Missed the shot with my big toe lifting too.)




Now that you've got the front edge completely tucked under your mat, you can release your foot. Continue to roll and watch the ends of the mat to make sure you stay on track.






You're past the most difficult part of the job. It's smooth sailing from here.







Before you know it, you're done! Fini!

Your mat should be able to stand upright on its own.

Close-up shot of perfection.







Special thanks go to Lax for photography, the Diver for the idea and Martha for making anal compulsiveness part of everyday living.

Modern Tips for Modern Ashtangis: Hot Tip #1

Don't roll up your mat like a snow cone when you're done with your practice.

It's a bitch if you're just borrowing that mat at the shala and you toss it into the container. Everyone else will have to squeeze to make space to fit their own mat in the tub.

Who's not being mindful now, huh? Besides it's really untidy.

It also makes the Diver crazy, even though there aren't a lot of things that bug him.

Next post: How to properly roll your pig-heavy Manduka into a perfect scroll.