Let’s imagine the evolution of the earth as one vast tapestry, where each thread represents a unique expression of life. Plants, animals, and fungi form the fabric of existence. Woven into this intricate web, humans have stood out, on one hand as exceptional artists and on the other as seekers of understanding the mysteries of the world.
Weaving yoga mats speaks to the creativity and adaptability of the human spirit, celebrating the beauty of tradition and the innovation of the present, understanding the interconnectedness of everything and seeing a continuous thread in the evolution of the entire universe, and thus one’s own place within it.
Each wool thread represents a thread connecting humans with the earth, intertwining ancient wisdom of yoga with the wisdom of Pirot kilim symbols. Just as the patterns of the Pirot kilim tell stories of human life, woven mats become a canvas for practicing yoga, connecting the individual with a tradition that celebrates the unity of mind, body, and spirit.
With each new woven thread, the past and present come together. These mats are more than just exercise accessories: they are storytellers; the story of yoga is told through the language of kilims.
Model 1
The Tree of Life
This model begins with turtles, which in Pirot kilim weaving symbolize longevity and fertility and, in a broader sense, represent the universe. The universe endlessly exists and continuously bears fruit through forms that appear: humans, plants, animals. The central motif is the tree of life, whose roots are tied to the earthly and transient, but through life, its branches reach the sky, symbolizing humanity’s need to understand the mysteries of the absolute in this fleeting life.
Model 2
Cuponina Devi
This model is dedicated to women. It connects the story of women from our region through the Pirot weaver, often a woman without a face or name. The first woman with a socially accepted role in our area was the Pirot weaver. One of the two known weavers in literature is Cana Cuponina. On the other side is Indra Devi—the first woman allowed to learn yoga under the guidance of the most prominent teacher of modern yoga, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. Thanks to her, yoga spread beyond the borders of India. This mat combines these two stories, hence the name Cuponina Devi. The motif seen in the field at both ends are roses on chains. The chain represents constraint, difficulty, while the rose symbolizes eternal beauty. This ornament on the mat symbolizes the transformational energy of women, who despite difficulties, always find purity in their hearts and give it to the world. The mat begins and ends with turtles, symbolizing longevity and fertility, thus also representing the universe in Pirot kilim weaving.
Model 3
4 Yogas
This model begins with the ornament of the lizard, symbolizing the human soul striving toward the light. We often imagine God as white light, not seeing that darkness precedes light, which is why some philosophers say that God is black, like the mat. The color of the lizard represents three possible ways of seeing God: God and I are different – the red lizard; God is within me – the white lizard; and God and I are one – the black lizard. According to Indian philosophy, there are four paths to realizing the absolute—four Yogas. The centrally placed the tree of life, represents the spiritual path. Jnana Yoga is the path of intellectual realization, represented by the candlestick. Bhakti is the path of realizing the absolute through love and faith, represented by the devil’s knee. Karma yoga is the path to God through work and action, represented by the fruit. Raja yoga is the path of experiential realization, achieved through various psycho-physical techniques, such as physical exercise and breathing techniques which aim to bring balance and calm the mind, represented by german boxes.
Model 4
Chakras and Koshas
This model begins with the ornament of the lizard, symbolizing the human soul striving toward the light. We often imagine God as white light, not seeing that darkness precedes light, which is why some philosophers say that God is black, like the mat. Until we discover our true essence, yoga teaches that there are emotions and thoughts, for example, the fear of death, the fear of losing loved ones which block our chakras, energy centers, of which there are 7. Differently coloured evil’s knees along the tree of life represent chakras. Yoga also teaches that there are layers of the body, such as the physical, energetic, mental, wisdom body, and bliss body, represented by the fan shaped symbol placed centrally. These concepts help us better understand the complexity of our being.
Each mat is handwoven in Pirot workshops. It takes about six months to create one piece.
Each mat also has a more accessible version made of organic rubber with printed designs.
Write to me if you’re interested in learning more about my mats or if you’d like to own one.
