A yoga mat is more than just fitness equipment… it’s a space to breathe, move, and HEAL.
Our Mat Grants Programme provides free mats to yoga teachers who wish to lead not-for-profit projects in hospitals, prisons, and community centres. We supply and send free mats to support projects that focus on:
Accessibility
Offer yoga to individuals who might otherwise never have the opportunity to practice
Equity
Challenge inequities and expand access to health-promoting practices, especially in communities that have faced systemic oppression
Health
Share the transformational benefits of yoga with populations that face physical and mental illness
Community
Work to connect populations (e.g. police officers and court-involved youth) and forge relationships to support healthy communities
Our Impact
Since 2015, we have shipped over 39,000 mats to help yoga teachers lead classes for prisoners, veterans, and people facing physical and mental illness.
39,000
yoga mats
900
community yoga service projects
48
U.S. states
10
countries
Who Can Apply
Before you apply for a mat grant, please make sure that you that you meet these criteria:
Certified Yoga Teacher
In order to apply, you must have completed a 200+ hour yoga teacher training or have extensive experience teaching yoga.
Based in the UK
The applicant must be based within the United Kingdom. At this time, we are only able to ship mats within the UK.
Not-for-Profit Yoga Project
The mats must be used for a nonprofit yoga project; that is, they cannot be used for a for-profit venture such as a conference, festival, or teacher training.
Important Notice:
We accept applications year-around but can only distribute mats in September and October
What We Support
We support innovative projects that create access to yoga across social, economic, and physical barriers.
Specifically, we look for projects which include four key elements:
Sustainability
Provides an ongoing yoga programme that continues for at least one year
Integration
Integrates yoga into the everyday life of the populations served
Collaboration
Encourages collaboration with other groups or organisations in the community
Outreach
Invites new students to the yoga practice for the first time
FAQs
Who is eligible to receive a mat grant?
We are pleased to accept applications from certified yoga teachers based in the United Kingdom. You can apply on behalf of an organisation, or you’re welcome to apply on behalf of yourself as well. Many of our mat grant recipients are volunteers who feel inspired to lead yoga classes in their local community.
Are there any disqualifying criteria for the mat grant programme?
Yes, we do not accept applications from:
- Applicants located outside the U.K.
- For-profit organisations; including conferences, festivals, and teacher trainings
- Individuals who have not yet received their yoga teacher certification
We also unfortunately cannot provide mats for the following purposes:
- Individual use
- One-off events
- Equipping private yoga studios
- Projects which take place (or require shipping) outside the U.K.
- Reuse or resale
- Conferences or festivals
- Yoga certification programmes, yoga workshops or trainings
What can I do to increase my chances of being awarded a mat grant?
You can increase your chances of receiving a mat grant by proposing a clear and impactful project. In particular, we are interested in providing mats for projects which:
- Provide an ongoing yoga programme that continues for at least six months
- Encourage collaboration with other groups or organisations in the community
- Offer innovative solutions to integrate yoga into the everyday life of the populations served
- Invite new students to the yoga practice for the first time
We also give priority to yoga teachers delivering projects on behalf of our Legacy Programmes, namely: yoga4cancer; Yoga of 12-Step Recovery; Eat Breathe Thrive; Prison Yoga Project; Mindful Therapy; The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute.
What are some examples of projects you have supported in the past?
We have provided mats to support projects such as:
- An ongoing yoga class for clients at an eating disorder centre
- Yoga classes for the deaf community
- Ongoing classes in a local jail
- A new yoga programme for elderly adults at a care home
- Yoga classes to raise funds for those affected by the Grenfell Fire
When will I find out if my application has been successful?
Bear with us! Mat applications are reviewed weekly and we do our best to respond to applications as soon as possible. Please note that supply does vary throughout the year. Due to the number of applications received, we sometimes have to turn down eligible projects.
What happens if my application is accepted?
If your application is successful, you will be notified of your award via email. We will ask you to sign a grant agreement, and then one of our partners (lululemon or Gaiam) will send you your mats in the mail. Please allow at least one month for delivery.
Are there any reporting requirements?
Yes, we will ask you to complete an online project report within one year of approval. We love receiving testimonials and pictures from our mat grant recipients, so please do keep track and share how your mats were used.
Can I apply for a mat grant more than once?
Yes! There is no limit to how many mat grants you may receive.
How many mats may I apply for?
You should apply for as many as you need. Our supply varies throughout the year, so we cannot fulfill all requests, but we will do our best.
Our Partners
We work with strategic partners to distribute yoga mats for startup or growing yoga outreach projects.
