Word: mats
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...That is, unless you are Louis Caputo.The junior co-captain of the Harvard wrestling team stormed back from a knee injury that robbed him of a 2007-08 season, refusing to miss a beat after an entire year on the sidelines.Rather than appear tentative in his return to the mat, Caputo simply dominated his opponents, winning five straight matches to claim the Binghamton Brute Open title at 184 lbs, earning a top-10 ranking that would remain all season.But the junior was just getting started. Caputo led the Crimson in wins with a 34-8 record—the fifth...
That's right - $100 for a stinkin' mat. A company called Manduka, which makes these luxury yoga props, has seen its sales rise 55% in the first four months of 2009. Sales at Amazon.com during this period are up a stunning 87%, and the company just signed a deal with Dick's Sporting Goods, a major retailer with 389 stores across the country. Manduka offers the Black Mat PRO, a thick, cushiony black mat, for between $74 and $130, depending on its length, and the biodegradable eKO for between $42 and $70. "Manduka is the Porsche, the Ferrari of yoga...
...driving a Toyota Corolla just fine? Yoga involves stretching, holding poses and doing other physical movement. We're not talking cushions for backflips here. When it comes down to it, can't you just do yoga on your carpet? Or grab a towel? Or pay for a $30 mat in the store...
According to the yogis, the thick black Manduka mat makes a real difference. First off, you're paying for superior traction. "When you sweat during yoga, it's easy to slip and slide," says Dayna Macy, a managing editor for Yoga Journal, a trade publication. "You don't slip with the Manduka." Also, the mat's extra cushioning softens the stress on your joints. "If you practice vigorously, you'll be moving up and down a lot, and you'll use your knees," says Macy. "The mat is comfortable. And when you feel what's under your feet...
Also, it's easier to justify a $100 yoga mat than a lot of other expenses. "With hedonic consumption, at some point you're going to feel quite a bit of guilt," says C.W. Park, a marketing professor at USC's Marshall School of Business and editor of the Journal of Consumer Psychology. "If the luxury item has some kind of functional value, you're not going to feel that guilt." You feel like you're investing in your health, so a little splurge can't hurt. Plus, Manduka mats carry a lifetime guarantee. If the mat lives...