In trying to adapt to tough times, we sometimes make wonderful discoveries. One of these recent discoveries has been the Root Board. I was having a difficult time finding a safe outdoor venue to teach my students with lots of social distance. Last summer, due to the pandemic, many pavilions in the park didn’t have picnic tables. Thus, we had lots of open empty, flat space for outdoor yoga classes. But this spring, we are all very much more hopeful and the picnic tables are back.

Which means, yoga in the grass? I mean, it’s okay. It can stretch my yoga practice, help strengthen my core as I adjust to balancing on uneven terrain. Some swear by it, but it’s not my personal favorite, and not for everyone.

I racked my brains for a solution, looked online, and found an answer. Lo and behold my own little portable yoga-studio floor: The Root Board! I immediately contacted the company so I could give this thing a try and share my experience with you. As soon as the package arrived, I unpacked it and took it to the location where I will be teaching outdoor classes. It is nearly perfect!

Unpacking it, I was immediately impressed by the craftsmanship of the Root Board. It’s made like it was made back in the good old days. It is a little larger than the standard yoga mat. Essentially, it is two, well-crafted panels of eco-friendly, sustainable bamboo that join like puzzle pieces in the middle. It is thick, 12mm, solid and stable, which makes it a little heavy, but the panels have handles for easier transport. At first you wonder, why 2 panels joined in the middle and not 1 long one? As soon as you take it to your car, you immediately understand. It fits perfectly in the back of our Outback. Plus, carrying two smaller panels together across the park is a lot easier to manage than 1 long panel.

When we arrived at the park, my husband and I both wanted to try it first. He (eventually) deferred to me. It was easy to join the panels, and two side clips helped to keep the jigsaw joint stable. I rolled my husband’s cork mat out on top, and hopped on, feeling like a yogi surfer on the park grass.

The first thing I noticed is how sturdy it felt underfoot, like a real hardwood studio floor. There was some give in the middle at the joint, but a reasonable amount and to be expected.

I tried standing balancing poses, tough to do on a yoga mat in grass. Stuck the landing, no problem. When doing planks, my wrists and joints felt protected. I moved through a flow, did some inversions, and for each pose I felt grounded, rooted – Root Board!

There are a couple of drawbacks. For one, it’s on the heavy side. Each panel is 14 pounds. The handles are convenient and make it easy to carry, but unless you can come up with some way to strap it to a backpack, and don’t mind a heavy pack while hiking to a remote location, it’s really built for a park or beach you can drive to.

It’s also a bit pricey - $178.00 but well worth it. Yes, there are yoga mats and other yoga gear that are more expensive, it’s all relative, but sometimes it’s just not in the budget. Which is why the company has provided plans, free of charge, for a DIY board, complete with an instructional video and step-by-step instructions in a downloadable pdf. If you’re really into DIY, this might be fun, but the craftsmanship makes it worth the price. They are painstakingly crafted and are designed in the USA. This company is based in Santa Monica and demand is high. Orders are being taken now for April 9th shipment.

In summary, if you are planning on doing a lot of outdoor yoga this summer, this is worth the investment.