Ancient practice meets leading-edge technology as a premier Arizona studio becomes the first in the world to adopt KARSA’s mat sanitation and drying platform.

April 2026: HARTFORD, Conn. & SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. KARSA, the Hartford-based, minority-owned wellness technology company behind the world’s first purpose-built yoga mat sanitization and drying system, today announced that it has officially opened subscription pre-orders for its flagship device, and signed its very first customer, Namaste Yoga of North Scottsdale, Arizona. 

The partnership marks a milestone moment for both companies. A premier destination studio known for its cinematic infrared hot yoga experience becomes the first in the world to adopt KARSA, and KARSA opens its pre-order program to businesses that take pride in elevating the experience of the people they serve. 

KARSA is now accepting subscription pre-orders from yoga and movement studios, luxury hotels and resorts, private residential clubs, universities, and corporate wellness programs, any environment where sanitized, dry mats are the quiet foundation of a great practice. Subscription pricing, preferred launch-partner rates, and priority delivery windows are available for a limited time at karsayoga.com. 

First product shipments are scheduled for Fall 2026, with launch-partner customers prioritized in the delivery queue. 

A Cleaner Practice. A Cleaner Planet. 

Shared and rental mats are the unseen bottleneck of the modern wellness experience. They harbor bacteria, fungi, and odors; they are wiped down with rivers of single-use disposable wipes; and they are replaced far more often than they should be. KARSA’s patent-pending system sanitizes and dries a rolled mat in a single, one-touch cycle, extending mat life, virtually eliminating disposable wipe waste, and returning instructors’ time to the students they love. 

More Than a Sanitizer. A Signature Scent. 

KARSA also doubles as an in-studio essential oil diffuser. As each mat is sanitized and dried, a gentle, customizable blend of essential oils is released into the space, turning a cleaning cycle into a sensory signature. Operators can curate calming scents like lavender, eucalyptus, cedar, and bergamot to match the mood of a room, a class, or a brand, so the space smells as cared-for as the mats themselves. 

For operators who measure themselves on guest and member experience, from boutique studios to five-star resorts and university recreation centers, KARSA turns an overlooked chore into a quiet signal of care. 

“At Namaste Yoga, we believe the practice is sacred, and the space around it should honor that. Every detail, from the light in the room to the scent on the air to the mat beneath a student’s hands, is part of how we welcome people home to themselves. KARSA is the first innovation I’ve seen that truly respects the ancient roots of yoga while solving a very modern problem. A clean, dry, beautifully cared-for mat, delivered in a room that smells as intentional as it feels, is a quiet act of respect for our students and for the practice itself. We are proud to be the first studio in the world to offer it.” 

— Ashley Aakre, Founder & Owner, Namaste Yoga (Scottsdale, AZ) 

Founded by serial entrepreneur Ashley Aakre, Namaste Yoga has quickly become one of North Scottsdale’s most distinctive wellness destinations, known for its cinematic infrared hot yoga, immersive video environments, and a deeply held commitment to community. Ashley trained in Bali, Indonesia in both Ashtanga and Vinyasa, and is a certified Yin Yoga instructor. Her vision for Namaste Yoga is a studio where tradition and innovation share the same breath. 

“Yoga is one of humanity’s oldest technologies for the body and mind, and we built KARSA to serve it, not to interrupt it. Ashley and the Namaste Yoga team share our conviction that a 5,000-year-old practice deserves a 21st-century standard of care. Signing Namaste Yoga as our very first customer, and opening subscription pre-orders to yoga studios, luxury properties, and universities around the country, is the beginning of exactly the movement we set out to create, sanitized, dry mats as the foundation of a great practice, a room gently scented with the operator’s chosen essential oils, and far fewer disposable wipes and longer-lasting mats left in their wake.” 

— Timothy Roy, Founder, KARSA 

Subscription Pre-Orders Now Open 

KARSA is now accepting subscription pre-orders from operators who believe that hospitality is in the details. Ideal pre-order partners include: 

• Yoga and movement studios seeking to protect students, extend rental mat life, and differentiate on cleanliness and care. 
• Luxury hotels, resorts, and private clubs where guest-facing wellness amenities and signature scent are a brand signature. 
• Universities and campus recreation centers serving high-volume, high-turnover yoga, pilates, and group fitness programs. 

Early subscribers receive preferred launch-partner pricing, first-to-market access in their category and region, priority placement in the Fall 2026 shipping queue, and a meaningful role in shaping the future roadmap of the platform. 

A modular, commercial version of KARSA, purpose-built for studios and facilities that provide their own house mats to students, is in development and planned for a future release. 

To reserve a subscription, visit karsayoga.com or contact hello@karsa.yoga. 

 

About KARSA 

KARSA is a Delaware-incorporated, minority-owned wellness technology company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, with all manufacturing and assembly performed in Connecticut. Its patent-pending device sanitizes and dries rolled yoga and exercise mats in a single one-touch cycle, eliminating bacteria and odors, extending mat life, and displacing a continuous stream of single-use disposable wipes. KARSA also functions as an essential oil diffuser, releasing a customizable scent into the room during each cycle. KARSA is purpose-built for the businesses that elevate their customers’ experience, yoga studios, luxury hospitality, private clubs, universities, and corporate wellness.

Learn more and reserve a subscription at karsayoga.com. 

About Namaste Yoga 

Nestled in the desert paradise of North Scottsdale, Namaste Yoga is a destination studio where tradition meets innovation. Known for its cinematic infrared hot yoga and immersive, video-enveloped studio environment, Namaste Yoga is a community-centered space dedicated to elevating the practice for every student who walks through its doors. Founded by Ashley Aakre, the studio brings together world-class training, leading-edge experience design, and a deep respect for the lineage of yoga. Learn more at www.namasteyoga.com.