Power of the Mat: Embodied Spatiality and Textile Mediation in Malay-Islamic, Persian, and Yoga Traditions.

This paper explores the role of floor mats as mediators between the body and sacred space
across three cultural tradi7ons: Malay-Islamic, Persian, and Yoga prac7ces. By examining tex7les
as spa7al and ritual ar7facts—prayer mats, Persian rugs, and yoga mats—the study inves7gates
how woven paVerns, materiality, and embodied rituals transform secular spaces into ephemeral
domains of sanc7ty. Employing a mixed-method approach combining ethnography, visual
analysis, semi-structured interviews, and literature review, the research highlights the mat’s
capacity to dictate posture, movement, and spa7al orienta7on while invoking intangible
atmospheres of reverence. Thema7c analysis reveals cross-cultural parallels in the mat’s func7on
as a microcosmic "ground" that nego7ates between earth and body, aligning with frameworks of
affordance (Kimmerle) and spa7al embodiment (Pallasmaa). Findings suggest that contemporary
floor-sea7ng prac7ces echo ancestral tradi7ons, reinforcing the mat’s enduring power to
demarcate sacredness within fluid, modern interiors.