MEDIA KIT
Contents
- Overview
- About the Root Board
- Opportunity: Yoga During the Pandemic
- Our Story
- Founders
- Media Assets
Overview
About the Root Board
The Root Board is...
a bamboo yoga board designed to enhance one’s yoga practice. It effortlessly creates a vibe of wellness. We say to our fellow yogis: Stabilize your flow, land your peak pose and wring out every bit of goodness your practice has to offer.
...beautiful
- The only purpose-built portable bamboo yoga floor on the market.
- Sturdy 1/2” thick sustainable & responsibly harvested bamboo.
- Rounded edges for comfort.
- Durable 6 Coat Ultraviolet Finish that will withstand heavy use and remain beautiful for years.
...stable
- 3-ply Moso bamboo has a Janka hardness rating of ~1760 making it extremely firm- similar to Oak, Walnut and Maple.
- At 28 lbs (each half is 14 lbs), the Root Board remains stationary as the yogi moves through her poses.
- Protects ankles and wrists from stress injuries.
& portable
- Two ergonomic handholds on both halves allowing easy transport
- Proprietary Jigsaw Construction makes set up, and stowing easy.
- Measures 76¾” x 28½" x ½” (assembled), 40¼” x 28½” (each piece)
- Weighs 28 lbs (total), 14 lbs (each piece)
- Nylon Bag, Carry Strap, Side Clips sold separately.
Yoga During the Pandemic
COVID-19 has forced a monumental shift in the lives of yogis and instructors alike. This mandatory alteration has also created a new opportunity for the yoga market. Practitioners are inventing ways to create a home practice that delivers the same physical, emotional and spiritual relief they found at the studio, and yoga studios and teachers are exploring ways to engage and serve their communities. The Root Board targets both of these constituencies. Prior to the pandemic, as many as 40 million people in the United States were practicing yoga. While official figures aren't yet available, numerous governmental and private publications identify yoga as one of the best ways to stay physically and mentally fit during quarantine.
Practitioners
For many die-hard yogis, carving out a place for wellness has never been more urgent, especially for those practicing at home on carpet or outdoors on uneven surfaces.
* Figures are from the 2016 Yoga in America Study Conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance
Instructors and Studios
As yoga studios seek creative new ways to serve their practitioners, many instructors are shifting to Zoom classes and outdoor venues. The Root Board has been enthusiastically received by this group, as evidenced by @therootboard’s positive reception on Instagram. We continue to develop our influencer and referral programs in support of these instructors.
Our story
The concept of The Root Board arose at the start of the pandemic quarantine (March 2020). Like everyone else, Kathy and Brian found themselves homebound with their family and under the same financial, health and social stresses that faced everyone. Kathy had been a dedicated yogi for years, so yoga had already been an integral part of her life skills. However, the experience of practicing at home left something to be desired. The distractions of being at home and the instability of the mat on carpet interfered with her yoga experience. The benefits of a yoga practice is based on one’s ability to still the mind, focus, breathe and land a peak pose. She felt her practice was slipping away so improving her home yoga space became a pressing issue. Where’s the zen in a small living space with wall-to-wall carpet? Through trial and error, she and Brian designed and built a solid yoga platform made from bamboo that tactilely replicated the experience of a yoga studio. It dramatically and immediately enhanced their practice. They call it the Root Board because, as all yogis know, you have to “root to rise.” They are filled with passion and excitement to bring the Root Board to market in order to assist other yogis struggling to recapture the benefits of their studio practices. Kathy and Brian believe yoga is the path to peace, health and longevity. They sell the Root Board in order to serve the yoga community so the world can be a better place for all.
Founders
Brian McCarthy
Brian has worked as a digital marketer and business leader in various SaaS platforms and online marketplaces. His most recent position was CEO of 1-800-DENTIST and founder of Dentistry.com, the first consumer online destination for dentistry. The Root Board is his first DTC entrepreneurial venture . Brian is a graduate of the University of Oregon. He and Kathy have been married 28 years and live in Santa Monica, CA.
Kathy McCarthy
Kathy is a creative director and graphic designer who has worked in fashion her entire career. She has a rich body of work in web design, product packaging, marketing and collateral. Kathy started yoga only a few years ago, but it didn’t take long for her to become completely passionate about it. She is in the process of a 200-HR certification program, but considers herself a student for life. She graduated from UC Berkeley with an English and Psychology degree, and is the proud parent of three.
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