How do I fold my Kāma surface?

We encourage you to practice folding and unfolding your Kama a few times to understand the origami rhythm. It becomes simple and quick once you get the hang of it.

Start at the short side of the mat. Grab the outside edges of the triangular panels closest to you. The faces of the triangles are going to come together as you push the outside points in. The centers of the hexagons will tent up, and you can push forward to the next pair. Repeat the process until the entire mat is folded into a trapezoid. 

If you get stuck, it is sometimes easier to start over with a flat mat. It’s helpful to think of the hexagons as two triangles and two diamonds. The triangles will form a valley and the diamonds will form a mountain when folded together.

Still having trouble? Shoot us an email at hello@kamasurface.co and we can setup a video call to walk you through the origami pattern. You can also watch this video. We promise, anyone can fold!

Is there a top and bottom side on my Kāma surface?

Yes! On both our Mondo and Palma mats, the top side is cushioned for your comfort, and you will notice the small Kāma triangle when the top is facing up. The bottom side is rigid, which creates the stable, platform-effect of the surface. The top and bottom never touch each other when folded, so dirt and dust from the outdoors that gets on the bottom won’t touch the top.

How do I clean my Kāma surface?

The beauty of our origami folding pattern is that the top side never touches the bottom! That being said, sandy footprints, dog hair & climbing chalk will all find their way to a well-loved mat.

Bring your mat to a clean space. Gather a damp cloth and a simple cleaning spray. For a deeper cleaning, you may want a sudsy sponge and a hose. Spot treat the area until the mess is gone, then wipe clean with water. Always allow the mat to dry completely in indirect sunlight before putting it away to prevent any unwanted mold. We recommend hanging the mat over a fence, railing etc. Store your mat in a cool, dry space.

What does “kāma” mean?

The word was first translated to us as ‘the feeling of feelings’ •• a definition we feel is 1000% fitting for our origami surfaces.

KĀMA is pronounced kaa•muh just like the Spanish word ‘cama’ meaning ‘bed’. We build our mats with love in Baja, California & get pretty excited when that post-surf siesta comes around.

Further exploration of the word has turned up ‘pleasure experienced by the senses while in harmony with the mind and soul’ 

•• Sounds about right ••