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For many, a yoga mat is not only a functional attribute of practice, but also a fashion accessory. This means that it should not only provide comfort and safety for classes, but also reflect the personality of its owner. And often speak about his style and taste. As they say, firstly, it is beautiful. Recently, more and more mats with a printed pattern have appeared on the market - monochrome or multi-colored. Let's take a closer look at the variety of so-called designer yoga mats and try to understand what we will gain or lose by choosing a mat with a print.

What are the application technologies?
Yoga mat with print  The easiest way is to print a picture on a special printer. Mats with a special coating are suitable for this - usually microfiber, polyurethane or cheap PVC. The picture is colorful, multi-colored, and quite durable. Unfortunately, such mats become slippery after processing. And no matter how much the sellers assure you that as soon as the microfiber mat gets wet from sweat, its grip will increase, in practice everything is different. You need to squeeze liters of moisture out of yourself and distribute it in places where your hands and feet rest for this to happen.

The inkjet printing technology itself involves applying a special substrate under the ink so that it firmly adheres to the mat. And this is what makes the mat slippery. 

Yoga mat with print  The next option is to apply the image using the silkscreen printing method. This is also the method used to apply most prints to T-shirts. Special expensive paint is used. As a rule, the print is applied in one color. If the pattern is selected in such a way that there is little of it in the places where the palms and feet usually rest, this is correct. The mat does not lose friction. The silkscreen printing method implies a fairly large print run, so the variety of prints is small. But, losing in variety, you win in quality. This method is usually used for expensive PVC mats.

Yoga mat with a cool print  The third way to apply a pattern to a yoga mat is laser engraving. This is an expensive method and is used for top-end rubber mats or yoga mats with a PU coating. Of course, you cannot apply a colored pattern this way. The cost of laser processing also imposes restrictions on the complexity of the pattern. Therefore, this method is suitable for applying markings or a simple geometric pattern. But the stickiness and quality of the mat remain consistently high.

Which designer mat to choose?
Of course, it is largely a matter of taste. But the purpose of the purchase is also important. If you want bright photos on Instagram, buy a colorful mat that will liven up the frame. But most likely, this mat will be of little use for yoga or pilates. If the quality of practice is the priority, then opt for mats with a single-color pattern that does not fill the entire surface, but leaves as much free space as possible in the areas where the palms and feet are located in asanas such as Shvanasana or Trikonasana.

Another factor to consider is that a colorful pattern can distract from practice. A simple single-color mat seems to dissolve in the field of vision and nothing distracts you from the most important thing for which you started doing yoga.

All sorts of stereotypes about a slow pace, 25 minutes of running, etc. have no scientific evidence base. Now physiology is 100% sure of everything said above. Running speed only determines the development of strength endurance, positive lung volume and the overall load factor for the muscular system. In terms of calories, you will spend more when running fast, but the amount of fat burned will not exceed running at a slow pace.

It is also important to note that classic cardio with a low pulse and low speed mainly burns fat, but the subsequent contribution to calorie expenditure during the day is minimal. Intensive strength training does not burn a lot of fat during physical activity, but at the same time forces the body to burn fat to maintain energy metabolism for the rest of the time.

Is there a difference?
For the average amateur dieter-beginner, no. You shouldn't bother with such trifles. Burning fat in a workout so that you change your appearance is science fiction. 8 km will give you about 66 grams of burned fat, under ideal conditions and a low pace with heart rate control. Of this, half will be water. 30 grams for 8 km is pretty weak, and this is only with a calorie deficit.

Running in the morning and on an empty stomach
The topic of running on an empty stomach is very popular in the former USSR and in the Russian Federation in particular. Few people know about losing weight, but everyone knows that you need to run in the morning. But why? - no one knows. Two years ago, an interesting study was conducted: they took 2 groups of women. The calorie deficit did not exceed 20%. Training programs with the same volume for 4 weeks. Cardio - 60 minutes - 3 times a week.