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Your brain Of your Yoga Mat Designer… Why Plank’s founder doesn’t want to be 1 yoga mat within the market…

Plank Pose - I’m asked from time to time how I came up with idea of creating Plank Yoga Mats. Typically, I give some light, off the cuff anecdote that I wanted to develop a cool looking mat, which was the original goal. However, like a designer, I will be educated to create a thing that adds value beyond an idea’s original conception. So let’s breakdown an item designer’s Number 1 tool, the Form and performance tool…

FORM Imagery: When I first conceived the concept of Art Images on Yoga Mats I found the opportunities of imagery to be limitless. From simple graphics, to loved one’s pets, to yoga symbolism and beyond - every image in the sunshine appeared to be at my disposal. So for Plank, it was vital to define what makes a Plank image and just what a Plank image is NOT. Here is some of, the what Plank images are NOT…

   Cute like Pets. Pretty like Flowers. Cool like Clouds

   Gag producing, yoga obvious or generic images, e.g. Lotus flowers, OM symbols or inspirational words like ‘Breathe or Karma’

Exactly what a Plank image is…

   Trompe L’oeil or faux realities
   Thought provoking, with several layers of interpretation
   Ironic, audacious and relevant
   Gallery Quality images

The Photographer: Due to the art quality nature of Plank’s images, we thus desire to use photographers who is able to fulfill the design brief as well as use the hidden intricacies which go along with creating high resolution images for large surface areas. For this initial series of images, we used Christopher Harting, whose ironic stills, skills best captured our intentions. For those that maybe interested, the logistical stories behind the visual stories of every yoga mat image, one day I’ll share…

Materials: It's obvious that for Plank, the beds base material for your yoga mat needs to be created using the latest eco technologies and materials. Of all of the materials which can be now available, we used Natural Rubber for the density, natural grip qualities and its ability to breakdown next comes to an end.

FUNCTION

Yoga Bags - Grip: As a product developer, when designing a product, we have been typically presented with a few options that may answer the project brief. It's our responsibility then, to weigh the pros and cons of each and every suggestion. This is a typical question from my supplier: Do I'd like the mat to be grippy in hot or room temp yoga classes? Obviously, my answer was, I want the mats to dedicate yourself all yoga styles. To which they asked about, but not using idioms or metaphors, easily want Plank to become a Jack of all trades or even a Master of None. This agreement, I responded, We choose Mastery. Thus, they presented a grip layer which is activated with all the heat and pressure from feet and hands. We had this a chance to create an amazing training tool to build up mastery of Pose Foundations. Everybody knows training tools are not shipped to make life easier, actually they only work when all criteria are properly applied or engaged, e.g. Fitness Balls or SLKZ Refiner Pro Graphite Golf Club. These power tools show you the muscle memory required or else you fail. Thus, at Plank we clearly state, we make no apologies if you slip when using a Plank Yoga mat. We wish the practioner to learn and apply every square millimeter of these hands/feet foundations to some PYM, to then witness immediately, an electric and strength created in their arms and legs. Ideally, once you have gained that which you call Ridiculous Body Awareness or Mastery of Foundations due to using a PYM, Plank would want so that you can take this insight to practice anywhere, on any surface, without or with a Plank mat.

As a designer, floating my boat = making a product that looks great and is also often reward enough. However, making a product which can really make any difference to an individual’s health and well-being, by having the practioners experience more complex muscle memory, is regarded as the satisfying part of something designer’s job. Such as the iPhone makes the complex functions of a computer and telephone seamless and straightforward, Plank Yoga Mats, through yoga, helps to make the deconstructing of the body’s complex technology to create optimum body effectiveness of power and/or self-healing, immediate, doable and real.

Gift worthy: Plank Yoga Mats were created specifically to make gift worthy yoga products. It was an intentional area of the design brief to produce a way for gift buying that could make a difference to people’s health and wellbeing, whether it is something special to self, for any family member or perhaps a stressed out boss.

Best Yoga Mat - Selecting a manufacturer: When searching for a manufacturer to make Plank’s Yoga Mats, because the concept of Art on Yoga Mats was yet still is new to the yoga market, it was essential to discover a manufacturer who has ethical business practices and was prepared to investigate and become vested in the concept. Since Plank’s manufacturing partners practice yoga, they previously were coupled to the yoga community, and for me it had been their mindset that set them apart. Their core vision is always to care for the environment, their end consumers and their partners. Having worked with lots of manufacturers in Asia and domestically in the usa, you merely know when this is simply talk or is genuine. For me, I don’t search for Manufactured in USA or Asia. What matters if you ask me, is, Made with Mutual Respect.

Plank doesn’t mind not being the 1 grippiest yoga mat in the market spot to service all kinds of yoga styles and levels. However, what matters to Plank is always that we are the number 1 yoga mat to instruct. We teach bigger and freer and more expansive poses which are the result of a muscle memory experience which allows the practioner to understand what it will take to produce truly grounded and real solid foundations.