A pretty yoga mat or a unique yoga mat adds a special touch to the practice of yoga. Each pose is enhanced to individual uniqueness. The yoga mat becomes a personalized magic carpet transporting the yoga practitioner to mystical places.
How to Paint or Design a Yoga Mat
Painting the whole exercise mat isn’t recommended since its easiest to start with the preferred color base of the mat, although the base color can be changed if needed. The cost of a basic sticky mat is inexpensive enough to usually find the base color desired.
- Begin with a good sticky mat, new or used.
- Rinse the area to be painted and dry off with towels.
- Gather equipment needed which may include rollers, brushes, and stencils.
- Acrylic artist paint is the medium of choice to avoid crackling later.
- Use the tip of the brush in the acrylic paint for the desired design.
- Let dry an hour minimum.
- Repeat with a 2nd layer.
- Do not use for 24 hours.
- Tip: Be sure and use acrylic paints from known manufacturers to avoid chemical allergies as the paint may eventually wear off.
- Tip: The paint should be waterproof and sweat proof.
Design Ideas for Painting Yoga Mats and Custom Printing Yoga Mats
A complete color change is possible by roller brush painting from top to bottom or side-to-side.
Novice yoga designers might want a simple sun or lotus design. Here are additional ideas:
- The colors of the chakra. There are many variations of their design format.
- Peace signs, doves or olive branches
- Sanskrit letters
- Moon designs.
- Tompe l’oeil, fool the eye, designs such as bricks, ponds, water.
- The tree of life
- Namaste symbols or words
- Wall stencils can be used on the mat to create designs
- Copy a yoga tattoo to further personalize the mat.
- Use shapes, circles, diamonds, plaids or abstract designs.
- Imitate a Persian rug border.
- Substitute waterproof sharpie pens or fabric pens for paints for slightly different effect.
Practical Yoga Mat Design Suggestions
Aside from beautifying the mat, there are practical applications to designing your own yoga mat. Vertical lines can assist body placement for warrior or triangle poses.
Horizontal lines can help parallel foot or hand placement in downward dog or vinyasas.
Fortunately a yoga mat can be purchased for about $10 allowing experimentation if the design doesn’t work out the first time. Painting your own yoga mat is fun, pretty, and practical, and can also label it as yours should you leave it behind in a busy class.
Additional Sources
Amy Andersen - Amy Andersen, MSN, ARNP, family & pediatrics certified, practices yoga and explores the inter-relationships of mind body fitness and ...
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