If gym rats could tell you about the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus would have thrown their fitness routines completely off balance in the beginning. Gyms closed, social distancing went into effect, and the idea of ​​taking a group fitness class in person or even touching a public treadmill became objectively annoying. It wasn’t long before the fitness tech industry – an emerging sector with at least one turnover worldwide $ 94 billion in 2019 alone – to recognize this problem and offer alternatives for the home. Smart yoga mats like YogiFis mat with artificial intelligence, the one Winner of the CES Innovation Award in 2020 it suddenly no longer sounded like a bad idea when it popped up again at CES this year.

Before COVID, consumers would probably have rolled their eyes at high tech yoga (we sure did). But the fitness lifestyle has clearly changed during the pandemic, with countless people exercising from home and the lack of personal guidance from coaches and coaches. If Apps like OpenFit Smart yoga mats and similar fitness equipment may also see a surge in consumer demand due to the pandemic … provided they can deliver before we’re all vaccinated.

YogiFi has a chance to impress – The smart yoga mat comes with its own YogiFi app that allows users to select “freemium sessions” and see what their posture is like during a yoga workout. There are environmental issues, like a yoga session as if you were in the Himalayas or on the coast.

The smart mat also keeps track of where your hands and feet are for positions like facing dog, monitors your heart rate and keeps you updated on how many calories you are burning in a session. You can use the app to receive step-by-step instructions for various positions. The developers say the Smart Mat comes with “aromatherapy dispensers” in the fabric to give you a complete experience.

The Future of High Tech Yoga – YogiFi isn’t the only contender in the high tech yoga field. For a number of years now, the developers of these mats and apps have claimed that their devices have the ability to simulate the adjustments made by an actual yoga teacher.

SmartMat is another high tech mat, and its creators claim that it helps mimic human instructions for yoga enthusiasts. There are also Glow Mat Pressure sensors are used here to guide you through posture. Mats like Tera Also, use lights to guide you through a workout. And they’re not cheap either. Smart yoga mats can cost up to $ 400 each.

Most likely, high-tech yoga mats appeal to a small group of fitness junkies who are able to try expensive items without flinching. Its future appears to be limited to a niche set. But if creators can drop the price a few notches or get it to market quickly enough, they could gain a dedicated following.