Why Are People Wearing This Terrifying Mask to the Gym?

​If you've seen one of these ~crazy~ looking masks at your gym, you can relax — people aren't using them to fend off some silent plague or because you forgot to put on deodorant.​

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/-1vCIqufgQ/?tagged=trainingmaskselfie" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

Actually, these awkward-AF silicon masks are designed to improve peoples' fitness. Designed to mimic air conditions at higher altitudes, where lower levels of oxygen can make breathing more laborious, the contraption covers the mouth and nose on purpose, obstructing airways so you have to inhale extra hard to get your oxygen fix. ​In other words, it's like resistance training for your respiratory system. 

Advocates say all this extra effort trains you to breath more deeply, which ultimately improves your lungs' ability to distribute oxygen to the blood stream. Because your muscles need oxygenated blood to function, regularly exercising with a training mask can improve your performance — just like training in high altitudes, which is another fun thing hardcore athletes sometimes do (even though some experts doubt this actually works). 

The Training Mask manufacturers also claim exercising with one of these special masks can benefit your body by helping you sleep, giving you more energy, and improving your metabolism. And at the very least, it gives you a show-stopping gym selfie opportunity (and perfect use-case for ​this hashtag: #​?)​.

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/9Ehlk_SjMo/?tagged=trainingmaskselfie" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/-1BDczBbL8/?tagged=trainingmaskselfie" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/9cGOzVuBhh/?tagged=trainingmaskselfie" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/9mgK7CLgZX/?tagged=trainingmaskselfie" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

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