Yoga, Pilates & Gym mats are a versatile tool that can assist any home fitness program. They can be used as a gym mat, Pilates mat or Yoga mat to increase the comfort of any exercise programme at home. If you have a hard floor, exercise mats are essential to make floor exercises and stretching exercises more comfortable.
Lightweight, soft mats provide a comfortable cushion that is non-slip. Fold up or rollup mats are even more convenient as they can be easily stored and transported for gym classes, Yoga classes or Pilates classes.
FAQ:
What is the best exercise mat to use?
The best gym mats offer comfort during both home exercises and classes such as aerobics, Pilates or yoga. An exercise mat should be thick enough to prevent any pain whilst bearing weight on joints such as the knees and elbows. The best exercise mats also offer a non-slip surface so there is no danger of the mat sliding on the floor during movements. For easy transportation a gym mat should fold or roll up, allowing for easy storage when not in use.
What is the best thickness for an exercise mat?
Gyms usually have hard floors that can be uncomfortable to lie on, never mind exercise on. Therefore, exercise mats should provide comfort and be available in different thicknesses. The thickness of exercise mats is often chosen on your individual weight. Heavier individuals would opt for a thicker mat to allow increased comfort whilst lying on hard floors. However, there are no hard and fast rules about the thickness of gym mats and whatever you find most comfortable is probably the best option. Ideally you want to protect the joints, such as elbows, knees and the spine, that can all become uncomfortable with pressure from specific exercises.
Yoga mats can sometimes be thinner than exercise or gym mats, to allow a better connection with the floor during balancing exercises.
Can you use a yoga mat for Pilates?
Yes, exercise mats are often versatile and can be used for different classes. The only difference is that Yoga mats are often thinner in order to promote increased proprioception between the body and the floor during balancing exercises. If you find the yoga mat is not comfortable for Pilates, then a thicker mat may be more suitable.
