One of the essential and most basic piece of Pilates equipment is the Pilates mat. Although Pilates studios generally offer Pilates mats, it’s always a good idea to buy one for your Pilates workout at home. Pilates Mats can be found in a wide range of styles, colors and sizes. However, when shopping for the one, it’s important to remember that a Pilates mat and Yoga Mat are not the same and one cannot be substituted for the other. Here’s why:
Even though Pilates mats and yoga mats appear similar, since they are usually of the same size and because they are used for exercises practiced on the floor, a Pilates mat is essentially thicker than your average yoga mat. The main reason for the relatively less thickness of a yoga mat is that yoga involves several standing “asanas” or poses where the individual must be able to feel the floor through the mat. However, this isn’t the case with Pilates Mats. As a matter of fact, Pilates mats are made substantially thicker than yoga mats, the chief reason being that the Pilates program includes a series of exercises such as the “Seal” or the “Open Leg Rocker” which need to be performed on the back. And this is where it’s vital to provide the spine with some padding from the hard surface of the floor so as to avoid injury. The other difference between a Yoga mat and Pilates mat is that Yoga mats are designed to prevent slipping and have a somewhat sticky surface whereas Pilates Mats are designed to offer less friction so as to allow comfortable body movements over the mat.
Apart from making sure you choose the right kind of mat for Pilates, there are certain other factors that you must keep in mind when shopping for a Pilates mat. One of these factors is the size of the Pilates Mat. Any decent Pilates mat is at least half an inch thick; if you find a mat thinner than that, it’s probably a crossover yoga mat being marketed as a Pilates mat, so skip it. Also, a Pilates mat needs to be slightly firm and shouldn’t be too soft, because if it is then it will hamper your balance and body alignment.
Also, when choosing a Pilates Mat, you must ensure that the mat is wide enough and long enough. The average roll up mat should be about 72” to 86” in length and around 21” to 39” in breadth. You can even go in for one of those folding mats or roll up mats that are also significantly larger at around 4’ by 8’ average.
Apart from being made of dense rubber or foam, folding mats also offer other advantages like being portable, easy to store etc. On the whole closed cell foam mats are recommended since they are made firmer and thicker than the regular foam mats. Usually, good roll up mats with straps are available for under $50 and finding them either online or otherwise isn’t too hard.
So if you are planning to pick up a Pilates mat for yourself, keep the these tips in mind and you should find the right one for you easily.
