Though exercise can sometimes hurt, that is not the point of it. You exercise to improve your fitness or lose weight. Exercise mats are designed to enhance comfort, improve performance and reduce pain and risk of injury. You can find anti-fatigue foam mats in exercise clubs, gyms and gymnastic and martial arts facilities across the country. For those who exercise at home, these mats are easily available and relatively affordable. You might want a mat at home for the same reasons that mats have become standard equipment in professional training and fitness centers.
Function
Mats provide cushioning to reduce the stress and fatigue caused by high-impact exercises. They improve comfort and reduce bruising when you perform floor exercises. The best products have a good gripping surface that prevents slippage, even when they get wet from sweat. For some types of activities, such as gymnastics or tai kwon do, they are mandatory safety equipment. For other types of exercises, such as Pilates, yoga and plyometrics, they may be less critical, but they improve performance, reduce fatigue, and enhance comfort. A mat or mat system can transform your harsh basement floor into an inviting fitness area.
Construction
Mats generally are constructed from anti-fatigue foam, which is formed into assorted sizes and shapes, and then sealed in a nonslip material. Depending on the intended use, mats may have non-slip surfaces on one or both sides, to allow the mat to grip the floor so it doesn't slide as you move, and to prevent you from slipping as you move on top of it. The outer coating is usually made from a non-porous material than can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth. Some mats are designed to be folded, some to be rolled, and others to be kept in place or stacked. Some products use interlocking foam units that are about 2 square feet. You lock together units to customize your workout space.
Pilates Exercise Mats
Pilates is a form of exercise designed to develop core strength, flexibility and body-awareness. The mats tend to be 5/8 to 3/4 inches in thickness. The floor-side of the mat should have a non-skid surface to prevent slippage, but the upper side of the mat should allow for the sliding that Pilates exercise requires. Folding mats tend to be larger, heavier and harder to store. Roll-up mats are usually smaller, cheaper and more easily tucked away someplace when not in use. The surface is usually closed cell construction made from synthetic rubber, which is non-allergenic and odor and water resistant. Better mats will have high-density, closed cell foam and mild compression to provide cushioning as well as flexibility for rolling.
Yoga Mats
Yoga mats tend to be smaller, lighter and thinner than Pilates mats, and consequently are easier to roll up and put away. They range from 1/8 to 1/4 inches in thickness. They should have gripping surfaces on the top and the bottom, so you can securely stay in place while in your yoga positions. Like Pilates mats, they should have high-density, mild compression closed-cell foam.
General And Heavy Duty Exercise Mats
General exercise mats can be used for stretching, situps, pushups, warmups, cooldowns and other general exercise. They are 3/8 to 5/8 inches thick and usually vinyl covered to ease clean up. Heavy-duty mats are thicker and designed to reduce soft tissue damage and orthopedic stress caused to ankles, knees, hips, spinal cord and other joints by high-impact exercises, such as gymnastics and martial arts. These mats are too thick to roll, but some products can be folded and stacked for storage.
