As yoga has increased in popularity, the styles and designs of yoga mats have proliferated. Pilates has also grown more popular and also involves a mat. Exercisers often wonder if they can use the same mat for both activities, or if they really must invest in separate mats. Special features of each type of mat should be considered before deciding which is the right one for your lifestyle.
Thickness
Yoga mats are usually thinner than Pilates mats. Yogis perform more standing poses. A thinner mat lets you feel the floor beneath your feet, which aids balance. In Pilates, more time is spent reclining on the floor, and the movements are more aggressive, so the thicker mat cushions the spine. If your Pilates mat is too soft, it will lack proper support.
Stickiness
Yoga mats are often referred to as "sticky mats." The high-tack surface of the mat helps it stick to the floor. This increases the safety of your yoga practice, as a mat that isn't sufficiently sticky will slide around, making you lose your footing and exposing you to possible injuries. Many companies offer countless mat options.
Benefits of a Yoga Mat
While yoga can be done directly on a hard floor without a mat, the mat provides some insulation both from coldness and hardness. Bringing your own mat to class is also more hygienic than practicing directly on the floor or borrowing a mat from the gym or yoga studio. According to Yoga Journal, shared sticky mats have been the sites of nasty outbreaks of athlete's foot.
Pilates Mats
Between 2000 and 2006, the number of Pilates students surged from 1.7 million to 10.6 million, according to the Balanced Bodies Pilates website. As a result, the Pilates mat options are also growing. Pilates mats should lay flat on the floor and provide a firm grip even when your hands are sweaty. Wiping it down with damp water and a clean cloth is all the maintenance a good mat needs. Pilates mats range from 56 to 86 inches in length, and are 21 to 39 inches wide. Folding mats are available in the extra large 4 foot by 8 foot size. "Closed cell" mats are both thicker and firmer than ordinary foam mats.
Other Considerations
As mats have proliferated, companies have addressed different needs to fill niches and increase their market share. Extra-thick mats are made for people who want more cushioning. Some mat companies cater to people who want a more environmentally friendly mat, offering such items as a chemical-free organic hemp mat. A natural rubber mat is good for people who are allergic to latex. Super-thin mats are useful for travelers.
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