Some Basic Facts About Pilates Exercise MatsA Mat for Pilate exercises was probably among the first things that the originator of the method, Joseph Pilates, introduced as part of his system. The image of a Pilates exercise mat might conjure up an impression in the minds of the unfamiliar that it will be some sophisticated kind of mat with springs and other mechanisms and devices. But to the contrary,a pilates mat is much simpler - in fact they have some similarities to ones we use in our homes. In most of the studios where Pilates is performed, mats are already present. Unlike other forms of exercise like Yoga, students learning Pilates do not need to bring their own mats. For people who plan to do their exercise routines at home, a Pilates mat is an absolute necessity. Pilates mats comes in different kinds of color, shape, size and style. Before you buy one, you must first identify your needs and preferences and then act accordingly. Generally a Pilates mat is considered good if it is at least half inch in thickness. There are lots of thinner mats available on the markets which are actually yoga cross over mats. You should be aware of this fact and clearly differentiate between the two mats by looking at the thickness. Also, a Pilate's mat should be very firm. Softer mats are not able to support alignment and balance properly. Consequently your exercise will not yield the desired results if you perform it on a softer mat. In addition, length of the mat is another factor that you will have to take into consideration. There are generally two kinds of mat - roll up mats and folding mats. Roll up mats are 72-86 inches in length and 56 inches in width. Folding mats which are most often found in studios, are longer than the roll up mats by 4 to 8 inches. Before you buy a Pilates mat you should also have a clear idea about the qualities of roll up as well as folding mats. Rolled up mats are beneficial as they are portable and easily available in stores as well as online. Rolled up mats are made of rubber or dense foam. In the roll up category the closed cell foam mats are considered the best. They are even firmer and thicker than most of the regular foam mats. While buying the roll up mats look for ones with straps so that you can roll them up and easily carry as well as store them. A good roll up usually starts from around $30 to $50. Folding Pilates mats are much expensive than roll up mats. They can cost up to and over $300 per mat. Again, these are the ones found most often in studios. They are very good in quality, shape and size, but are not portable. Although this kind of Pilates exercise mat does have some facilities like a foot strap and a carrying strap, there is no need to buy one for home workouts. Some of the most reputable suppliers of pilates mats include Aeromat Ribbed, Tempo, Reebok and Fitness-Mad. |