The Best Exercise And Yoga Mats For 2017, Reviewed

Recently, people around the globe become more aware about the importance of staying healthy and having a high fitness level. As a result, you will find that almost every other person you meet has included exercise in their daily routine in some form or the other.
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Another major change that has taken place in the fitness regimen of common people is the use of exercise mats. It’s extremely important that you pick an appropriate exercise mat for the type of workout you are performing. In this article, we will  discuss about the importance of using a good exercise mat and will introduce you to mats that are suitable for various forms of exercise.

Here Are Our Choices For The Top 3 Exercise/Yoga Mats For 2017

Reehut 1/2 Inch Extra Thick Thick High Density Yoga Mat
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This Durable, eco-friendly, non-slip mat comes in 7 different colors and offers a comfortable 1/2 inch surface for maximum comfort.  Its 71x24 inches wide is plenty of space for all  your exercise and fitness needs.

Sivan Health And Fitness 1/2 Inch Extra Thick Exercise Mat For Yoga/Pilates
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This 71x24 inch Mat offers a ribbed non-slip surface on one side and a smooth finish on the other.  Unique memory foam provides enough cushion for yoga, pilates, plyometrics, and more.

Gaiam Print Yoga Mat
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This durable, lightweight yoga mat offers 29 different patterns/designs!  Its free-of-chemicals, non-slip surface is perfect for any yogi interested in a comfortable and creative addition to their yoga practice.  Gaiam also offers different thicknesses and many patterns.

Importance of using a good mat for exercise...
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• The padding on these mats keeps the users’ elbows, knees, and tailbone duly protected as they perform floor exercises.

 

• A high quality exercise mat would provide you with the much needed balance when performing Yoga. When performing Pilates, on the other hand, a suitable mat would offer protection to your tailbones and hips.

 

• The exercise mat you pick must be long enough for accommodate your body when performing full-length exercises.

 

• High quality exercise mats would keep the carpets and floor clean and dry by keeping away sweat from them.

 

• A quality exercise mat will always be easy to fold and will be light in weight enabling easy storage and making the unit highly portable.

 

• You will be able to roll up or double over these mats for enjoying additional padding when performing trickier workouts.

 

• It’s important to use quality exercise mats as they are highly durable, tough, and can be cleaned without putting too much effort.
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When shopping, you will come across exercise mats of various sizes and shapes. Each of them is meant for different form of workouts. For ensuring that you enjoy maximum benefits of working out and using an exercise mat, you should pick the right kind of mat. Below, we have discussed mats suitable for various kinds of workout.
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Choosing The Right Mat For Yoga Can Make A Big Difference In Your Yoga Practice
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Yoga mats should ideally be thin as the exercises performed on them are usually low impact exercises. You will come across yoga mats made of a wide array of materials. The most common ones among them are mesh, cotton, closed cell PVC, and rubber. The mats used for performing yoga are sticky and should possess the ability to cling firmly on hard surfaces (flooring). They are specially designed for offering the required cushioning to your body when performing yoga and ensure that you don’t slip and incur any form of injury.
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Mats For Pilates, Bigger IS Better
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It’s true that there are some significant similarities between yoga mats and Pilates mats. However, there are prominent differences too; for instance, the mats used for performing Pilates are mostly much thicker and longer. The majority of these mats are made using closed cell PVC (TPE or thermo plastic elastomer). Another prominent feature of Pilates mats is its firmness. As mentioned before, these mats are thicker than yoga mats; unlike yoga mats, they possess a minimum of 0.5 inch padding. They are also not sticky like yoga mats. So, cleaning them is extremely easy; just wiping them with a piece of cloth after every use is enough.

A General Fitness Mat Can Be Used For Yoga Or Pilates, But Best For Plyometrics
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These are large, thick mats used for performing stretching exercises, sit-ups, and plyometrics. You can also use these mats for performing general free hand exercises of your choice. A fitness mat should be a minimum of 0.5 inch thick and must be at least 5 feet long. These mats are primarily used for their ability to offer a certain level of cushioning to your body during exercise. They come with the ability to absorb impact shock to a great extent. The material that is most commonly used for making fitness mats is closed cell PVC. In addition, they also often carry a vinyl cover for enabling easy maintenance.
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​You can also find professional fitness mats used for gymnastics or karate, but the majority of exercise mats, whether  for yoga, sit-ups, pilates, plyometrics, or just stretchinng come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs.  Hopefully this gave you a better idea of what you may need to make your next workout as comfortable as possible.

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