Guide To Buying An Exercise Mat

• If you use the mat every day, wash it at least once a month. You can soak the mat in water and mix a tablespoon of laundry detergent.
• Create your own cleaning/ disinfecting solution by mixing white vinegar and tea tree oil in water and soaking the mat in the solution.
• You can purchase an exercise mat cleaner/ yoga mat cleaner solution.
• Not all mats are machine washable. Make sure that you don’t turn on the spin cycle or use any harsh detergents.

Your mat may smell if it is made of rubber. You can get rid of the smell by washing it immediately when you bring it home. Keeping it out in the sun for a day can also remove the odor. Another way to get rid of the odor is to use a pH cleaner, such as Simple Green.

There are several ways to store an exercise mat:

• Many exercise mats have small holes on them. You can use these to hang the mats.
• You can tack all your mats in one place using a mat rack.
• Since you can easily fold an exercise mat, simply roll it up and store it in a bin or a basket.
• You could even store it in a plant holder!

Although exercise mats are durable, they may tear easily if you slide heavy equipment on them. Make sure to lift the equipment off the mat and carry it to its destination. Never slide them on the mat as it will tear the surface. It’s better to do the repositioning when you have another person with you, as it will make the task of lifting the equipment easier.

It depends on your height and your usage of the mat. If you use the mat for some mild post-workout stretching, you can get a shorter mat. If you plan to use the mat regularly for several exercises, get a larger mat. Ideally, get a mat that’s at least 6 inches longer than your height.

No. A rug is usually too thin for exercising. Some rugs have an annoying habit of wrapping around themselves when you unfold them. That is a distraction and an inconvenience when you’re working out. Also, rugs don’t have an anti-slip coating, so they’ll slip during heavy exercise. They may also tear easily if you regularly use them to exercise.

There are different types of exercise mats in the market. The one you choose depends on the type of workout.

• Go for a thin yoga mat if you’re planning to perform low impact exercises.
• Choose a thick Pilates mat for heavy use.
• Get a fitness mat if you plan to do exercises that require some shock absorption, like crunches and stretching.
• Buy a horse stall mat for your floors if you intend to do heavy lifting like deadlifts.
• Get a foam mat for martial arts, jujitsu, etc.

For an exercise such as jump-rope that has a heavy impact load, you should have a flooring that helps protect your joints and allows you to work out for longer durations without inducing fatigue. Enter: the jump rope mat. Most jump rope mats are either foam or rubber – materials that provide enough cushioning to let you land on your feet safely and protect your joints.

The foldable and rollout mats differ in terms of their utility and how they can be stored. You should get the one that is more suited for your workout.

Foldable mats have a smoother surface and are easy to clean. They are ideal for high impact exercises like martial arts, push-ups, and other such exercises. They are not ideal for use with weights.

Rollout mats are made of durable vinyl material, enabling you to roll them up easily. They provide better impact safety than foldable mats and can be used for weightlifting.

Yoga mats are thinner than their counterparts. Their thickness ranges from 1/8^th inch to 1/4^th inch. If the yoga mat is too thin, your knee or other joints may get bruised when you exercise. If the yoga mat is too thick, you may lose your connection to the floor.

Choose a thickness that suits you best; when looking for a yoga mat, consider how much space you have, what exercises you’ll be doing, how portable you want the mat to be, and if you’re suffering from any joint pains problems.