Exercise Mat Yoga Mat Difference

The differences between yoga and exercise mats can be summed up in three categories.

Exercise mat yoga mat difference.

That s because pilates means rolling on your back quite a lot which means that you need a mat that has plenty of cushioning to comfort and support you when doing so otherwise you would end up with terrible back pain. For our poplar 6 x 4 size gorilla mats exercise mats are about two pounds heavier when compared to the same same yoga mat. The differences between yoga mats and exercise mats are the thickness and firmness of the material. But having said that yoga mats might be thinner longer and more grippy than a standard exercise mat.

This is because certain yoga poses call for a strong connection between the user s body and the floor s surface. On top of that exercise mats can be either relatively firm when used in a gym or workout area to provide some level of padding cushioning for dropping barbells kettlebells and weights. Exercise mats are on average 1 inch thick 60 inches in length and 24 inches wide. Exercise mats pilates mats and yoga mats.

Generally speaking exercise mats are thicker than yoga mats with its thickest variation at only of an inch. Another significant difference between our exercise and yoga mats is their weight. When taking a yoga or pilates class you might notice that the mats look similar. Yoga mats when performing yoga techniques cushion is helpful to prevent fatigue on bones and joints but stability is a must.

In most cases exercise mats are thicker than yoga mats. The best exercise mats are designed to make your workout comfortable and can be used for yoga stretching floor based exercises or really anything in between. A yoga mat could work for abs etc just to somewhat avoid the spine vs the hardwood floor issue but i d recommend an actual exercise mat if you are not working out on carpet. Firmer mats can push to that 1 inch level but generally thinner yoga mats are preferred due to cost portability and storage.

Mat thickness and texture make a difference when it comes to balance poses in yoga whereas padding is more important in pilates when you re rolling lying on your side and putting. Therefore yoga mats are a thin form or exercise mat typically maxing out at 1 inch thickness. An exercise mat generally won t work well as a yoga mat though unless you get into the much pricier mats. Exercise mats might be a bit thicker to offer extra support for higher impact movement.

You can use the same mat in both types of classes but there are some differences to consider based on your comfort level and needs. Although gorilla mats yoga mats are wider and thicker they are generally lighter which makes them easier to roll up and pick up for storage.