Difference Between Yoga Mat And Exercise Mat

Buy Floor Gym Mats At Amazon

I have personally trained on these interlocked floor gym mats and they are quite soft to practice on.

However, it is possible that most fitness gyms now use the yoga mats. This is because yoga instructors also provide training in the same gym and as gym mats are thick and not so soft, training on them for yoga pupils will be harder.

What’s The Biggest Difference

Now, you’re probably thinking after reading those first two sections that there really isn’t much of a difference. They both offer the user close to the same benefits. But at the end of the day, there is one major difference and a few smaller ones.

The major difference between a gym mat and a yoga mat are their thickness and materials.

The main difference between our exercise mat and a yoga mat is that our mats have a thick vinyl coating on top so you can wear shoes on our mats for intense cardio workouts and they won’t rip or tear like a foam yoga mat would.

Gym mats typically provide more cushion to the user. That is due to that they are often thicker and made from materials such as vinyl, TPE, EVA, and other various foams. Their deeper nature is why they are great for floor-based exercises – they provide the most comfort.

And you guessed it – yoga mats are typically thinner . Although, you can find some that come in one-inch thickness. And as previously stated, they are commonly made from PVC.

Yoga Mats And Exercise Mats Are They The Same

With various options on the market for yoga mats and exercise mats, its understandable to be unsure about which is best for your specific needs. Are there any significant differences between a yoga mat and an exercise mat? Absolutely. There are different thicknesses, materials, and densities for yoga mats specifically.

Don’t Miss: How Are Leggings Supposed To Fit

The Downsides Of High

Like most things in life, high-end mats arent purely perfection. Theyre a financial commitment, for starters, which isnt something to dismiss.

Some can be on the thinner side. Jade mats, for example, arent as cushioned and can offer a lack of support for those with sensitive joints. And though Jade mats dont get slippery, you definitely need to use a yoga towel if you take mostly heated classes.

For some other products, return policies may be pretty strict. Hugger Mugger, for example, doesnt offer any sort of satisfaction guarantee, so theres no trying it out and returning it.

And while the B mats are praised for their stickiness, that too can be a flaw. The extra stickiness of the mat means its not great if you like to practice outdoors. It also requires a small bit of care to ensure its durability.

When all is said and done, there was no one mat that was universally loved and without its perceived flaws, but there do seem to be some very serious advantages to getting a good mat versus the cheap foam mats that you can buy at any large retailer.

When it comes to choosing a mat, Fraley said, the best thing to do is to take your practice into consideration. There is no one-size-fits-all mat just like there is no one-size-fits-all yoga practice. Everyone has different priorities.

Workouts At Home Or In Nature

Do you have a carpeted floor in your living room or bedroom? This is a great place to perform a workout. If you do need to get on the ground for floor work or modifications, you have a built-in cushion. Just make sure to vacuum before you get down there to avoid contact with germs or dust that may have collected.

No carpet? Head to a nearby park. The grass is a natural cushion. Plus, you can get some fresh air and sun at the same time.

Recommended Reading: How Long Do I Hold A Yoga Pose

Which Mat Is Best For Exercise

Some of the best mats for exercise are from brands that more workout enthusiasts are utilizing at home, especially during this pandemic. The notable brands include Gorilla Mats, BalanceFrom, and Manduka Mats. Moreover, one of the best exercise mats for planks is the Impulse Fitness Knee Mat Extra Thick.

Difference Between Yoga Mats Vs Gym Mats Vs Exercise Mats

Yoga mats are different from gym mats because they help you hold a pose even if the surface has become damp and moist because of sweat.

They provide cushioning and a strong foundation for floor poses and headstands.

In short: Difference Between Floor Yoga Mats and Floor Gym Mats

If you are in a hurry then this list of the best yoga mats for hot yoga will be a great fit:

Check out the complete list of mats and out review on them below.

While choosing the best floor gym mat make sure it has the following qualities. Because choosing a good quality gym mat for floor can make all the difference in your fitness regime.

Read Also: Tight Yogapants

Which Brand Of Yoga Mat Is Best

Feeling ready to get your zen on? Keep scrolling for GLAMOURâs edit of the yoga mats that are actually worth buying, including Lululemon yoga mats, Sweaty Betty yoga mats, Nike yoga mats and and the hugely popular Liforme yoga mat.

For more from our Commerce Writer Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram .

If you’re after more yoga content, we’ve rounded up the best yoga equipment to buy to compliment your new mat as well as the best yoga pants for comfortable practice and we’ve investigated whether yoga can boost your fertility.

Different Types Of Exercise Mats

Exercise mats are a useful piece of equipment for protecting you from slipping or getting injuries. These fitness mats turn a rocky-hard surface into a safe heaven for workout sessions, ensuring comfort and maximum results. However, there are different types of fitness mats suited for different workouts so let’s look at what each one of them does.

Exercise mats

Exercise mats are usually thick and large. They are generally one inch thick and about six feet long. These types of mats are mostly used for stretching or low-impact movements like yoga. They are made up of Vinyl cover so that they can be cleaned easily.

Gym floor-protection mats

Floor-protecting mats are used to protect your gym floor. You are not supposed to perform a workout on them rather, they are under the exercise mat that you are using actually. The purpose of this mat is to protect the gym floor from scratches it also keeps gym-goers safe so that they don’t hurt themselves while working out on hard surfaces.

Pilates or exercise mats

Pilates is a completely different type of movement but its mats are not much different from a regular exercise mat. Pilates strengthens tensed muscles, so a Pilates-specific mat requires a little more thickness than its regular counterpart.

Don’t Miss: How Soon Can You Exercise After Botox

Material Matters A Lot

Most of the yoga mats are made up of PVC material. The material selection has been made, keeping in view some typical pick points:

• The PVC material is light enough to ensure your body has a connection with the hard floor while you sit upon it for meditation.
• The second reason is the easy cleaning of the PVC material.
• Yoga and mind relaxation activities need not necessarily be done inside the home. Sometimes you would have to take the mat with you outside when you feel like doing yoga outdoor under the sun rays.
• PVC material does not produce any bad odor when kept under the sun for a certain duration of time. These are the major reasons for material selection.

Considering exercise mats, you would find most of the good quality fitness mats to be made of rubber. The foremost reason being their soft cushioning that can be felt as much enhanced in rubber as compared to PVC.

Also, rubber develops a strong connection with your feet, and while doing the flexible tasks, your feet would not lose support or slip away from the fitness mat.

There are people who sweat a lot while doing yoga and this results in slipping of hands and feet. For such sweaty guys, it is important that they should consider a mat that is made of closed-cell technology. This technology makes the mat sweat resistant and hence provides better grip.

You may also like to check out the Best Yoga Mats for Sweaty Hands.

Dangers Of Using The Wrong Mat

For the most part, you should be able to determine which mat will work best for your workout routine without too much trouble. To help you decide, make sure to:

• Read the manufacturers suggestions for use
• Test it out if possible
• Read customer reviews

Finding the right mat isnt difficult, but it does take a little bit of thought on your part. Its essential to find the right mat for any physical activity youre participating in otherwise, the mat may actually increase your risk of injury rather than reduce it.

The wrong mat can:

• Increase risk of slipping

Don’t Miss: Does Yin Yoga Burn Calories

Yoga Mats Vs Pilates Mats

Yoga and Pilates are two of the most common fitness activities at present. Both are similar in a way and can be easily done from your home by using just a single piece of equipment i.e,. a workout mats!

Unfortunately, many people dont get the gist of it since it sounds so insignificant at first. Some do not use a mat at all, while some get things mixed up and use an incorrect one. You must think that it doesnt make a difference at all. But let me correct you here.

Using a fitness mat or a Pilates mat for yoga, or a yoga mat for Pilates, is straight up unideal and could be harmful for your body, unless its a versatile mat that is designed to work across different exercises.

Exercising with the right equipment, in this case, the right mat, could be as important as exercising itself. Something you should never ignore. And therefore, I am here to give you a detailed account of Yoga Mat vs Pilates Mat, so as to clear any doubts in your mind as to why there is a yoga mat for yoga and Pilates mat for Pilates in the first place. Lets get started.

What Is The Best Thickness For A Yoga Mat

Your yoga mat should be padded to prevent injury, help build muscle strength and reduce the pressure youâre putting on your joints. Especially if you’re a beginner. Yoga mats range from super thin to super-padded quarter-inch yoga mats that weight a little more. If you’re unsure on your preference, something between 3 and 5mm in thickness is pretty standard and a good starting point.

Also Check: Yoga For Reducing Breast

What To Consider When Buying New Pilates Or Yoga Mat

First of all, you will have to consider the budget. There are mats in all price ranges, and some really expensive ones can come with a life long warranty.

But, if you are new to Yoga or Pilates practice, maybe you should think about basic models, to see what suits you.

Here are a few things to consider, in addition to features mentioned before.

Benefits Of Yoga Mat Vs Exercise Mat For Home Gym

Depending on your home gym desires, either a yoga mat or an exercise mat may be right for you. If youve just purchased a fitness bike, a rowing machine, and a treadmill, or you just discovered HIIT workouts on YouTube, you may be more interested in those high intensity workouts. If that sounds like you, get yourself an exercise mat!

If youve just discovered the whole-body benefits of yoga, your home gym might be in need of a yoga mat, instead.

Recommended Reading: Yoga Instructor Pay Per Hour

Exercise Mat Vs Yoga Mat: Which Gorilla Mat Is Right For You

You may be wondering, what’s the difference between Gorilla Mats Premium Large Exercise Mats and the Premium Large Yoga Mats.

You’re not the first one to ask.

Gorilla Mats come in two styles, so you can have a premium large mat that perfectly suits your workout.

Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between the two to help you choose your ideal mat.

The Difference Between Yoga Mats And Exercise Mats

As we mentioned, whether or not a yoga mat will be sufficient for the exercise youre doing will depend partially on the mat you plan to use. Yoga and exercise mats come in varying:

• Materials
• Weight
• Slip-resistance

Its more important that you get a feel for the mat youre using and get an idea of how well it will support you in your activities than to worry about whether its labeled for yoga or exercise.

That being said, both mat types will generally possess specific characteristics, so knowing which activity a mat is intended for can give you a good starting point.

Lets take a quick look at the differences between yoga and exercise mats to give you a better idea of whether you need to buy an exercise mat in addition to your yoga mat or if you can use one mat for everything you want to do.

Recommended Reading: Hatha Yoga Calories Burned

What Is The Average Cost Of Home Gym Mats

Cost: $15 to $50

Using a home gym mat is pretty gross. To think, that someone was just lying on that mat with sweat while working out grosses one even more.

Thankfully they do not cost a lot. One can easily find a lot of home gym mats online. On Amazon the price of a regular gym mat is between $15 and $50. Some gym mats are priced more because they include different features such as anti-tear, non-slip, Velcro, inter-locking tiles and many more.

While starting a workout one doesnt have to think about all these features though. Getting a simple gym mat and starting workout is the best way to go about.

Secondly, these home gym mats can also be cleaned pretty easily. So without any second thoughts buy your gym mat and start your fitness training.

Difference Between A Yoga Mat And An Exercise Mat

The key differences between these mats are the thickness and firmness of the material. Exercise mats are usually thicker than yoga mats. They come with firm material for gym purposes to provide extra cushioning/padding or soft materials for bodyweight exercise.

On the other hand, Yoga mats are usually thinner and in the middle come with firmness. They provide some cushion and also allow a person to feel the pose while performing their poses.

Don’t Miss: Hot Yoga Calories Burned Per Hour

What Are Differences Between A Yoga Mat And An Exercise Mat

The differences between yoga mats and exercise mats are the thickness and firmness of the material. In most cases, exercise mats are thicker than yoga mats. On top of that, exercise mats can be either relatively firm or relatively soft when used for some bodyweight exercises. On the other hand, Yoga mats tend to be thinner and somewhere in the middle on a firmness scale. Yoga mats need to provide some cushion, but they also need to allow the person to properly feel the pose and feel stable or grounded when performing their poses.

How To Choose A Yoga Mat For Exercise

If you want to use a yoga mat for yoga and other exercises, you may want to look into a yoga mat that is on the thicker side and a little larger.Larger yoga mats can still be used for yoga at home but are also suitable to do a more versatile range of exercises than the traditional yoga mat.

A standard rectangular yoga mat is a good option for doing yoga in a yoga studio where floor space is limited. However, if you want to do other exercises with your yoga mat, you could benefit from the extra space to move around without crossing over the barriers of the mat. Youll also want to consider thicker yoga mats since thinner yoga mats dont offer as much cushioning.

If youre only using your yoga mat for yoga, you can get away with buying a smaller, thinner yoga mat that you can easily carry back and forth to gym classes with you. But if you want a yoga mat that can double as a mat for high impact and floor exercises, youll want to get a bit of an upgrade. That way, youll have plenty of room to work in comfort on the floor no matter what type of exercise youre doing.

You May Like: How Many Calories Does Yoga X Burn

Jade Harmony Professional Yoga Mat

The Jade Harmony professional yoga mat comes in black, jade green, midnight blue, purple and Tibetan orange. Step into your strength and balance with this mat made of open-cell natural rubber, a renewable resource from rubber trees . Its the ultimate slip-resistant mat so you dont need to worry during hot yoga and has an added cushion.

The Key Difference Between Pilates And Yoga Mats

As weve seen, the major difference between pilates and yoga mats lies in their thickness, density and texture.

Pilates mats are thicker, denser, wider, and smoother than yoga mats to give you the required support, balance, space, stability and an even surface to perform delicate motions such as sliding in a controlled manner.

Yoga mats are thinner, softer, and rough in texture, thus firm on the ground.

The excellent grip it provides you and the adherence with which it stays fixed on the ground lets you perform a variety of yoga asanas or poses from simple to complex, from gentle to vigorous, and from lying, sitting, standing to inverted or upside down.

Also Check: Yoga Mats With Straps