What Makes A Good Pilates Mat?

A good Pilates mat needs to protect the user from rough floors and provide comfort during exercise. The mat should also be compact enough to provide a stable platform for the body. The Pilates Mat should have the perfect combination of these features to provide comfort.

Although all Pilate accessories provide some improvement to your body, by far, the most important tool will be the Pilate mats. Even if you are just learning the basics of Pilates, a high quality mat will do more to improve the practice than any other accessory. Therefore, the area that you really need to do the homework on and invest in is the �mat�. The following things should be considered when buying Pilate mats.

Your pilates mat should be comfortable - and the comfort is based on a mat's thickness and firmness. Most pilates mats are too thin and provide little if any cushion. These mats can be considered, if you are not fussed about 'How hard your floor is' during your practice. Thick Pilate mats are also too soft to provide enough support. Good Pilate mats should be thick enough and soft enough to provide grip, also firm enough to provide good support to the user.

Pilate mats should fit in your hands and feet to provide a secure grip. Even when you sweat, it should provide the same amount of grip and you should not slide around on the mat as you move. In addition, your mat should also remain flat on the floor. Mats with square corners will be likely to curl up after a while.

Maintenance of your Pilates mat should consist of nothing more than occasionally wiping it down with a clean cloth dampened with warm water. Any mat that is machine washable would be too thin and therefore it will not meet the cushion or grip criteria that are essential in a good mat.

There are various sizes available. However, the standard size is 76 inches long and 25 inches wide, which is 8 inches longer and one inch wider than regular mats. Pilates mats are perfect for taller individuals who need more space to stretch out.

Here are three comparision tests to determine the quality of Pilates mats:

• The pinch test: Compare resistance to compression by pinching between thumb and forefinger.
• The coin test: Compare durability by rubbing mat samples with the edge of a coin until the surface breaks down. Count the strokes!
• The wet test: Compare wet traction by moistening your hand to simulate sweating.
  

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