I’ve thought about even using one of my wife’s exercise mats to protect my knees while I’m kneeling down to either change a flat tire, screw cement board down as sub-flooring before laying tiles, or for some other such purpose, but I’m not THAT crazy! My wife would NOT be too thrilled about such a stunt, and I would have to either admit my error, or utter something like, “Well my knees are being sacrificed to this project; can’t you maybe buy me one of those kneeling pads, or maybe even a two-foot square tile of gym flooring?” I doubt I’d be met with much sympathy, but…the thought has crossed my mind!

It’s true, exercise mats, like my wife’s Pilate’s mats, probably shouldn’t be used for kneeling down on concrete driveways, or even concrete backer boards, as those rough surfaces could really scratch them up. But many of such exercise mats are made of materials that are recycled and are not harmful to the earth’s eco system, as well as being non-allergenic.

Those who are new to yoga will do well to start out getting just a few yoga props, beginning with a basic mat, some straps to help with stretching, and maybe yoga bolsters for support until strength and flexibility come; no sense going overboard from the beginning, but it’s better to have an experienced yoga practitioner guide you and teach you some of the basics to get you warmed up to it.

But for those who have already invested much time and diligence into his or her yoga regimen, then there’s no reason such persons can’t—or shouldn’t—invest in some [at least one] deluxe yoga mats, is there? Maybe you could treat your self to one of the artistic designer yoga mats, or give one as a gift to that special someone you know who is either a long-time practitioner or serious beginner. Unlike normal exercise mats, yoga mats are designed to prevent slippage, while reducing the effects of gravity to the body.

Most of us, when we’re working out, like to have some sort of cushioned flooring under our feet or our bodies when we do crunches, Pilates, etc. Even if we have to put down a piece of carpet, or workout in a carpeted area, it’s preferable to working out on a hard floor. If you’ve ever tried to perform crunches on a hardwood floor, you know exactly what I’m talking about!

If you were to install some interlocking foam exercise flooring in your personal workout area at home, you wouldn’t have to worry about buying—and storing—exercise mats, which are great for when you can’t or don’t want to put in permanent flooring; kind of like having an exercise mat that covers your entire room!

Have you been looking among exercise mats, for wrestling mats, and haven’t found what you need?  Well, you’ll probably be able to end your search here and now.  Wrestling mats typically are made to endure greater impact and activity than personal or folding exercise mats.  You can choose three basic options for your approach to purchasing the right wrestling mats for your needs.

You can go with…

1. Reconditioned/used wrestling mats.  Used mats that have been reconditioned on both sides; the most cost economical.  They’ve been re-cut or squared, tears have been repaired, and the surfaces have been reconditioned as well.
2. Remnant wrestling mats.  Like the name implies, these are made from the remnants at the ends of rolls used to make bigger mats.  The remnants are glued together to form single mats, and provide a significant cost savings for you.
3. New wrestling mats.  These are brand new, custom mats manufactured according to your specifications for size and color(s).

In addition to wrestling and other exercise mats, you might want to consider some sort of wall padding if you’re outfitting a school or even a private or home gym.

If you have a small exercise facility where you really want—or need—to conserve on space, and it’s not in your best interest to house big, bulky exercise mats or if your budget can’t finance wall-to-wall gym flooring, then you might want to consider handy, foldable exercise mats, like those pictured here.

These convenient, colorful mats are great because you can stack them easily in a corner, or in a good-sized closet where they’ll be out of the way for when your floor space is in use for something else. Or, if you think these are still too bulky for your needs, you might try the ultra compact aerobic fitness mat, which is thinner, but only comes in black. Either choice should suit the needs of persons looking for compact durability.

Not many exercise mats are truly eco-friendly; and among those that are, some are moreso than others. How would you like to know when you purchase an eco exercise mat, you help the earth’s ecology in a few different ways? First of all, for each powerhouse eco exercise mat sold, a tree will be planted to help offset environmental effects.

How great is that?

Plus, these super durable mats, which are perfect for Pilates, sit-ups o hardwood floors, or pretty much any other type of exercise where a mat is appropriate, are more healthful than ordinary exercise mats or basic gymnastics mats, which might not be phthalate free, like the eco mats we’re talking about here. Always look for terms such as “100% organic”, “natural”, and “100% recycled” determine the ecological commitment of any given product or provider.

If you own or run a professional gym or other exercise facility, you know what it’s like to keep up with exercise mats or expensive gym flooring, which can wear out quickly or take abuse just from day-to-day wear and tear. That’s one good reason to look at purchasing exercise equipment mats to help preserve your flooring, rather than resting your stationary bikes, treadmills, or other such apparatus directly on your flooring, to not only provide extra protection, but also to provide stability you might not get otherwise.

If you decide you don’t want to put down exercise equipment mats under your equipment, how about creating a specific area where you use something such as interlocking rubber flooring where your bikes and other machines are, rather than going wall to wall with the flooring, and worrying about having to pull that machinery aside sooner to replace worn tiles?

The point is: explore all your options before making a decision.

While you browse various types of exercise mats, look closely to find Pilates mats as well.  Just like there are many types of traditional exercise mats, there are many kinds of Pilates mats, too; from varying densities, thicknesses, materials, colors, and sizes…you can find what you’re looking for even if you don’t know it yet!

For example, if you want something along the lines of a yoga mat, the black Raja will surprise you in its suitability for use as a Pilates mat.  The Raja is a mere ¼ inch thick, but is extra dense and highly tear resistant, as well as providing superb traction.  The lightly tacky surface provides excellent slip prevention as well as ideal rebound; the Raja mat comes with its own harness for carrying, too.

You can have custom martial arts mats made to order instead of settling for standard exercise mats beneath you and your students when people hit the floor.  Martial arts mats made to order are manufactured a special way so as to better absorb the greater impact associated with martial arts moves, exercises, and throws.

The cross-linked polyethylene foam filler in these mats provide superior durability and resilience to use and are much more resistant to breakdown than ordinary exercise mats, and are perfect if you need some padding in a smaller area, as all can be affixed with Velcro connecting along the edges to expand them either lengthwise or laterally.  And if you’re opening your own karate studio or dojo, there’s the irreplaceable martial arts seamless flooring, which comes in pretty much every color imaginable.

Consider a Whale Therapeutic Back Bench to your quiver of exercise mats and accessories. If you have never laid eyes on one, take a look at this picture of the woman stretching her back. Is your back that flexible? Wouldn’t it be great if it were? Over the years, our spines tend to curve forward, resulting in “humpback” in old age. With the use of the Whale, you can counteract that effect, keeping your spine supple.

Some other benefits include:

• Reduces vertebrae and disc compression, pain and discomfort.
• Improves posture.
• Relaxes back and abdominal muscles.
• Increases blood flow to brain.
• Promotes cognitive abilities.
• Promotes greater well-being.
• Improves sleep patterns.
• May restore lost height due to curvature of spine, over time.

Maintaining our flexibility as we age isn’t easy, to be sure. We need all the help we can get, and one way to encourage our diligence is to have useful equipment around to facilitate regular exercise. Exercise mats, resistance tubes, or the increasingly popular resistance bands, all can help you maintain your flexibility and push back the effects of aging on your body.