Do I Need A Yoga Mat For Pilates

Pilates on the other hand uses the mat for a larger volume of exercises on your back and your stomach.

Do i need a yoga mat for pilates. These mats range from 1 4 to 1 2 inch thickness. If you want to get a mat for both yoga and pilates you can get 1 4 inch yoga mat so you can do both activities and be comfortable at the same time. 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. Personally i don t like the really thick mats because it feels too squishy so i.

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. Yoga employs many more standing exercises which require a thin mat that supports better proprioception and balance. Get one that is at least 6mm thick these shouldn t set you back more than 30. 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 pilates it is imperative that the mat is thicker and or denser than a yoga mat. When taking a yoga or pilates class you might notice that the mats look similar. Pilates mats are typically thicker and with a higher density when compared to yoga mats. The cushion of the mat will help protect your joints throughout practice.

But you will need a thicker mat for pilates compared to yoga because there are repetitive exercises in the kneeling position for example which requires more cushioning.