What’s the Difference:

Pilates: - founded on the basic principles and asanas of Yoga. Pilates focuses on toning up the body to achieve an attractive, dancer’s figure.

Emphasis on low intensity, high repetition exercises to create greater core strength, flexibility, and control. The theory underlying the foundation involves a fusion of the mental and physical.  The body will move with economy, grace, and balance without ever having to engage the conscious mind. Pilates, like Yoga, focuses on proper breathing, control, and flexibility.

Yoga - rooted in Buddhism, though some speculate that it existed centuries before it was even mentioned in the Buddhist texts. There are literally dozens of variants, however the central goal of Yoga has remained the same. The spiritual release of the practitioner, easing of the mind into a calm neutral state of peace, and allowing the body to flow into a state of homeostasis, or self-balance, are all a part of Yoga’s complex philosophy

Choosing the Perfect Mat:

Above all, a good mat helps keep you comfortable and safe while you exercise mentally, physically, and spiritually. However, depending on which (Pilates or Yoga) you are practicing, your needs will vary accordingly.

Getting Traction:

When it comes to Yoga mats, stickiness is king. Yoga mats need to remain grippy as a good number of asanas require that you maintain balance using the palms of your hands or tips of your fingers. A mat with poor traction will cause anything from bad, inconsistent form to moderate injury so this characteristic is especially crucial.

Since the typical Pilates mats are non-sticky and unabsorbent, it’s a good idea to avoid using a Pilates mat for both practices unless your mat can securely hold a mat cover in place during your Yoga sessions.

Choosing the Right Dimensions:

Pilates mats, like Yoga mats, come in a dizzying array of sizes and colors. The good news is that similar practices require the similar equipment. The dimensions of the typical Yoga mat do not vary much from that of the average Pilates mat. Here’s what you need to know:

- Thickness: 1/8” – 5/16”: Pilates mats tend be thicker to provide better cushioning for the joints, hips, and spine: which experience more stress during a Pilates workout due to the focus on cultivating core strength in the body and lengthening the spine. If you’re looking for something you can use to practice Yoga AND Pilates, we recommend a 1/4 in thick mat.

- Length: 62” to 85”

- Width: 20”to 50”

- Weight: 2 to 10 lbs: the longer and wider the mat, the heavier it will be. Results vary with materials.

 Also bear in mind that each individual’s height, flexibility, and sense of personal space will play into how big their mat needs to be.

If portability is a big concern, aspiring Yogis are advised to look into a slimmer mat with smaller dimensions. A thick mat weighs a bit more, making it more desirable for private practice in the comfort of your own home!

For an idea of what size mat suits your unique needs, be sure and check out our MATchmaker!

Materials:

Yoga mats tend to be made with a greater range of materials than Pilates mats. In general, Pilates mats will either be made of rubber or foam, whereas Yoga mats can be made using anything from a plain cotton rug to complex synthetic super mats. Here are the main reasons why you want to pay attention to what your mat is made of:

1) Absorbency - natural fiber tends to be the best at soaking up perspiration, though a handful of synthetic materials have begun to show promise. This will probably be more of a concern for Yoga practitioners

2) Firmness  - Don’t get something too squishy if you’re planning on doing a lot of Pilates. Something too soft will make it harder to balance and align your body.

3) Smell - be aware that some natural rubbers have a very strong smell. If your nose is sensitive you may wish to consider an alternative, as the scent can detract from your workout experience.

4) Cleaning - Lastly, check how easy it is to clean your mat. The best materials will provide the proper amount of grip while remaining relatively easy to shake clean, so make sure to find the right balance between stickiness and roughness! Read those reviews!

As an alternative, those of you who don’t mind carrying around a little extra weight may wish to pick up a Yoga mat cover. A simple woven cotton cover will help keep your mat clean and slip free!

Summary:

So, is it possible to combine necessary features from Pilates and Yoga into one mat? You bet.
This is what you need to look out for:

- Thickness: at least 1/4 in thick to cushion your joints and spine during Pilates

- Firmness: so balance and form are easier during Pilates

- Grip: You’ll want something that won’t shift on the floor or slip when wet.

- Easy to Clean: no one wants to work out on a dirty mat

- Absorbent: this you can give or take. Its more important that you find a skidless mat

Thankfully, you won’t have to spend hours sifting through online reviews trying to find that perfect hybrid mat! Your time is valuable and Go Green understands that. So as a bonus to our readers, we’ve compiled a short list of eco-friendly mats that meet those criterion:

1) Black Mat PRO (Manduka)
2) Divine Mat (Natural Fitness)

Why eco-friendly mats?

What you might not know is that green mats do not contain PVC – which is laden with heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Exposure to these metals has been known to cause hormone disruption and other unpleasant side effects.

As a practitioner of Yoga we need not extol you with the virtues of protecting our mother earth and keeping her in pristine condition for our children to enjoy. The mats offered on this site are made by processes without the byproduct of harmful CO2 emissions using sustainable resources, thereby giving you peace of mind and body.


Namaste,
Go Green

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