Pilates Mat

A Pilates mat, like a yoga mat, is essential for proper practice. Although some forms of Pilates can be done without a mat, most Pilates moves will be much easier to carry out if your feet stay firmly planted beneath you.

Setting up a Pilates home gym can be as simple or as involved as you'd like it to be. You can begin Pilates practice with absolutely nothing, not even a Pilates mat, or you can bring all kinds of Pilates machines into your home gym in order to make your Pilates practice as hardcore as possible despite the fact that you're working out in the comfort of your own home.

Pilates mats don't have to be expensive to be of good quality. You can find a basic mat at any sporting goods store or even online. The weight of a mat makes it somewhat cheaper to buy it in person as long as you can find a shop that sells them for a decent price. Of course, a boutique will charge you more for the same mat as an off-price retailer will charge. Several discount department stores have Pilates and yoga equipment and books among their offerings, and these stores typically sell the items for about half the price of what a sporting goods store asks. You can find anything from a Pilates mat to a stability ball, and everything in between, at stores like TJ Maxx or Kohl's.

Once you've got a mat, perhaps another investment is a few Pilates DVDs. Of course, there are plenty of places online to look at sample Pilates moves and to read descriptions of how to do each exercise. However, many exercisers find it easier to stick with a Pilates routine if they are working out to a video.

A video gives the added benefit of varying the exercises so that many areas of the body get attention. In addition, it is especially useful for beginners to see an instructor perform the exercises before attempting to do the exercises themselves. The instructor also gives helpful hints that ensure that the person following along with the video at home realizes what the proper technique is for a given exercise.

For some Pilates exercises, a Pilates mat is indispensable. For example, all of the exercises that are done lying down on the ground are much more comfortable when done on a Pilates mat. Perhaps your house is clean enough that you don't mind being directly on the floor, but doing the exercises on a wooden floor can be really uncomfortable. If you do any Pilates exercises with a stability ball, you will certainly want to place your ball on a mat so that you have optimal traction under your feet. A stability ball can be dangerous if your feet don't have a good grip on the ground.

A mat is also helpful in estimating where your feet and hands should be during certain exercises. The mat can help you see if your hands are spread out too far apart. If your feet are too far apart, you can lose your balance because one foot might be on the mat while the other is off the mat.

For all of these reasons, a Pilates mat is the one piece of Pilates equipment that is a must for most who practice Pilates. While DVDs are not necessary, and basic Pilates routines can be done without a stability ball or resistance bands, a mat is really the minimum amount of equipment necessary to start a healthy habit of practicing Pilates at home. If you're not sure yet if you'll stick with Pilates, try some exercises out on a carpeted floor with slippers on. Chances are you'll find the exercises enjoyable and effective, and with a proper mat to work on, your routine will only become more fruitful and fun.

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