Yoga vs. Pilates Mat
Yoga is a series of spiritual, physical, and mental exercises developed in ancient India to promote healthy bodies and focused minds. Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s as a series of floor and machine exercises designed to strengthen the body and prevent and treat injury. Due to the popularity of Yoga and Pilates, there is an overabundance of companies producing yoga and Pilates mats, which vary greatly in price and complexity.
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Structures
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Overall, standard yoga and Pilates mats are the same size and shape, a rectangle approximately 72 by 24 inches. The key difference is in thickness, with most yoga mats about a quarter-inch thick, and most Pilates mats a half-inch thick.
These mats are also made of a similar material, sticky and coarse, to increase friction and prevent slippage. Yoga mats can be constructed from a variety of substances, including cotton, thermal plastic elastomer, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Pilates mats are usually constructed from PVC or closed-cell foam.
Physical Demands
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The small differences in structure between yoga and Pilates mats are important to the relative demands of the activities. Yoga is a self-described "whole body" regime, in which participants perform various postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation on their mats. Yoga focuses on core strength, balance, and flexibility, and it requires that participants be able to sweat in a variety of challenging postures without the mat slipping.
Pilates participants, on the other hand, do not perform all Pilates exercises on mats. The workout's founder, Joseph Pilates, designed different machines that are also used to condition the body and correct chronic damage and pain. Pilates focuses on core strength and proper alignment, and many of the mat exercises are performed while lying down or rolling along the spine. For this reason, Pilates mats must be thick and comfortable surfaces.
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Environmental Impact
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According to the Yoga Journal, many of the standard yoga and Pilates mats are made of materials that damage the environment and the bodies of their users. In the manufacturing of PVC, factories release harmful toxins into the air and water, and these toxins can leak into the soil when discarded mats end up in landfills. PVC also contains phthalates to soften the mat's surface. According to a Greenpeace study, phthalates alter testosterone levels and sperms counts in men, and increase the likelihood of testicular cancer in men and breast cancer in women.
In response to these findings, many yoga and Pilates companies are producing mats made of emission-free PVC, and alternative, ecofriendly materials.
Variations
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According to the Wall Street Journal, the popularity of yoga has resulted in the production of a wide variety of mats that can be customized to suit practitioners' needs. Variations include environment-friendly mats, hot yoga/sweat-proof mats, slip-proof mat towels, increased length for taller individuals, and yoga map mats with alignment tips and progress points inscribed into the design.
Pilates also has a number of variations, which include body heat-retaining, environment-friendly, nonslip, increased length, increased thickness, and beginner mats.
Prices
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According to Time Magazine, the price of yoga mats has skyrocketed during recent years, due to special variations and composites. Yoga mats range in price from around $20 (Target stores) to $130 (Manduka). The price range for Pilates mats is not as wide, from around $30 (Target stores) to $70 (Airex).
Buying Both?
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If you are a practitioner of both yoga and Pilates, it is not necessary to buy two mats. Many mats on the market are considered dual models, designed for both yoga and Pilates. However, these mats are usually the most basic and have the fewest variations. If you are planning to purchase a more specialized mat, simply make sure that it is a half-inch thick and has a good nonslip surface.
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