No matter what form of exercise equipment you work out with, whether it’s machines, free weights, pilates, yoga, or martial arts-- exercise mats are needed for protection. You want protection for the flooring underneath, and most of all-- protection for what’s on top-- you and your family!

Every commercial health club or gym will all have mats underneath their heavy weightlifting machines. Even specialty, weight-free machines like rowers, treadmills and high steppers will all be sitting upon various forms of impact-absorbing material. Aside from adding a little color to an otherwise drab setting, the mats are there for good reason.

Did you ever wonder how wrestlers and boxers can continue taking the pounding that they do, round after round, their bodies being slammed to the mat, emerging without a scratch on them, and bouncing right back? It’s all in the mat, and they do bounce back; well, sort of. That mat material is so spongy and absorbent, it almost acts like a trampoline in bouncing a fighter right back onto his feet.

You don’t have to be in the ring to know what that feeling is like. You’re probably feeling it under your feet right now. Do you have wall-to-wall carpeting? Well, that thick layer of what we call “foam rubber” under the carpet works on the same shock-absorbing principle. Look carefully wherever you go and you’ll see all kinds of mats protecting us.

That’s why, whatever your sport or choice of exercise, you need some kind of mat protecting you. And there’s a wide range to choose from, including thin, lightweight, woven roll-up mats and thick, resilient foam ring mats. The commercial varieties are mostly made of rubber, PVC or some form of vinyl.  Some are even made from re-cycled by-products!  Most are usually porous, but they’re coated with a water-repellant material to make cleaning easier.

There are tumble mats, made for kids, that take the bumps out of playtime. And there are heavier, interlocking mats for bigger kids for under their play toys, with non-slip tabs that lock the mat in place. There are tile-like mats that let you assemble a different size mat every time. There are piece-together mats that look like jigsaw puzzles. There’s even a designer series, that looks like wood, but is actually foam, with colors matching any décor.

Prices range from $20- $150 for the portable, personal sized mats to around $35- $200 for the average treadmill sizes. Larger spaces are often cushioned with modular tiles that  interlock and range from $100-$400 per 10 tiles; these would fit under the sizes of most machines. It appears that there are as many types of exercise mats as there are exercises.

So, be sensible about finding the perfect mats for you. You don’t have to break the bank. You won’t get more ripped or get 6-pack abs just from having the top-of-the-line exercise pad under your feet. It’s just one of those extras that make exercising a lot more comfortable and a little more safe.

by Bruce Heath, DnC.