A Yoga Pilates mat, or simply Pilates mats, are very similar to thick yoga mats in that they are about the same size and are used for exercises done on the floor. However, a good Pilates mat needs to be even thicker than a thick yoga mat – more like an extra thick yoga mat.

While yoga mats do need to provide some cushioning, they also need to allow the practitioner to have a good feel of the floor, especially for those poses done in a standing position. This is not as important with a Pilates mat and in fact, most Pilates mats are quite a bit thicker to provide more padding against the floor – rolling exercises such as the Open Leg Rocker and the Seal are no fun without a decent amount of padding.

A good Pilates mat should be at least half an inch (12.5 mm) thick – there are a lot of mats marketed as Pilates mats that are thinner than this, but they aren’t genuine Pilates mats, they are really just yoga cross-over mats (possibly referred to as Yoga Pilates Mats).

A Yoga Pilates mat should also be firm – a mat that is too soft will not provide the proper alignment and support.

Make sure the Yoga Pilates mat is the right size for you, both in length and width. Typical roll up mats can vary from 72 inches(183 cm) to 86 inches(219 cm) in length and 21 inches (53 cm) to 39 inches (100 cm) in width. The folding type mats usually found in studios are usually significantly larger, around 8 foot (244 cm) by 4 foot (122 cm) in size. However, the roll up mats offer the added benefit of being portable and easy to store.

These roll up yoga Pilates mats are usually made from dense foam or rubber, with the closed cell foam mats being the best available. They are usually thicker and firmer than regular foam mats, which tend to be made of a softer foam covered with something similar to vinyl and are a bit squishy.

Unlike Yoga classes, most Pilates studios supply Pilates mats so Pilates students are rarely expected to bring their own. However, do you really want to be rolling around on a Pilates mat that has been used by a myriad of other people, or would you rather use your own personal Pilates mat? Of course if you have your own Yoga Pilates mat, you can take it along to the studio, but the other reason to get a Yoga Pilates mat is to use it for your home workouts.

As to be expected, Yoga Pilates mats are available in a variety of styles, sizes and colors, so look for a mat that fits you and suits your lifestyle. You may also want one that comes with yoga mat straps to keep the mat rolled up for easier storage and carrying or you can look at some of the excellent yoga mat bags that are widely available.