If you’re someone that does a lot of your workouts at home, whether that’s strength training, our Kinstretch Online mobility workouts, pilates or yoga then you understand the dilemma of not being able to find a yoga mat that’s wide or thick enough.
Most of us probably have the standard rollup mat that’s about 2 feet wide by 6 feet long. They work ok but as you start moving around, your legs fall off the edge and you’re constantly having to adjust.
If you’ve ever seen any of my videos on YouTube, then you know we move around a lot and the standard yoga mat doesn’t cut it.
I’ve tried putting two mats together and it worked ok but inevitably what ends up happening is as you move, the mats slide apart. Unless you’re flexible and don’t mind getting into a split, this can be annoying.
THE SEARCH FOR BETTER OPTIONS
I searched everywhere, looking for something that was 6-12” wider…nothing crazy. What I ended up finding was $140 mats that weren’t even as wide as I would like. There was no way I was spending that much on a yoga mat!
A couple of years ago I was at a fitness industry trade show, and was on a mission to speak to every single vendor who had yoga mats as part of their product line. No one had what I was looking for!
As a last resort I went up to this company that sells flooring for gyms. They had an alternative which are these tiled puzzle pieces that feel like a thick mat and slide together for whatever size you want. I was so excited! Unfortunately, the price to ship was more than the cost of the tile pieces! I’m not a cheap-o but something about spending $45 to ship these tile pieces didn’t sit right.
I STRUCK GOLD!
With my tail between my legs I took my search online again and found this PROSOURCE FIT 3/4" PUZZLE EXERCISE MAT on Amazon that has completely changed the game!
Here’s what I love about the Prosource Fit 3/4" Puzzle Exercise Mat:
Customize your size: An order includes 6, 24”x24” foam tiles with 12 border pieces so you can customize the size to what activity you’re doing. I only need 4 for my workouts and have plenty of room to move around.
Affordable: Yes please! For $35 + free shipping for Amazon Prime members, I’ll take it. Sayonara overpriced yoga mat!
Thick: I personally recommend the 3/4” mat so you can save your knees!
Non-slip: Because they’re interlocking puzzle pieces there’s no "slip and split” action going on. I have these on my hardwood floor and have never had an issue.
Durable: I’ve put mine to the test with over 1,000 hours of use and they’re still in awesome condition. I can’t speak highly enough about the quality of these. No crumbling or ripping like your see with your standard yoga mat. I've also seen from the reviews on Amazon that people use these in their gym to protect the floor from weights dropping down.
Simple assembly and easy to store: These are light and quick to connect or disassemble. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and if I have guests coming over, I can quickly take them apart and store under my bed or in the closet.
Where to buy:
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ABOUT COACH MATT PIPPIN
Matt is a Strength and Mobility Coach with over 15 years experience in his field. He's coached over a thousand professional, collegiate and everyday athletes with the goal to help them move, feel and perform at their highest level. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Certifications:
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Level 3: Fascial Stretch Specialist
Level 1: Institute of Motion Health Coach
Certified FRC Mobility Specialist (FRCms)
Level 1 Kinstretch Instructor
Weck Method Qualified