For your safety and comfort while doing various poses.
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For those who are curious about trying the workout challenge by Chloe Ting right after reading the previous article, here are the main things you need to consider before buying a fitness mat.
1. Type of Exercise
Choose a mat based on the type of exercise. For example, the 2 Weeks Shred Challenge by Chloe Ting relies on complex movements, hence you need a mat with grips to keep your hands, feet, and back in balance. For another exercise like Yin Yoga which relies on sitting and lying movements, choose soft mat ones for your comfort.
2. Material
There are three common mat materials, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), TPE (Thermal Plastic Elastomer), and NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber). Each material has pros and cons, for example, PVC is the most common material used for mats. Designed with dots on the surface of the mat as a grip to keep your balance while moving. Besides its lightweight, PVS also has good density, is anti-slip, and is easy to clean.
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Meanwhile, NBR is made of natural rubber with a common thickness of 10mm which is ideal for those who have joint problems. NBR is also ideal for those who have allergies. Last but not least, PTE which made from recyclable material. This eco-friendly mat is used back and forth, is lightweight, and is easy to carry. It is unfortunate that the PTE mat is so delicate and tends to peel off for long time usage.
3. Thickness
Besides material, thickness is also important when buying a fitness mat. This one determines comfort level and balances while moving. A thing mat with a thickness of about 1.5mm also known as a travel yoga mat is pretty much chosen for most people who like to travel or do outdoor exercise but can cause pain if used on a hard surface.
Mat with a standard thickness of 3mm is considered the ideal choice to provide comfort and stability for exercise. While thicker mats for 6mm or 10mm provide ultimate comfort if your exercise required a lot of lying and sitting poses, but are less stable for standing on-legs poses.