Yoga mat
A thin, cushioned non-slip mat used for floor-based exercise and stretching.
Overview
A yoga mat is a thin, cushioned mat with a textured, non-slip surface. It marks out a personal space on the floor, provides grip for hands and feet, and adds a little padding between the body and a hard surface.
The same style of mat is used across mat-based practices, giving a stable, comfortable base for poses, stretches and floor exercises.
Good to know
- The non-slip surface gives grip for hands and feet.
- Thin padding cushions the body on hard floors.
- Rolls up for easy carrying and storage.
Where it’s used
Sports that use yoga mat:
Yoga
A mind-body practice that links postures, breathing and focus to build flexibility, strength and calm.
Pilates
A low-impact mind-body method that builds core strength, control and posture through precise, controlled movement.
Barre
A low-impact mind-body workout blending ballet-inspired moves with elements of pilates and yoga for strength and control.
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Facilities
- Fitness studioAn open indoor room used for instructor-led group fitness classes such as yoga, aerobics and indoor cycling.
- Sports hallA large indoor hall with multi-sport line markings, used for court sports like basketball, volleyball and badminton.
- Ice rinkA sheet of prepared ice, usually rink-boarded with rounded corners, used for skating and ice sports.
Playing surfaces
- MatA cushioned, padded mat surface for grappling, striking and floor work — it absorbs falls and throws and grips underfoot, cushioning grappling, throws and floor work.
- WoodAn indoor sprung timber or parquet floor — grippy, consistent and lightly cushioned; the classic surface for indoor court sports.
Learning paths
Exercises
- Glute bridgeA floor exercise where you lift your hips by squeezing your glutes with your feet planted.
- Push-upA classic upper-body pushing exercise where you lower and press your body up from the floor.
- Pike push-upA push-up variation with hips high that shifts the emphasis onto the shoulders.
- PlankA core-holding exercise where you keep your body in a straight line supported on forearms and toes.
- Side plankA core hold on one forearm and the side of the foot that targets the muscles along your side.
Training methods
- Mobility TrainingMobility training works on moving your joints actively through their full range, combining control and flexibility so movement feels free and easy.
- Flexibility TrainingFlexibility training uses stretching to gradually improve how far your muscles and joints can comfortably lengthen and move.
- Cross-TrainingCross-training mixes different activities into your routine so you build all-round fitness and give repeatedly-used muscles a change of stimulus.
- Active Recovery SessionsActive recovery sessions are deliberately easy bouts of gentle movement — an easy walk, spin or swim — used on lighter days to keep moving without adding hard work.
Recovery
- Gentle mobilityGentle mobility work means moving your joints smoothly through a comfortable range to help you feel loose and move well.
- Gentle stretchingGentle stretching means easing into comfortable stretches and holding them in a relaxed way to help you feel less stiff.
- Cool-downA cool-down is a few minutes of easy movement at the end of a session to let the body settle back towards rest.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Equipment
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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