Fitness Column - Push yourself with an exercise mat

It’s time to step away from the fancy machines, grab a mat and get exercising.

If you incorporate the floor mat into your exercise routine you can build major areas of fitness such as core strength, muscular endurance and flexibility.

This is where it gets technical because to benefit the most from a floor mat you will need to include both compound and isolation exercises. Compound movements are the actions of several muscle groups meaning more calories are burned and coordination and balance is improved.

Some compound exercises for you to get your teeth stuck into are; squats – which work the glutes, quads, hamstring, calves and abs, and push-ups which work triceps, abs, deltoids (shoulders) and pectorals.

Compound exercises are best to be used when aiming to achieve a full body workout.

Isolation exercises work one muscle group at any one time, improving muscle weakness and increasing size and endurance to a specific muscle types.

Some great isolation exercises to do on a floor mat are the bridge, plank and ab crunch. All these exercises only work one muscle at a time, increasing strength – resulting in a more complete workout. Next time you’re in the gym why not grab a mat and try a few of the exercises I’ve listed, you may find you enjoy it more than you thought! Yoga and Pilates ... Come at me!