Exercise Mat

Abstract

An exercise mat may provide markings indicating where a person places their hands in relation to their feet to obtain the alignment necessary to exercise selected muscles of the chest by performing one or more pushups. Other markings on the mat may facilitate the desired positioning of the body for sit-ups and other floor exercises for exercising desired selected muscle groups of the body.

1 . An exercise floor mat to aid an exerciser in the performance of exercises such as push ups, squats, lunges and sit-ups, the mat comprising:
 a surface;   a centering line on the surface defining a right side and a left side of the surface;   a series of coded markings on the surface extending horizontally from the centering line to the right and the left side of the surface; and   a legend printed on the surface to correlate the coded markings with hand positions dependent on the cross-back measurement of the exerciser,   
     such that the exerciser can center his body on the mat with the centering line and position his right hand on the right side of the centering line and his left hand on the left side of the centering line, each hand on a coded marking correlated to his cross-back measurement. 
   
   
       2 . The exercise floor mat of  claim 1 , wherein the coded markings are coded by color such that a particular color corresponds to a particular cross-back measurement. 
   
   
       3 . The exercise floor mat of  claim 1 , wherein the coded markings are coded by shape such that a particular shape corresponds to a particular cross-back measurement. 
   
   
       4 . The exercise floor mat of  claim 1 , wherein the coded markings are coded by cross-hatching such that a particular cross-hatching pattern corresponds to a particular cross-back measurement. 
   
   
       5 . The exercise floor mat of  claim 1 , further comprising a sit-up marker on the centering line to indicate where to place the buttocks for sit-ups. 
   
   
       6 . The exercise floor mat of  claim 1 , wherein the surface further comprises a slipcover that fits over a cushion. 
   
   
       7 . The exercise floor mat of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises closed-cell foam. 
   
   
       8 . The exercise mat of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises plastic. 
   
   
       9 . The exercise mat of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises rubber. 
   
   
       10 . The exercise mat of  claim 1 , wherein the mat comprises flexible material such that the mat may be selectively rolled up for storage. 
   
   
       11 . The exercise mat of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more fasteners attached to the mat to maintain the mat in a rolled-up state when fastened. 
   
   
       12 . The exercise mat of  claim 1 , further comprising a first side and an opposite side, wherein the surface is on the first side and further comprising on the opposite side a second surface having an array of coded markings for additional floor exercises. 
   
   
       13 . An exercise floor mat kit, the kit comprising:
 a carrier for carrying the mat;   a set of instructions for use of the mat; and   an exercise floor mat further comprising:
 a surface; 
 a centering line on the surface defining a right side and a left side of the surface; 
 a series of coded markings on the surface extending horizontally from the centering line to the right and the left side of the surface; and 
 a legend printed on the surface to correlate the coded markings with hand positions dependant on the cross-back measurement of the exerciser. 
   
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the coded markings of the mat are coded by color such that a particular color corresponds to a particular cross-back measurement. 
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the coded markings of the mat are coded by shape such that a particular shape corresponds to a particular cross-back measurement. 
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the coded markings of the mat are coded by cross-hatching such that a particular cross-hatching pattern corresponds to a particular cross-back measurement. 
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the coded markings of the mat further comprise a sit-up marker on the centering line to indicate where to place the buttocks for sit-ups. 
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the mat further comprises a first side and an opposite side, wherein the surface is on the first side and further comprising on the opposite side a second surface having an array of coded markings for additional floor exercises. 
   
   
       19 . An exercise mat comprising coded markings on the mat such that the markings correlate cross-back measurements to positions for body parts during exercise.