Exercise mat

Abstract

An improved exercise mat allows performance of one or more physical activities while preventing direct user contact with the floor. In this manner, a user always remains “on” the mat unlike traditional exercise mats. The improved exercise mat may comprise a resilient material having a shape configured to prevent direct contact with the floor. The shape may be non-rectangular to save material and space, and may be continuous or a single piece. In one embodiment, the shape has portions that correspond to locations where a user's body would ordinarily contact the floor during a physical activity. The improved exercise mat may comprise textured areas, variable cushioning areas, or both configured based on one or more physical activities to provide cushioning and texturing appropriate to the physical activities.

1 . An improved exercise mat comprising:
 a mat having a top surface and a bottom surface, the mate comprising a resilient material configured to provide a cushion between a user and a floor during performance of a physical activity, the mat having:
 a center section; 
 two or more tabs extending outward from the center section, wherein the two or more tabs extending outward from the center section reduces the likelihood of a user directly contacting the floor during performance of the physical activity; and 
 one or more textured areas and one or more smooth areas on the top surface or bottom surface of the mat. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mat of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more variable cushioning areas in the mat, the variable cushioning areas providing different levels of cushioning to a user. 
     
     
         3 . The mat of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more variable cushioning areas comprises a first area having a first density and a second area having a second density. 
     
     
         4 . The mat of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more variable cushioning areas comprises a first area having a first thickness and a second area having a second thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the tabs extend from the center section between a middle of the center section and an end of the center section. 
     
     
         6 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the texture areas comprises a first area having a smooth texture and a second area having a surface varying between a first height and a second height. 
     
     
         7 . An exercise mat, the exercise mat comprising:
 a generally flat mat comprising at least one padded area configured to provide padding between a user and a floor or other hard surface;   a center section having a height defining a top end and a bottom end and a width, wherein the height is greater than the width.   one or more extensions extending widthwise from the center section at the top end, the bottom end, or both, the one or more extensions having a width that is greater than the width of the center section.   
     
     
         8 . The mat of  claim 7 , wherein the mat has a first side with a first texture and a second side with a second texture, wherein the first texture has less friction than the second texture. 
     
     
         9 . The mat of  claim 7 , wherein the mat has a first section with a first thickness and a second section with a second thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The mat of  claim 9 , wherein the center section is thicker than a thickness of the one or more extensions. 
     
     
         11 . The mat of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more extensions comprise a circular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The mat of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more extensions comprise a triangular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The mat of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more extensions comprise four rectangular extensions. 
     
     
         14 . The mat of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more extensions are removable and connectable to the center section. 
     
     
         15 . A modular exercise mat, the mat comprising;
 Two or more mat modules, the mat modules comprising padded mats;   At least one fastener associated with each mat module, wherein the at least one fastener is configured to connect to the at least one mat and to at least one other fastener; whereby connecting fasteners connects mat modules to create a composite mat comprised of individual mat modules.   
     
     
         16 . The modular exercise mat of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the two or more mat modules has a thickness or density that is less than at least one other mat module. 
     
     
         17 . The modular exercise mat of  claim 15 , wherein the mat modules are square. 
     
     
         18 . The modular exercise mat of  claim 15 , wherein the mat modules are rectangular. 
     
     
         19 . The modular exercise mat of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise hook or loop fastener. 
     
     
         20 . The modular exercise mat of  claim 15 , wherein each fastener is permanently connected to one mat module and releasably connectable to a second mat module.