Folding exercise mat

Abstract

An exercise mat is provided having a top surface having a plurality of top grooves spanning a width of a mat body and a bottom surface having a plurality of bottom grooves spanning the width of the mat body. The mat body is formed from a single piece of material, and the top grooves extend from the top surface towards the bottom surface and the bottom grooves extend from the bottom surface towards the top surface. The mat body is then foldable along the top and bottom grooves in opposite directions. The mat body has a thickness from the top surface to the bottom surface of more than 6 mm. Also provided is a method for exercising using the exercise mat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise mat comprising:
 a top surface having a plurality of top grooves spanning a width of a mat body; and   a bottom surface having a plurality of bottom grooves spanning the width of the mat body, the bottom grooves being offset relative to the top grooves;   wherein the mat body is formed from a single piece of material, the top grooves extend from the top surface towards the bottom surface, and the bottom grooves extend from the bottom surface towards the top surface;   wherein the mat body is foldable along the top and bottom grooves in opposite directions; and   wherein the mat body has a thickness from the top surface to the bottom surface of more than 6 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein one of the plurality of bottom grooves is centered along a length of the bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise mat of  claim 2  wherein the mat body has more bottom grooves than top grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein the bottom surface is provided with a gripping texture, with the gripping texture extending more deeply into the mat body than a texture of the top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise mat of  claim 4  wherein the gripping texture has ridges for gripping and wherein the texture of the top surface comprises a bead blast texture. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein the top surface comprises three top surface segments separated by the top grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise mat of  claim 6  wherein each of the three top surface segments is bisected by a bottom groove on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein each of the top grooves and each of the bottom grooves comprises two opposing groove walls, and wherein the groove walls are sloped relative to a plane perpendicular to the exercise mat, such that the groove walls slope away from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein the mat body comprises one or more of polyolefin elastomers (POE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         10 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein the mat body comprises a cross linked polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the mat body is approximately 12 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein, during use, the mat body is provided with a plurality of configurations, and wherein in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations, the mat body is substantially planar, and wherein in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations, the mat body is folded along a bottom groove to form a secondary upward facing mat surface at a height different than the top surface, and wherein the top surface and the secondary mat surface are used simultaneously to support a user. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein the exercise mat is a yoga mat. 
     
     
         14 . A method for exercising, the method comprising:
 providing an exercise mat having a top surface having a plurality of top grooves spanning a width of a mat body; and   a bottom surface having a plurality of bottom grooves spanning the width of the mat body, the bottom grooves being offset from the top grooves,   wherein the mat body is formed from a single piece of material, the top grooves extend from the top surface towards the bottom surface, and the bottom grooves extend from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and   wherein the mat body has a thickness from the top surface to the bottom surface of more than 6 mm,   instructing a user to position the exercise mat in a first configuration in which the mat body is substantially planar with the bottom surface resting on a floor;   instructing the user to perform a first exercise utilizing the exercise mat;   instructing the user to fold the exercise mat along at least one bottom groove such that the mat is in a second configuration;   instructing the user to perform a second exercise utilizing the exercise mat.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second configuration comprises a secondary upward facing mat surface at a height different than the top surface, and wherein the second exercise requires surfaces at distinct heights 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second exercise requires a sitting surface at a height raised relative to a primary mat surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second exercise generates lateral forces in opposite directions on the secondary upward facing mat surface and the top surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second configuration comprises a secondary upward facing mat surface at a height different than the top surface, and wherein the second exercise requires a surface having more padding than the first exercise. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom surface of the exercise mat is provided with a gripping texture, with the gripping texture extending more deeply into the mat body than a texture of the top surface. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise mat of  claim 14 , wherein the mat body has more bottom grooves than top grooves. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise mat of  claim 14 , wherein each of the top grooves and each of the bottom grooves comprises two opposing groove walls, and wherein the groove walls are sloped relative to a plane perpendicular to the exercise mat, such that the groove walls slope away from each other. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise mat of  claim 14 , wherein the thickness of the mat body is approximately 12 mm.