Kinetic Discipline and Body Positioning Apparatus

Abstract

A multi-dimensional body positioning apparatus that can be used in the practice of pilates, yoga, tai chi, and other intelligent movement disciplines, including exercise, rehabilitation, training, physical and mental conditioning, habituation, injury prevention and recovery; in medical protocols for minimizing cascade of disabilities and maximizing muscular and neurological recovery from paralysis, congenital disorders, and auto immune illnesses; and overall healing. The body positioning apparatus includes raised portions that are plateaus that relate to the topology of the human body, which provide visual and tactile references, so the user can properly align the body during exercise or use of the apparatus. By providing these plateaus, the exercise routine can be optimized. For instance, a user can use the apparatus supervised while monitoring proper technique.

1 . A body positioning mat comprising a pliable base with a back surface and a front surface, the front surface comprised of a plurality of spaced apart landmarks raised therefrom, the raised landmarks configured to guide alignment of a user's body without external assistance. 
     
     
         2 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the raised landmarks produce a three-dimensionally contoured body positioning mat configured to guide autonomous proprioceptive alignment of a user of the mat through visually and tactilely perceptible topographic features of the mat in the form of the raised landmarks. 
     
     
         3 . The mat of  claim 2 , further comprising a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis intersecting the longitudinal axis, wherein the front surface and back surface are planar, and wherein the raised landmarks are symmetrically arranged across both the longitudinal and latitudinal axes. 
     
     
         4 . The mat of  claim 3 , comprising (a) a pelvis landmark arrangement comprising at least one of the raised landmarks and which is configured to support a user's pelvis, (b) a head landmark arrangement comprising at least another one of the raised landmarks and which is configured to support a user's head, and (c) a foot landmark arrangement comprising at least a further one of the raised landmarks and which is configured to position a user's feet on the mat. 
     
     
         5 . The mat of  claim 4 , further comprising a shoulder landmark arrangement comprising a plurality of the raised landmarks that are spaced apart and parallel and which are configured to position a user's shoulders relative thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The mat of  claim 4 , further comprising a hand landmark arrangement comprising a plurality of the raised landmarks that are spaced apart and parallel and which are configured to position a user's hands relative thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The mat of  claim 4 , further comprising (a) a shoulder landmark arrangement comprising a plurality of the raised landmarks that are spaced apart and parallel and which are configured to position a user's shoulders relative thereto, and (b) a hand landmark arrangement comprising a plurality of the raised landmarks that are spaced apart and parallel and which are configured to position a user's hands relative thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The mat of  claim 7 , wherein the raised plateaus are upraised from the front surface of the mat between 0.2 inches and 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The mat of  claim 1 , comprising a pelvis landmark arrangement comprised of at least one of the raised landmarks and which is configured to support a user's pelvis. 
     
     
         10 . The mat of  claim 9 , wherein the mat has a lengthwise extent, a widthwise extent, and the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement comprises a pair of spaced apart, parallel, and longitudinally extending portions and a laterally extending portion positioned to support a user's pelvis, the laterally extending portion disposed interjacent the pair of spaced apart, parallel, and longitudinally extending portions. 
     
     
         11 . The mat of  claim 10 , wherein the laterally extending portion of the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement extends from one of the pair of spaced apart, parallel, and longitudinally extending portions of the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement to the other one of the pair of spaced apart, parallel, and longitudinally extending portions of the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . The mat of  claim 11 , wherein the pelvis landmark arrangement is generally H-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The mat of  claim 12 , wherein the pelvis landmark arrangement is comprised of (a) a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending and elongate raised landmarks, and (b) a laterally extending elongate raised landmark. 
     
     
         14 . The mat of  claim 11 , wherein at least some of the raised plateaus are configured to provide visual and tactile feedback to a user of the mat. 
     
     
         15 . The mat of  claim 14 , wherein the raised plateaus are upraised from the front surface of the mat between 0.2 inches and 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the mat has a lengthwise extent, a widthwise extent, and comprises (a) a head landmark arrangement spaced longitudinally from the pelvis landmark arrangement, the head landmark comprised of at least one raised landmark spaced and configured to support a user's head, and (b) a pelvis landmark arrangement longitudinally spaced from the head landmark arrangement, the pelvis landmark arrangement comprised of at least one raised landmark and configured to support a user's pelvis. 
     
     
         17 . The mat of  claim 16 , wherein the (a) the at least one raised landmark of the head landmark arrangement comprises a pair of longitudinally-extending parallel raised landmarks spaced apart equidistantly from a longitudinal centerline extending in the lengthwise direction, and (b) the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement comprises (1) a pair of longitudinally-extending parallel portions equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline, and (2) a laterally extending portion positioned to support a user's pelvis, the laterally extending portion bisected by the longitudinal centerline and disposed interjacent the pair of longitudinally-extending parallel portions. 
     
     
         18 . The mat of  claim 17 , wherein the pair of longitudinally extending parallel raised landmarks are spaced apart equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline about the same distance that the pair of longitudinally extending parallel portions of the pelvis landmark arrangement are equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal centerline. 
     
     
         19 . The mat of  claim 17 , wherein the laterally extending portion of the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement extends from one of the pair of longitudinally extending parallel portions of the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement to the other one of the pair of longitudinally extending parallel portions of the at least one raised landmark of the pelvis landmark arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . The mat of  claim 19 , wherein the pelvis landmark arrangement is generally H-shaped. 
     
     
         21 . The mat of  claim 17 , further comprising a foot landmark arrangement comprised of at least one raised landmark and configured for locating a user's feet relative thereto, the foot landmark spaced longitudinally from the pelvis landmark arrangement and the head landmark arrangement, the pelvis landmark arrangement arranged in a lengthwise direction between the foot landmark arrangement and the head landmark arrangement. 
     
     
         22 . The mat of  claim 17 , further comprising a shoulder landmark arrangement configured to position a user's shoulders relative thereto, the shoulder landmark arrangement comprised of a pair of the raised landmarks that are parallel and equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline farther than the raised head landmarks are equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline, the shoulder landmark arrangement arranged in a lengthwise direction between the head landmark arrangement and the pelvis landmark arrangement. 
     
     
         23 . The mat of  claim 17 , further comprising a hand landmark arrangement configured to position a user's hands relative thereto, the hand landmark arrangement comprised of a pair of the raised landmarks that are parallel and equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline farther than the raised head landmarks are equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline, the raised landmarks of the hand landmark arrangement disposed outboard of the pelvis landmark arrangement such that the pelvis landmark arrangement is disposed laterally between the raised landmarks of the hand landmark arrangement. 
     
     
         24 . The mat of  claim 21 , further comprising (a) a shoulder landmark arrangement configured to position a user's shoulders relative thereto, the shoulder landmark arrangement comprised of a pair of the raised landmarks that are elongate, parallel and equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline farther than the raised head landmarks are equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline, the shoulder landmark arrangement arranged in a lengthwise direction between the head landmark arrangement and the pelvis landmark arrangement, and (b) a hand landmark arrangement configured to position a user's hands relative thereto, the hand landmark arrangement comprised of a pair of the raised landmarks that are elongate, parallel and equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline farther than the raised head landmarks are equidistantly spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline, the raised landmarks of the hand landmark arrangement disposed outboard of the pelvis landmark arrangement such that the pelvis landmark arrangement is disposed laterally between the raised landmarks of the hand landmark arrangement, the hand landmark arrangement arranged in a lengthwise direction between the head and shoulder landmark arrangements and the foot landmark arrangement. 
     
     
         25 . The mat of  claim 24 , wherein each one of the raised plateaus is configured to provide visual and tactile feedback to a user of the mat. 
     
     
         26 . The mat of  claim 24 , wherein the raised plateaus are upraised from the front surface of the mat between 0.2 inches and 1.5 inches.