We spoke with yoga, fitness, and barre exercise experts to determine what truly makes a great yoga mat. Then we had a team of experts individually test each yoga mat so you can find the perfect one for your practice.
What is Pilates?
Pilates has a rep for being kind of intimidating but it’s actually a low-impact way to build strength in your core muscles. Developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, it’s an energetic and mindful total-body exercise method that emphasizes strength, muscle control, and stability. The exercises are either done on the floor with a mat, or on special equipment, including a machine called a Reformer.
What is yoga?
It’s estimated that yoga has been around for thousands of years. The practice consists of a series of physical postures, and also focuses on breathing as well as inward attention and awareness. According to the Yoga Alliance, the largest non-profit group supporting the practice, yoga is a “comprehensive system for wellbeing on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual…[it’s] a system not of beliefs, but of techniques and guidance for enriched living.” Hatha yoga, a system of postures and breathing techniques, is probably the most w
This Plank Flow Will Make Your Back Feel Great
Loosen up your tight lower back (and strengthen your core) in one move. Mar 17, 2021
You’ve been working at your desk all day, and now you’re standing up and ready to go for a run. That’s when you feel it: That dull ache in your lower back, the one you can’t quite place. It’s not debilitating, but at the same time, it’s not heavenly either. And yes, you can go about your day anyway. But no, you don’t want to live with this feeling either.