Five Exercises You Can Do on a Yoga Mat

Exercising comes with numerous health benefits to your body, especially if you do it regularly. To exercise efficiently, you do not necessarily have to go to a gym. There are many types of workouts that you can do at home, or anywhere else, with only a yoga mat. That said, here some exercises that you can do on a yoga mat are highlighted below.

Yoga

Well, yoga mats are ideally meant for practicing yoga. Yoga in itself is a type of exercise that has numerous variations. It includes different kinds of poses, stretches, and body movements, all of which can provide all the benefits that exercise offers. The type of yoga that you can do will depend on your experience with yoga, body type, and personal preferences, among other things.

Pushups

Pushups are probably the most common type of exercise that almost all workout enthusiasts incorporate in their routines. To do a pushup, all you need to do is lay the mat down and lie on it with your stomach facing downwards. You then lift the entire weight of your body off the ground with your palms and toes on the yoga mat. It engages the shoulder, chest, and back muscles. There are some variations of pushups, which you can also try. Examples include one-arm pushups and planche pushups.

Back Extension

Back extension is where you lie on the mat with your stomach on the mat. You then raise your upper body with your legs stretched parallel to the ground and arms under your forehead. The exercise helps to make the abdominal muscles stronger, especially the lower back muscles. It also helps train the hamstrings and buttocks.

Fire Hydrant

To do this exercise, you should start by sitting on your hands and knees on the yoga mat. Your shoulders should be above your hands. Keeping one knee on the mat, raise the other one to about 90 degrees and bring it back to the starting position, then repeat with the other leg. This exercise helps to train the buttocks and side of the thighs.

Bodyweight Squats

Start by standing with your feet being shoulder length apart. Place your hands behind your head or out in front of you and then lower yourself into the squat position. Make sure your back is straight as you lower your body. Go low until your quads get to a position parallel to the ground and then go back to the starting position. Repeat as many times as necessary.