Can you use a yoga mat under a treadmill? Or do you really need to spend so much on a treadmill mat? Let’s find out.
Most people cannot find the time to go out for a walk or jog due to a busy schedule or too much pollution or lack of open spaces.
The pandemic further increased the level of indoor exercise, and with the closure of gyms for a long time, treadmills became extremely popular. Treadmill sales skyrocketed from USD 1bn in 2019 to USD 1.5bn 2020!
But, along with increasing treadmill ownership increases the problems that having a huge running machine in your home can cause. People have had to find a solution to transport them, lift them up to their apartments, getting them set up, and operate them.
While most of these problems are short-lived, the most annoying problem that a treadmill creates is the ridiculous amount of noise and vibrations that it causes.
If you have ever lived in a house directly beneath a gym, you would know what I am talking about. The constant thud-thud-thud of the machine can be almost nauseating.
So what can be done about it? Well, one cheap and simple solution seems to be is to place a rubber mat under it to absorb the vibrations. Now many of our readers who are into yoga are also into running, and that’s why a question that keeps popping up to us is, “Can you use a yoga mat under a treadmill?”
In this article, I will try to answer this question in detail and also help you choose the right way to muffle those loud vibrations.
Do You Really Need A Mat Under Your Treadmill?
Concrete Floors
Yes, you need them because your machine will produce a lot of noise on concrete floors. If your treadmill is heavy or you use it daily, then the device can damage the floor.
Tiled Floors
Now, what about the tile floor? You require a yoga mat, even for the tile floor. Otherwise, you will observe scratches and stains on the floor after using the device for a few days.
Carpeted Floors
Some people keep their treadmill above the carpet and wonder if they need a mat anymore? Let me tell you that placing the carpet under the treadmill will indeed prevent the dust from getting into the treadmill, but your carpet will be at high risk of damage.
The carpet doesn’t provide enough protection to the treadmill, and could get damaged by the repeated use of the treadmill. I suggest you place a mat under the treadmill so that your device will last longer without damaging the floor or your carpet.
In my opinion, you need to use a mat under the treadmill on any flooring in your house, be it stone, tile, concrete, laminate, or any hard floors.
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Why Should You Use A Yoga Mat Under A Treadmill?
Well, isn’t it obvious? Why buy a treadmill mat when you have a nice old yoga mat lying around the house doing practically nothing?
Even if you don’t have an old one to spare, yoga mats are readily available in the market, and most of them are quite cheap.
Placing a yoga mat under the treadmill has two main benefits. The first is that the mat keeps your floor protected and clean, and secondly, it absorbs the noise and vibrations of the machine.
However, what you need to understand about yoga mats is that all mats are not equal. Some are made from PVC, foam, or rubber, while others are made from jute, cotton, or even hemp (those are quite rare). Each of these materials has a different capacity to absorb vibrations and noise.
Characteristics Of Yoga Mat
There are various characteristics of a yoga mat. Let us discuss them below.
- Yoga mats are pleasant to touch.
- They provide a good grip.
- They are breathable.
- Yoga mats usually have a lot of skin contact. So, they do not consist of any harmful chemicals which can damage the body of a person. All yoga mats don’t have this feature, but excellent quality mats consider this feature while manufacturing.
- You profusely sweat on yoga mats. So, they are designed such that you can clean them easily.
- Yoga mats are easy to roll, and you can carry them from one place to another.
- They are lightweight.
- The thickness of a standard yoga mat is one by eight inches thick. Well, the thickness may range up to one by sixteen inches.
What About Treadmill Mat?
The treadmill mat is made specifically to keep your treadmill above it. So, these mats not only help in preventing the dust from entering the machine. They also prevent your machine from slipping, and they absorb the noise and vibrations from the machine much better. These mats are designed to be easy to clean.
Characteristics Of Treadmill Mat
The treadmill mat has specific characteristics. The characteristics are as below.
- The thickness of the treadmill mat is usually ¼ inch. But it can range up to ¾ inch.
- Treadmill mats are large and slick.
- These mats are usually made of PVC or rubber.
- The treadmill mats are large and heavy to put the treadmill above it.
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Difference Between Treadmill Mat And Yoga Mat
I have discussed the characteristics of both treadmills and yoga mats. I agree there are some similarities between the mats protecting your flooring and preventing the dust from entering the treadmill. But there are few differences also.
- Yoga mats are less effective in preventing your treadmill from sliding, whereas rubber-based treadmill mats provide a good grip for which a treadmill doesn’t slide.
- Yoga mats are thin. So, they are less efficient in absorbing sound and vibrations. But treadmill mats are excellent in soaking vibrations of the treadmill as they are thicker.
- Yoga mats might not provide a stable base to the treadmill.
- Yoga mat can get worn out within a short period, whereas treadmill mats last longer
- Yoga mats protect the floor but not in that much way as the treadmill mat.
As you can see above, a treadmill mat performs better than a yoga mat. You can use a yoga mat, but unfortunately, the common ones are too thin to support a treadmill. So using a yoga mat might damage your floor. You will surely benefit from a good size treadmill mat as it can support all weights.
Can You Use a Yoga Mat Under Any Exercise Equipment?
Treadmills have unique mats that you can place under them to protect your device from dust and dirt. But what about other devices? Can you use a yoga mat under spin machines or other exercise equipment?
I will tell you a secret here. You can use a yoga mat under your other exercise equipment. All the differences between the treadmill mat and the yoga mat are still valid. However, the noise and vibrations that the treadmill produces while using it repeatedly may not be true for other equipment.
Again, if the equipment is heavy and you are using a yoga mat under it, your mat will not last for more than one year. So if you have not invested money on any mat, try to purchase a gym flooring mat that will surely last longer and absorb the necessary vibrations and noise. Almost all the treadmill mats are gym flooring mats and hence are available in different sizes. You can get these mats for almost any machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Can you use a mat under exercise equipment?
You should use a mat under exercise equipment. Hard floor mats will prevent the floor from damage, scratches, and discoloration.
#2. Is there a difference between a yoga mat and an exercise mat?
Yoga mats are meant for low-impact exercises. They are a bit thinner in comparison to the exercise mat. The material of the two also varies. If you do high intensity training on a yoga mat, with your shoes off, it would scratch away and destroy the surface of the mat. It would also cause a lot of mess around as bits of yoga mat get torn off and spread around. Hence for cardio and other similar exercises, where your shoes are on, pick up an exercise mat.
#3. Can I use a yoga mat for cardio?
Yoga mats are meant only for yoga. You should avoid using use them for various other purposes like strength training, high intensity workouts and cardio. The best quality yoga mats are usually long-lasting and consist of PVC or rubber, but even those might not be able to handle the pressure from your shoes.
#4. Do I need a mat under my exercise equipment?
You can purchase a good treadmill mat to keep it under your exercise equipment. It will absorb the necessary noise and vibrations produced by the exercise equipment.
#5. Do I need to put a mat under my elliptical?
Whenever you use an elliptical machine, it produces a lot of noise and friction, damaging the floor. But if you place a mat beneath the elliptical, it may quieten the machine and absorb the vibration. Thus, also preventing the machine from damaging the floor.
You Should Not Use a Yoga Mat Under a Treadmill
You can use a yoga mat under a treadmill but it is not usually recommended. A special treadmill mat will perform better than a yoga mat and will indeed protect the flooring of your house. It will even prevent dust and dirt from entering your machine. It will help you keep the treadmill going longer.
But, whenever you choose a treadmill mat, try to choose a mat that will be thicker so that it can protect your delicate floor surface and also provide solid support for a heavy treadmill.
I hope you liked this article, and we were able to clarify your doubts about which kind of mats to use under your treadmill.
Enjoy your workout routine!
