Exercise/yoga mat and method

Abstract

An improved exercise mat and method comprises opposed ends and opposed sides, and folding member means to extend the mat laterally from at least one of the sides while that folding member is attached to, or contiguous with, the side of the mat. When a user wants to extend the folding member away from the mat, increased surface area creates additional areas to protect the user from touching the floor or ground. If additional surface area is not needed for an exercise, the folding member can be folded inward of, and overlying flatly, the mat thus effectively increasing it thickness, and providing additional cushioning to the user.

1 . An exercise mat comprising opposed ends and opposed sides defining a dimension, and means to extend the said mat laterally from at least one of said sides, wherein said means comprises at least one folding member that is separate yet contiguous with the at least one of said sides of said mat wherein the said folding member further comprises a portion for insertion under the said mat at variable locations along the said side. 
     
     
         2 . An exercise mat of  claim 1  wherein the said at least one folding member has a dimension other than the dimension of the mat. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An exercise mat of  claim 1 , wherein said mat is sized for individual use. 
     
     
         7 . An exercise mat of  claim 1  having two folding members. 
     
     
         8 . An exercise mat of  claim 7  in which the folding members have substantially similar dimensions. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An exercise mat of  claim 1  having two folding members on opposed sides of the said mat. 
     
     
         11 . An exercise mat of  claim 10 , wherein said folding members are symmetrically disposed along the length of the opposed sides of said mat. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise mat of  claim 11 , wherein said folding members have substantially similar dimensions, and whose lengths when folded inward and overlying the said mat have a total combined length that is the same as, or less than, the width of the said mat. 
     
     
         13 . An exercise mat of  claim 1  that is manufactured from a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise mat of  claim 13  wherein said thermoplastic material is rollable. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise mat of  claim 14  wherein said mat can be rolled into a shape that is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using an exercise mat comprising opposed ends and opposed sides, and means to extend the said mat laterally from at least one of said sides, wherein said means comprises at least one folding member that is separate yet contiguous therewith, said method further comprising,
 opening said mat and laying it out on a floor, ground or other surface,   unfolding said folding member so that it extends outward from said mat and wherein the said folding member further comprises a portion for insertion under the said mat at variable locations along the said side; and,   exercising on said mat.   
     
     
         17 . A method of using an exercise mat comprising opposed ends and opposed sides, and means to extend the said mat laterally from at least one of said sides, wherein said means comprises at least one folding member that is separate yet contiguous therewith, said method further comprising,
 opening said mat and laying it out on a floor, ground or other surface,   unfolding said folding member so that it extends outward from said mat side and wherein the said folding member further comprises a portion for insertion under the said mat at variable locations along the said side;   exercising on said mat;   re-folding said folding member onto said mat to produce enhanced thickness of said mat relative to its thickness when said folding member is unfolded; and,   exercising at least in part on said refolded member of said mat in addition to exercising on said mat.   
     
     
         18 . A member for use with an exercise mat, said member comprising a means for contiguous connection to said mat when said mat is in use, wherein said connection means comprises at least a portion of said member that is inserted under said mat, and further comprising a means for folding over the said mat an exposed portion of the said member that is not under the mat, such that the said folded exposed portion of the member lies substantially flatly over said mat. 
     
     
         19 . A member of  claim 18 , wherein the said folding means comprises a reduction of member material at the juncture between the said portion that lies under the said mat when in use and the exposed portion of said member, such that the said reduced material provides for substantially flat folding of said member. 
     
     
         20 . A member of  claim 18 , wherein said member is manufactured from a thermoplastic material.