We Tried It: G2 Lifestyles TRAINERmat

Whether I'm attending a fitness class at the gym or doing a workout DVD in my living room, I push myself pretty hard when I exercise. However, even if I know the moves by heart, I find it difficult to do them with the same intensity when I'm only operating on memory.

From traveling to house guests, there are loads of times when it's just not practical for me to head out to a class or pop in a DVD. So, when I saw the G2 Lifestyles TRAINERmat at a recent expo, I was intrigued.

The Pilates mat offers illustrated three-step instructions for 10 moves, such as The Hundred, The Open Leg Rocker and The Swimmer -- nothing terribly difficult, but since you're following drawings rather than an actual person in motion, that's probably a good thing. Suggestions for the number of repetitions are offered as well.

The cushioned mat is made of fully recyclable materials, is bacteria resistant, non-slip and washable. The moves are physician certified. And, if you find the illustrations hard to follow, G2 Lifestyles has instructional videos available for purchase, too (though, I tend to feel like if you've purchased the mat, it's because you don't want to have to rely on videos).

Pluses: The moves are standard Pilates fare, so if you've taken a class before it will feel familiar. If you go through all of the suggested exercises, you'll get a good workout. The mat is totally portable, easy to use, and silent -- great if you're sneaking in a workout before everyone in your house is awake (or if you're in your office).

Minuses: The only downside is that I noticed a strong "new mat" smell -- this might go away after a few washings, but for the first couple of uses, it was slightly distracting.

Takeaway: It's a really helpful product for people who enjoy Pilates and just need a little extra boost to do a proper workout on their own. If you're going to be carrying a mat anyway, it's nice to only have to carry that one piece of equipment and leave the books and DVDs in the living room.

Learn More: G2 Lifestyles home page, TRAINERmat, Core Ball

Interested in reading more about Pilates? Learn about The Hundred!