Revolutionizing fitness one fold and twist at a time, Stakt’s thoughtfully designed products balance functionality, versatility, durability and aesthetics
In the world of fitness, innovation is key, and the Stakt Mat Pro is setting a new standard. This isn’t just another mat – it’s a workout tool designed to offer complete versatility in cushion and support, adjust to facilitate all exercise modalities, and double as a block while keeping the gym floor, group fitness room or one’s home clutter free.
Why does a mat like this matter? While mats are a staple in any gym or studio, their design often fails to meet the varied demands of users and operators alike.
The Mat Dilemma – Function Meets Frustration
When it comes to mats, most gyms and studios rely on a one-size-fits-all approach, offering a single standard mat for everything from HIIT and Pilates to yoga and stretching. This one-thickness-fits-all solution creates problems for users.
These varied workouts place different demands on the body, especially in terms of joint protection. Individuals participating in more intense workouts should ideally have thicker mat options for support and cushion, while yogis need a thinner one for balance and grounding.
credit: Stakt
Beyond this, maintaining the quality of mats amidst heavy daily usage can be an uphill battle. With multiple users each day, wear and tear accelerate quickly, so operators and owners must look for extreme durability when making purchase decisions.
Further, there’s the aesthetic and logistical challenge of storage. Rolled mats can look messy and disorganized, detracting from the overall appearance of the facility. Storage racks are an option but can be cumbersome and take up valuable space.
The Stakt Solution
Enter Millie Blumka and Taylor Borenstein. During the pandemic, the two friends found themselves doing varied home workouts using thin yoga mats. They became frustrated, realizing they needed better support and versatility to meet the demands of their diverse routines.
This gap in the marketplace became their mission, prompting them to create a product that offered a superior solution for others facing the same challenges.
In 2021 they launched the Stakt Mat and it became evident that they were onto something. In 2022 it wowed the Sharks on Shark Tank and soon after it was named one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2023. What started as a fresh take on a thin yoga mat is evolving into a wellness brand committed to creating the most functional, versatile and convenient fitness products on the market.
The Original Stakt Mat
The Stakt Mat is a reimagined foldable yoga mat that provides four different levels of support, beating any premium mat on the market in terms of thickness.
“When moving between an exercise where a standard mat is sufficient – such as ab work – to an elbow plank where more cushion is necessary, the mat quickly converts to support both and is at the ready for the next pose or exercise whatever that might be,” said Blumka.
With its innovative design, the Stakt Mat also uniquely doubles as a block for added versatility.
“When fully folded, it can be used for incline and decline exercises and more, allowing instruction and programming to be built around it,” Borenstein explains.
This versatility takes it from just a simple mat to a workout tool that can seamlessly facilitate any group fitness class or exercise routine, and can then be stowed neatly away, eliminating clutter.
credit: Stakt
Further, the Stakt Mat is made of non-porous eco-friendly material that’s easy to clean, smudge-proof and extremely lightweight.
Originally designed for home users, Blumka and Borenstein first focused on a B2C model. However, as the mat gained popularity, studios and gyms began purchasing, recognizing its versatility and functionality.
“Studios love the mat for its ability to facilitate varied classes and programming, and we began to get requests for a commercial-grade version to support heavy usage,” said Borenstein.
The Stakt Mat Pro is Born
Blumka and Borenstein set out to create a high-performance mat, keeping all the same features and benefits of the original version, but delivering more.
“We knew it had to be incredibly durable and withstand not only multiple usage, but different types of shoes and sweat and more, so it had to be grippy as well,” explained Blumka.
To that end, the Stakt Mat Pro was born, featuring a patented premium textured layer that provides added strength to stand up to the rigors of gym use, and superior grip to support everything from high-impact exercises, sneaker-clad routines, and intense sweaty yoga sessions.
“Adding this textured layer enabled us to offer unmatched stability and support, without compromising on the weight,” said Borenstein. “It was important for us to keep the mat lightweight and nimble.”
Gyms and studios are eagerly adopting it.
Says Michael Scott Birro, lead instructor at Club Pilates Tribeca, “From an instructor’s perspective, these mats have elevated our Pilates workout giving experience. They’re sleek, sexy & stable.”
“The Stakt Mat Pro is a game changer,” said Hilary Hoffman, Founder of Soto Method. “It offers all of the sleek and multifunctional perks of the original Stakt Mat, with more durability for studio use. We use sneakers for our method and have seen no scuffing! Not to mention how easily they wipe down after class so every customer experiences fresh equipment.”
With two versatile, unique and solutions-oriented products under their belts, the duo set out to create a third functional product with this same ethos–Stakt Weights.
credit: Stakt
A Game Changer in Functionality & Aesthetics
The innovative Stakt Weights provide users with a sleek, portable strength training solution that offers maximum versatility. With just a twist, users can adjust between 2 lbs, 4 lbs, and 6 lbs, making them perfect for dynamic workouts.
“We designed the Stakt Weights to look great, reduce clutter in and around the workout area and deliver a fully customizable experience,” says Blumka.
Comfortable to hold and easy to use, the weights are currently available in three elegant colors – iron, dune and seafoam – with more on the way.
Growth on the Horizon
The brand’s mission is rooted in creating functional, convenient products that enhance workouts without sacrificing style, and they plan to remain on this path.
“Our focus is to continue iterating and creating more functional products that offer versatility while garnering results,” says Borenstein. “We want to make life easier for both gym owners and end users while enhancing the overall workout experience.”
The post Not Just a Foldable Mat – How Stakt is Reinventing a Gym Staple appeared first on Athletech News.
