The mat is soft but firm enough to work well for Pilates. I am in my 70s and my bone density has declined, so I particularly appreciate that it is kind to my body. My only complaint is it has a rather strong odor of anise, which bothers me when I do exercises on my stomach.
I am so happy with this mat. The conventual yoga mat is too thin and my lower back hurts on the hard floor, but this 1 inch thick mat is PERFECT for cushioning when doing lower back and lower abdomen exercises on the floor.
We are two 70 year olds who started on yoga and we love the thicker mats. My husband has RA and I have had knee replacement so these mats are perfect! They are great quality and very comfortable!