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  Article and method for performing an exercise and holding an object used in the exerciseRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, GymnasticThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050239604. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention generally relates to an article and method for performing an exercise and holding an object used in the exercise and, more particularly, to an article and method for performing an exercise, such as yoga, and holding a mat used in the exercise. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Yoga is a popular exercise in the United States. Its popularity stems from its ability to provide physical and mental fitness in a simple manner. All that is required is the ability to execute and maintain a series of body poses typically on a mat. Although the body poses appear to be easy, they are in practice very difficult to achieve and maintain. [0005] To achieve a given body pose, a yoga student must first learn the correct posture for the pose. Each yoga pose requires proper placement of the arms, legs, head, etc. The correct posture for a pose is commonly taught by a yoga instructor. The instructor adjusts the yoga student as the student tries to achieve the pose. Yoga, however, is also practiced alone or without the assistance of an instructor. In these situations, the yoga student may not remember or even know the correct posture for the pose. [0006] Even if the yoga student knows the correct posture for the pose, she must be able to maintain the pose. This can be very difficult, particularly for a beginning student. For example, one yoga pose requires the student to lay on her back and raise one leg for a period of time. Most beginning students can hold this simple pose for only a short duration of time. To assist the student to hold the pose, a nylon strap is commonly used to provide support. The strap is placed around the foot of the leg. The student then holds the two ends of the strap with her hands and raises the leg. By pulling on the end of the straps, the student supports the leg in the raised position. The strap is very helpful, and many yoga students have such straps as part of their yoga gear. [0007] Another yoga pose requires the student to maintain a push-up like position, known as the plank pose, for a period of time. Holding this pose for a period of time places great stress on the shoulders, arms and hands. Because yoga mats are usually thin, this pose can quickly become painful to maintain. Most beginning students can hold this pose for only a short duration of time. To assist the student in this pose (and other poses), a cushion or cushion blocks are commonly used to reduce the stress on the shoulders and arms. Such blocks are very helpful and may also be part of a typical yoga student's gear. [0008] Another difficulty in maintaining poses such as the plank pose is slippage. One of the hallmarks of yoga is its ability to generate internal "heat" or perspiration. After a series of poses, most yoga students have perspired on their mats and have wet hands. Poses, such as the plank pose, that require firm contact between the hands and the mat are difficult to maintain when the mat and the student's hands are wet. The hands can slip along the mat even if the student uses a mat with a sticky material designed to prevent such slippage. Such slippage results in the end of the hold and possibly can lead to injury. Yoga students commonly overcome this problem by placing a slender towel across the mat. The student then places her hands on the towel during such poses as the plank pose. The towel not only prevents the hands from slipping along the mat, but also dries the hands and the mat. [0009] Thus, a yoga student may take a number of pieces of yoga gear to a class. She may take a mat, a nylon strap or straps, a cushion or cushion blocks, a towel to prevent slippage and a towel for drying her face and body during and after yoga. Many yoga students also take a bag for the mat. The bag prevents the yoga mat from being undone before and after class. Yoga bags are typically elongated pouch-like bags in which a rolled yoga mat is placed. Two disadvantages of such bags are that they do not allow the mat to breath and dry-out after class and they can be bulky. [0010] Taking all this gear to practice yoga can be cumbersome. If the student is practicing yoga in a class, she may not have the space to place all this gear around her mat. Even if she has the space, the unloading of the gear before practicing yoga and packing of the gear after practicing yoga can be time-consuming. Such unloading and packing can also be particularly distracting for yoga, which seeks to give the student a serene mind-set. Furthermore, while some of the gear may assist the student in maintaining a pose, none of the gear can visually guide the student to the correct posture for the pose. Also, the yoga bag does not allow the mat to breathe and dry-out after class. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] One embodiment of the present invention is an article comprising a loop of inelastic material for use by a person to perform an exercise on a mat. If the exercise is yoga, the loop of inelastic material can be used to perform yoga in many different ways. The loop can be used as a strap to assist in maintaining poses such as the raised leg pose discussed above. The loop can also be placed across the yoga mat. The loop of inelastic material not only provides a cushion for poses such as the plank pose, but it can also prevent slippage. Furthermore, the loop has a length equal to or greater than 15 inches such that it can be knotted by the person to hold the rolled mat either by hand or across the shoulder before and after yoga. Because the yoga mat is held by a loop of inelastic material, the mat can breathe and dry-out after class. [0012] The yoga student thus does not need to bring to class nylon straps, cushion blocks, a towel to prevent slippage and a yoga bag for the mat. The loop of inelastic material is multi-functional by being capable of use during yoga as a strap, a cushion block, and a slip-prevention article and by being capable of holding a rolled mat used in yoga. The yoga student simply shows up to class or anywhere she performs yoga just with her loop and mat. Because the loop is used during yoga, there is no gear to be placed around her mat. Moreover, there is no time-consuming unloading of gear before class and packing of gear after class. The elimination of extensive unloading and packing allows the yoga student to concentrate on achieving the proper mind-set, which is an important aspect of performing yoga. [0013] In one aspect, the inelastic material is a towel-type fabric. The use of such fabric prevents slippage on the mat if the loop is used during yoga. The yoga student can also use the loop of towel-type fabric to dry her face and body during and after yoga, thereby eliminating the need to bring a towel to class. [0014] In another aspect, the loop of inelastic can visually guide the yoga student to the correct posture of a pose. The loop may have stitching or even hand positions indicating where the student's hands should be placed for a pose such as the plank pose. [0015] Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for performing an exercise on a mat and holding the mat upon completion of the exercise. The method comprises providing a loop of inelastic material for use during the exercise. The method further includes arranging the loop to hold the mat upon completion of the exercise. [0016] This method can be used to perform yoga and hold a yoga mat in one aspect. In a further aspect, the step of arranging comprises placing the yoga mat on the loop so as to form an opening extending to each end of the loop and guiding one end through the opening at the other end such that the mat is held by the loop. In this manner, the yoga mat can be simply held by the loop used during yoga. [0017] Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of making a loop of inelastic material for performing an exercise on a mat and holding the mat upon completion of the exercise comprising: providing a first and second panel of inelastic material, each having a length between 20 to 40 inches, providing a third and fourth panel of inelastic material, each having a length between 6 to 30 inches, and connecting the first, second, third and fourth panels together to form the loop. In a further aspect, the panels are connected by stitching. Any of the details of the description herein can be used in manufacturing an article. [0018] These and other features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, when read with the drawings and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) [0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the first embodiment. [0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the first embodiment used during an exercise. [0021] FIG. 4 illustrates the first embodiment arranged around a mat to hold the mat. Continue reading... Full patent description for Article and method for performing an exercise and holding an object used in the exercise Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Article and method for performing an exercise and holding an object used in the exercise patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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