Very rarely do I run across a product that makes chopping vegetables, washing dishes, and cooking enjoyable, but that was of course before I found WellnessMats. When the WellnessMats package arrived, I was so excited I couldn't even contain myself. Because it is a rare treat when something arrives that isn’t taken from me as soon as it comes out of the package, I immediately declared this delivery for Mama. And why not? There's a lot on this site dedicated to children and general family stuff, but it's a rare day when Mama gets a present in the mail.
So, what are WellnessMats? WellnessMats have a soft inner core that helps cushion your feet as you stand, which reduces fatigue and stiffness associated with standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time. As much as I was originally just excited to have a more comfortable place to stand during my baking, dishwashing and crafting sessions, I really didn’t expect the mat to work as well as it did, or for it to work as quickly.
Immediately I noticed that my back and shoulders didn’t ache and I found that I didn’t hunch my back as I stood on the WellnessMat, which I think is what was causing all the aches and pains as I stood for long periods of time. The further along in the pregnancy I get, the more I appreciate WellnessMats and how they make the hours and hours I spend in the kitchen each week remarkably more comfortable.
Whether I’m cooking, cleaning, crafting, making lunches, or taking care of babies, I try to do the bulk of it on the WellnessMat whenever I can to take some of the stress off my joints. And, even at 7 ½ months pregnant, I am able to stand comfortably and without all the aches and pains I felt before while cooking and cleaning. In fact, since the WellnessMats package arrived at my front door, I have felt much better overall and actually look forward to spending time in my kitchen.
But, I hadn’t anticipated that this WellnessMat would turn out to be a present for the whole family. Whether we are cooking together, crafting on our kitchen island, or even sitting down for an afternoon snack, it's nearly all done on the WellnessMat now. This little 3’ x 2’ mat is quite possibly the most popular place in our entire house, and something we all look forward to using.
There’s a really good reason why we race to the kitchen so we can claim the WellnessMat: it is exceptionally comfortable to stand on, sit on, lay on, and to kneel on, even for extended periods of time. Maybe this is why my two year old daughter has fallen asleep on the mat before in the middle of the kitchen, and why some customers even use the larger WellnessMats for working out. While my daughter certainly doesn’t need the anti-fatigue properties of the WellnessMat just yet, she is 100% certain she needs the WellnessMat for her dance and gymnastics routines and you will find her sitting on, bouncing on, and even laying on "Mama's mat" for a good deal of her play time.
There’s a handful of companies that make anti-fatigue mats, but there’s a couple of reasons that WellnessMats stands out and why I’m raving about their mats for anyone that spends any amount of time on their feet. The WellnessMats are all designed and manufactured right here in the U.S. and have a unique one-piece construction that makes it so their mats won’t warp, curl, or compress over time, which ensures that your initial investment will last for years and still stay looking like new. They even offer an unheard of comprehensive 7 year warranty on each WellnessMats purchase to make sure their customers are happy!
One great thing about the WellnessMats that I hadn’t anticipated was how easy it is to move them around the kitchen. When I first saw the mats online, I mistakenly thought they would have a heft that was proportional to their presence in the kitchen, but found that they are surprisingly light and easy to move, yet stay stationary when set down. This makes them great for moving from in front of the oven while stovetop cooking and then over to the sink when it’s time to do the dishes.
My ultimate dream would be to have a long 6’x3’ one along the island in my kitchen and then move the 2’x3’ WellnessMat in front of the sink, two areas where I spend obscene amounts of time and am constantly moving the mat to and from. Either that or I would like WellnessMats to design sandals and shoes just for me so I could walk on WellnessMats all day long no matter where I went.
Although WellnessMats are an awesome addition to your kitchen, it should be noted that they aren’t just for kitchen use - you can virtually use them anywhere you stand for long periods of time. Whether that is at your workbench, in your laundry room, or even at work, if you must stand, I would recommend a WellnessMat.
WellnessMats come in two different styles depending on where you are placing them, with the Maxum Mats providing a textured surface for heavy duty applications or the traditional WellnessMat for kitchens, bathrooms, and more. We really like the plain smooth surface for kitchen and household use since it is easier to match to any décor and comes in 5 different colors, is better on bare feet, and won’t collect dirt and grime in the crevices like a designed mat might. However, if you’re looking for a mat for a workshop or garage, the Maxum Mat might be perfect.
If you have a serious cook, crafter, or Mr. Fix-it you are looking to buy for, I would absolutely recommend WellnessMats as a great gift they will remember every time they stand on its cushiness. I would even take it one step further and say that anyone who spends any length of time cooking and cleaning for a family would likely benefit from an anti-fatigue mat like WellnessMats and would put it up there on the list of new parent must-haves.
Specs from the WellnessMats website - Under normal conditions, our APT and revolutionary design guarantees the following:
• Exceptional comfort - standing is believing
• Always lies flat - gradually tapered edges reducing trip hazards
• Anti-microbial by design
• Permanent shock absorption and recovery (consistent "bounce-back" every time)
• Abrasion, slip and wear resistance (mat travel is reduced and will not show wear and tear)
• Stain and chemical resistance
• Enhanced material stability in wet areas
• Contain no plasticizers, and thus will not leach over time (no noxious smells or bad chemicals)
• UV stability for brighter areas of your home
• Flame resistant up to 400(f) degrees
• Puncture and tear resistance
• "Extended lifecycle" guarantee - keeping the material out of the landfills...
• Our APT allows us to offer the industry's longest and most comprehensive warranty (7 years...)
Price: A 3’x2’ WellnessMat has an MSRP of $119.95
www.wellnessmats.com
A big thank you to WellnessMats for sending their traditional WellnessMat for review and convincing this tired and achy pregnant woman that cooking could be fun again! All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.
