Home gym—will a jute mat hold up?

[Amira]

Hi everyone, I stopped going to the gym this summer mainly because of budget constraints, so I do my morning workout in my parents’ living room around 6:30 a.m., before heading to college.

Nothing too ambitious core exercises and push-ups. A little mobility work too, and a light kettlebell when I’m feeling motivated. The problem is the floor. It’s tile cold and hard and after ten minutes of planking, my elbows are killing me. I bought a black foam exercise mat, but my mom flat-out refused to let me use it in the living room. … so now I’m looking for something else—something big enough (I’m aiming for 2x3 m) and, most importantly, rough enough so I don’t start sliding around when I do push-ups. While searching, I stumbled upon a shop that specializes in jute and natural fiber mats, with custom sizes available upon request, which works out well for me given the size I want. So I was wondering if this kind of fiber can really handle a PT workout every morning, or if it’ll wear out in three months. Honestly. They claim a 5- to 10-year lifespan with proper care, but I doubt it’s designed for someone who sweats on it. Do any of you have a home workout area made of this kind of material? What worries me most is sweat getting trapped in it and repeated friction in the same spot. Honestly, given the prices (which can get expensive depending on the model), I’d hate to make a mistake. Thanks in advance for your answers!