what are yoga/pilates mats like? I mean the texture and feel and stuff... I have an appartment and do everything on my carpet, which gets really annoying with my hands and feet sliging all over the place. Sometimes I feel like I'm working more not to slide than I am at the exercise, even though I do my stuff in barefeet. Would a yoga mat - like the kind I'd pick up in walmart help considerably, or should I not bother?

Also - anyone know some good non machine exercises that hit the lower quad? My legs are really long and the muscles down by the knee tend to be pretty small even when the hams and upper quads start to grow. So the legs work in short shorts, but longer ones tend to make my legs look not very developed. The only one I can think is a sort of modified sissy squat (bodyweight) but it feels weird and I don't like it.

thanks,
Meg