mat and reformer Pilates, part of a single system

Exercises from the Classical Pilates System on the mat and the reformer

Mat vs. Reformer Pilates: Which Is Better?

“A few well-designed movements, properly performed in a balanced sequence, are worth hours of sloppy calisthenics or forced contortion.” – Joseph Pilates

You may hear people talk about Mat Pilates or Reformer Pilates as if they were two different forms of Pilates. Instead, they are actually part of a single larger system of around 400 exercises (yup, that’s right, 4-0-0). At the core of this system (yes, that was on purpose) is the mat and reformer orders, which give both practitioner and teacher a roadmap and daily diagnostic tool for assessing your physical condition on any given day. Asking if you should do Mat or Reformer is a bit like asking if you should eat protein or fiber, PB or J, spaghetti or meatballs.

Joseph Pilates left a written record of the mat order in his book, Return to Life. The 34 exercises described in that book have been taught for decades. The classical reformer order consists of nearly 40 exercises that can be practiced in its entirety or in part during lessons and equipment classes. Working on a classical reformer, students quickly learn that Pilates is very different from other forms of exercise. Unlike workout machines in the gym that add weight to increase difficulty, the springs on Pilates apparatus work in a different way. Using fewer springs means depending more on your powerhouse. A classical example is the footwork series on the reformer, often practiced with four springs. Going down to two springs does NOT make the movement easier to perform, but rather means your powerhouse must bring the carriage back in. Think, “LESS IS MORE!”

Pilates On The Mat

Mat Pilates is a great entry point for the new Pilates student. The benefits can still be had from learning exercises on the mat at a level that is appropriate for each student in class. The mat work teaches many key concepts without having to think about externals such as springs, straps and handles or the box, the pole and the sticky pad. Whew, it can be a lot! In this sense, the mat offers a simplicity that really demonstrates the genius of the Pilates method. 

It is important that mat classes progress a student through their Pilates journey at a pace that is appropriate for them. A class is a great way to practice exercises with others, and feel a sense of camaraderie. I mean, a roomful of adults trying Seal for the first time often leads to a round of giggles and deeper ab engagement, lol.

Because of the communal aspect of the class environment, the teacher will not have time to address everyone’s individual needs. I do a survey at the beginning of class to understand how to teach class, but this is not the same as an individual assessment. The main purpose of the class is to move in community with others. Like singing in a choir or highway driving, group classes emphasize being able to create a pace that works for everyone. 

But what if you have specific physical issues that rule out several exercises that others might be able to do in the class environment? Should you sit out all the exercises you cannot do, or do your own modifications, or substitute others? I’m having a flashback to aerobics classes, when instructors used to invite people to just keep marching if they ever got confused with the steps (hi, that was often me, lol)!

Private Lessons For Individual Needs

If you need to address specific issues or goals at your pace, under the guidance of an expert teacher, a private lesson is your best route. At Explore Pilates, you are in a discreet setting, so your private lesson is not in front of a room full of other people. The private setting is a place where you and I can focus solely on your progress, at your pace. 

Privates can include mat and equipment. I am a firm believer in the power of a consistent personal mat practice. Not everyone has equipment at home, but everyone has a few minutes to spare. Actually, we would probably have hours at our fingertips if we just shut off social media for half a day every day! A private lesson builds your skills in proportion with your own practice in between sessions. 

In my experience, private lessons reset my compass, so that I have a clearer sense of my own progress. There are times I have taught and worked on concepts that became sharpened and brought into much clearer focus by taking lessons with highly-respected teachers in the Pilates industry. What I thought was good enough was just the beginning! If you love challenges, then private lessons are a great training ground.

What about Semi-Private Group Classes?

Locking into a group that practices Pilates consistently can also lead to some special moments. It is truly edifying to be able to share classical Pilates with moms who have just dropped their college-age kids off in their dorm rooms and are struggling to get through their days. It is an honor and privilege to serve these moms for an hour as they breathe into their new reality and truly live with their feelings for an hour. Pilates is not evasion or escape. It can be a truly powerful coping tool that restores strength in our mind, body and whole being. Classical Pilates helps you tap into your inner reserve of resilience to face life’s challenges with grace and strength.

You can find semi-private group classes on the mat and on the equipment. Explore Pilates is a private studio and you will not be one more body in a room full of reformers. This is a place where you will receive a personally tailored experience in both classes and in lessons.

The Springs Are Where It’s At

So far, we’ve looked at different ways to invest in Pilates: mat or reformer, class or private lessons. But what are we really talking about? You might ask: “Why can’t we just do mat Pilates all the time when you yourself recommend and assign mat exercises to everyone?” 

Great question. The real purpose of the equipment is to bring you a sensation of resistance in your mat work. If you only do mat and never experience the springs, you miss out on the secret sauce of mat work. It’s sort of like learning a foreign language without ever stepping foot in the actual country where they speak that language. I’m not knocking serious language learners, myself included. But experiencing the culture firsthand amplifies everything you studied in the books and then some.

The springs of the classical reformer bring results much faster than years and years of practicing mat. This isn’t just my opinion. I’m simply reporting from the field: people who have done mat for months or years felt the difference right away when they got on the reformer. There is no contest between imagining resistance and working in a concrete and tangible way with springs. 

The genius of Pilates equipment is the angle of the springs (compare the reformer to the Wunda Chair, or the Ped-o-Pul or the tower). Many workouts consist of opening and closing springs from different angles and in differing degrees. If you are used to gym culture, you might section your workouts according to body parts, such as leg day, abs day, or back and upper arms day. In Pilates, every day is full-body day. You work through different planes of motion, decompressing your spine and opening up the front of your body through extension. 

Pilates Is A System 

Mat and reformer (or all the other pieces of equipment in a Pilates studio) form a complete system. Your level of Pilates fitness can best be assessed by your competence in most exercises on different pieces of Pilates apparatus. Using the entire system supports all-around uniform development of your body. So, let’s ditch the myth about Pilates being good for your abs only. Some places may focus only on your abs, but definitely not at Explore Pilates, where we aim for a full-body workout every time.

In the end, time and money might place constraints on how you choose to do Pilates, but my teaching experience has shown that people who stick with it really benefit long-term and feel more confident going through transitions in life. Moms and daughters, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you are a mat devotee, try adding in a private lesson once in a while. It will boost your performance on the mat. If you only sign up for private lessons, I encourage you to try a semi-private class. Even if you space out the sessions you pay for, you can stay consistent through your personal practice. Head over to my playlist “Pilates in Small Bites” on my YouTube channel for short movement sessions you can do on your own.

Prolong The Benefits, Stretch Your Investment

Consistency is all about timing. If you know you have a lesson or class coming up on your schedule, practice some of your Pilates exercises at home. Do this at least a few days in a row before you show up. It’s just Pilates, you say. I know, and precisely for that reason, it’s best that you prepare your body so you can absorb more tips and remember the exercises better. You will go further than if you rely on all your Pilates to happen in one session per week, and only at the prompting of your teacher. Owning your practice is the best way to prolong the benefits of a session and stretch your investment in Pilates two-fold, ten-fold, a hundred-fold– really as many times as you want (hint: each time you work out on your own).

Explore The Whole System

I could never choose mat over reformer or vice versa. It’s like asking a Mom with more than one kid to just choose one. The classical Pilates mat order and the classical reformer order are both unique. Together, they make up a complete system of wonderful, magical awesomeness. The best description (and compliment) I received after teaching a session was that the client felt like they had gotten a massage AND worked out. You will truly feel amazing after your Pilates sessions.

Not sure where to start? Book your free consultation call with me, and we will figure out the best way to proceed together, keeping in mind your time and budget.

Don’t see the package you are looking for? Ask about custom packages.

If you are interested in more education, Explore Pilates is launching our first ever in-house mentorship program, which runs September 15, 2024 through October 31, 2024. Register through September 8. Pre-requisites include a minimum of 12 hours mat and 6 hours of reformer (class or private lessons) completed with Explore Pilates or elsewhere. The mentorship essions take place in Bloomington, Indiana. This is a great way to prepare yourself to enter a nationally-accredited teacher training program. Information available upon request. Even if you don’t take the next step, you will have explored your passion for classical Pilates and gotten into great shape!

Remember, it’s not just mat Pilates or reformer Pilates.

Pilates is a System!

Read More About