Mat Pilates vs. Reformer Pilates: 4 reasons why mat Pilates is better
If you’re new to Pilates you may have heard people sing the praises of mat Pilates over Pilates practice using the Reformer – or vice versa.
As it sounds, mat Pilates is done without equipment. It’s literally done on the mat and low to the ground, using your body and gravity to provide resistance, tone your muscles, and increase your balance and flexibility.
The Reformer is a specialised Pilates machine. It’s made up of a foot bar, straps, and pulleys. It can provide extra resistance during your Pilates workout and is often used for rehabilitation following an injury. The Reformer can be adjusted to suit your exercise goals and fitness level.
To me, it’s all about personal preference. Both approaches have their benefits. But personally, I love teaching and practicing Pilates on the mat.
Why?
1. Mat Pilates teaches you the fundamentals
The way I see it, your body is your instrument. Learning and perfecting movements on your mat is an excellent way to start building your strength and flexibility.
I’ll admit that learning the basics on the mat can be harder.
But it’s a great way to learn all the basic techniques – switching on your core, getting your posture right, articulating your spine. And it’s often better to learn these movements without having to rely on a machine to do the work.
2. Reformer and mat skills are transferable
Once you’ve learned the basic Pilates movements on the mat, you can easily transfer these skills to a Reformer workout if you wish. By developing good body awareness and neuromuscular control on your mat, without the apparatus’s distraction or assistance, you’ll make the most of your Reformer workout.
3. Mat Pilates is easy to do at home once you know how
Whether you’re doing mat Pilates or practicing on a Reformer, when you start learning Pilates it’s always best to learn from an experienced Pilates instructor. They can check your technique, give you advice, and make the appropriate adjustments.
Once you’ve become a little more experienced, being able to do your Pilates exercises at home is super convenient. Lots of people use videos or written instructions in between their face-to-face classes.
Not having to have any special equipment, apart from a mat, is a big plus if you want to practice at home. It’s also a little easier on your wallet, as you can ‘top-up’ your paid Pilates classes with home-based sessions – something you can’t do with Reformer Pilates.
4. Mat Pilates means you can enjoy being part of an active community
When you’re working out on a Reformer, it’s just you and the machine. But for many of us, being part of a group of like-minded people can be fun.
I hold my mat Pilates classes in the fresh air, outside on my deck. It feels a bit more like a retreat. Not only do you feel closer to nature, you can really breathe in and enjoy the fresh air.
Here are a few of the comments I’ve had from some of the lovely people who’ve attended my Pilates classes:
Every class is different
I love the environment
Kat makes me work hard, but it’s within my range.
See you in our retreat-like studio.