Comparing Mat & Reformer Pilates: The Ultimate Guide

When I first discovered Pilates it was on the mat. I was invited to a mat Pilates class and I fell in love with how it made me feel. I honestly didn’t even know, see or get on the equipment for almost two years. I couldn’t tell you which was better in Pilates the Mat or the Reformer.

  • Author: Lesley Logan
  • April 5, 2018
Table of Contents

Comparing Mat & Reformer Pilates: The Ultimate Guide

When I first discovered Pilates it was on the mat. I was invited to a mat Pilates class and I fell in love with how it made me feel. I honestly didn’t even know, see or get on the equipment for almost two years. I couldn’t tell you which was better in Pilates the Mat or the Reformer.

But, then due to many logistical and life changes I was forced to give up my almost daily mat class obsession and train with a Pilates instructor on the equipment. And, then I fell in love with the equipment and barely wanted to do the mat.

Why? Because the Mat work is so hard!

As I became a Pilates instructor and really dove into studying the method I soon discovered just how much the mat was supported by all the equipment. Truth is the mat is where it is at. The equipment is where you find your strength and awareness and then challenge that learning on the mat.

But, before I get super Pilates nerd on you let me share a little bit about both the mat work and the reformer.

The Mat: ideally done on a mat with a strap, handles and a long pole. You can do the mat work exercises with me online or by using Joseph Pilates book as a reference. It started off with 34 exercises that were put together to warm you up, stretch and strengthen you, roll you around, twist you out, extend and flex you and then finish you off with some Pushups.

On the Mat, you do between 3-5 reps of everything. Sometimes you do ten like in the 100. But, it’s really designed to be a home practice that you can do every day! Yep, every day. When you begin to flow you’ll see you can work your whole body out in less than 30 min.

The strap and handles will help you connect your body to your mat. Every day your practice will look and feel different. And, the goal is to take notice, get a little curious, see if you can dive a little deeper and then move on.

The mat work was created first, and then Joseph Pilates realized. If the mat was where it was at then he had to help people get ready to rock and roll there. Most of us are not born being exactly who we are meant to be. We grow into ourselves. Same as our Pilates practice. When we learn the mat that is where we are that day. And, then we take advantage of the other creations of Joseph Pilates and we learn the nuances with the support of the equipment.

The Reformer: a personal fav of most. In fact, many teachers would rather be on the Reformer than on the mat. Why? It’s not necessarily easier but it is easier to feel stronger and more acrobatics on it. Because of the support of the straps, springs, shoulder blocks and footbar, even the harder exercises feel easier than they do over on the mat.

The reformer routine takes the longest. If you do the full, full order it can take up to 75 min even when you keep the reps down to 3 on each exercise. Most people complete a more advanced reformer workout in about 45 min. Leaving time to go around the room to get more support and technique training from the other unique pieces of equipment that Joseph Pilates created.

The benefits of the Mat and the Reformer are mostly the same because the exercises are so similar. But, the Mat allows Pilates practitioner to take their Pilates with them wherever in the world they go. The Reformer’s springs are added support and challenge to help prepare you for the Mat and many of the Mat exercises help prepare you for some of the more difficult Reformer exercises. In summary, you want and need both. So, do the Mat as much as you want but hop on a Reformer from time to time to check in and challenge. Or, hop off the Reformer and do the Mat and see how far you have come along!

If you are wondering which one is right for you the truth is you need both. But, I know we don’t all have access to amazing studios. So, if you can only have one then do the Mat. And, you can follow along with me every week if you don’t have a mat class nearby.

For more tips on equipment, exercises or how to check out my Youtube channel and this post about the pulling straps.

By Lesley Logan

Lesley Logan, NCPT, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorial videos, where you can also find weekly online mat classes and workshops. When not teaching from her studio in Los Angeles, Lesley can be found traveling the world leading Pilates retreats, or offering Pilates business coaching to studio owners and other instructors through her private mastermind group. Connect with Lesley on instagram @lesley.logan or through the contact page on this site.

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SUCH A TEASE

ONLINE MAT & REFORMER PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Teaser is probably one of the most photographed exercises in Pilates. Which makes people think it's a "peak pose." But, it's anything but! It's simply another layer to your Pilates practice. This week we will acknowledge how each exercise contributes to your ability to do Teaser (someday) and then how Teaser teaches you where to get curious in your practice.

On the Mat we will use light weights for one round of Teaser as they can be helpful for those still adding into their practice.
No props on the Reformer.

See you in class,

xx~LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, light weights and a Mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a Reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

TOPS 'N TAILS

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Tops ‘N Tails (or Tops & Tails) is a wonderful expression I grew up with! It means being ready-to-go…from top to bottom, front to back, end to end! Isn’t that exactly what Pilates does for our minds and bodies? It encourages us to ready for any adventure that comes our way because our workouts use variety to engage the whole body, and to focus our minds.

This month’s Reformer workout will have us exploring Tops ‘N Tails by working from the ends of The Order. We’ll alternate exercises from the beginning and from the end of our usual routine for a challenging time! You’ll need your reformer box and pole.

On the Wunda Chair and Mat we'll be focusing on working from the top half or the tail half of our bodies! While every exercise requires the whole body. Setting ourselves up for success from the Top to the Tail makes the most difference!

On the Cadillac/Tower we will work on how the top half of the body helps to support the bottom half and vice versa! Pilates allows us to use the whole body to help with strength from Top to Tail! Let's explore how the springs on the Cadillac/Tower make us connect to the whole body in each exercise.

xx-LL

MEET ME HALFWAY

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This week we’re going to focus on how we use Abduction and Adduction to center ourselves, find our control, and harness our power. We’ll be working about halfway through The Order of Exercises on both the Mat and the Reformer with an Adduction - squeezing toward center - focus , then we’ll go back to the beginning and repeat those exercises with an Abduction - pulling away from center - focus. You’ll need something you can squeeze and something you can pull apart. So grab a ball and a resistance band, or just a magic circle and meet me halfway!

See you in class,

Tami

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a ball and a resistance band, or just a magic circle and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a ball and a resistance band, or just a magic circle and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

LEG PULLS ARE FUN

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Alright so maybe they're not fun! But, what we think about an exercise does matter! And if you don't like an exercise or you tell yourself you can't do an exercise I promise you your brain and body will believe it!

So, I'm taking Leg Pulls (Control Push Ups on the Reformer) and making them fun! So we can ALL enjoy what is possible from these dynamic duos!

Have a squishy ball or stuffed toy nearby for our Leg Pull moments on the Mat. Reformer no props needed.

See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a squishy ball or stuffed toy and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

CONTROL YOUR BALANCE

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Alright loves, you may not like going overhead and you may not be able to…yet..

But this week on the Mat and the Reformer we will be ready-ing ourselves to Control our Balance.
Yes, the exercise but there are so many ways to work this that if you are not going upside down you're going to feel your balance get controlled!

Think long legs, asymmetrical legs and maybe even a little single leg deadlift.

On the Mat, if you do struggle with balance go to a wall during the standing work or have a chair nearby. No extra props needed for the Reformer.

See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

SLINKY SPINE?

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

I know you remember the slinky! So wouldn't it be nice if our bodies could move like that? Well, it's not necessarily good to be super bendy, but it is good to be able to articulate the spine when we are able. In the classes this week we will work through the articulation and flexibility of the spine, as well as pay attention to trying not to go too far. Finding your strength and connections in your flexion and extension is going to be the key! Hopefully, you will feel like a slinky here and there throughout the class!

See you in class,

Mindi

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

HORSES HORSES HORSES

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

If you are a lover of the Reformer chances are you have little love for the Horseback. I don't blame you. It's not that fun. If you're on the Mat you probably have no idea what this means…

And that's ok! Horseback is like a seated Teaser but harder!

On both the Mat and Reformer we will be playing with how to connect to this exercise, prepare for it and find a Horse that works for us!

Props: Mat, have light weights nearby

See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, have light weights nearby and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS SKIP TORSO DAY!

Online Mat, Reformer, Cadillac & Wunda Chair Pilates Class Descriptions:

I was thinking of arm days and leg days at the gym, and even the memes you see, which can go both ways. Either dragging yourself around the day after because you're so sore, or you have no muscles at all to hold you up because you skipped those days. Always the extremes with the memes (hey, that rhymed!), and that’s why we love them.

But this is what I love about Pilates - it’s the full body, the whole body. Everything is working together so one part is not overdoing it, while another part is doing nothing. The upper body, the lower body, and the side bodies are connected to our center, so that’s where our focus will be. Even when you think it’s about the arms or the legs, how can you ask a little more of your center to engage?

Props for the Wunda Chair: yoga block and long box for some exercises

See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋

TOPS & TAILS

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Tops ‘N Tails (or Tops & Tails) is a wonderful expression I grew up with! It means being ready-to-go…from top to bottom, front to back, end to end! Isn’t that exactly what Pilates does for our minds and bodies? It encourages us to ready for any adventure that comes our way because our workouts use variety to engage the whole body, and to focus our minds.

This month’s Reformer workout will have us exploring Tops ‘N Tails by working from the ends of The Order. We’ll alternate exercises from the beginning and from the end of our usual routine for a challenging time! You’ll need your reformer box and pole.

On the Wunda Chair and Mat we'll be focusing on working from the top half or the tail half of our bodies! While every exercise requires the whole body. Setting ourselves up for success from the Top to the Tail makes the most difference!

On the Cadillac/Tower we will work on how the top half of the body helps to support the bottom half and vice versa! Pilates allows us to use the whole body to help with strength from Top to Tail! Let's explore how the springs on the Cadillac/Tower make us connect to the whole body in each exercise.

See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋