Reformer or mat Pilates: what's the difference?

Where both come from

Joseph Pilates developed his method in the early 20th century. He taught it on the floor and on machines he built himself, the Reformer being the best known. The principles are the same on both: control, breath, a strong centre and precise movement.

So the question isn't which one is real Pilates. It's which tool suits your body and your goals right now.

Mat Pilates: your body weight on the floor

On the mat you work against gravity and your own weight. There's no machine to help you or to add load, so everything depends on your own strength and control. That makes some exercises surprisingly hard at the start. Rolling up from lying to sitting, for example, takes a lot of core strength before it looks smooth.

The upside is that you can do it anywhere. A mat and a bit of space are enough, which is why mat classes are often bigger and cheaper.

The Reformer: springs that push back and hold you

The Reformer is a sliding carriage on a frame, with springs underneath, straps, a footbar and a box. Change the springs and the same exercise gets lighter or heavier. The springs resist when you push away and support you as you come back, so you work through the whole movement instead of just the easy half.

That support is what makes the Reformer so good for beginners. It can take some of your weight, guide the movement and show you where you're pulling or tilting. For someone more advanced, the same springs add load and make the work harder.

Which one suits you?

If you're new to exercise, coming back after a break or looking after your joints, the Reformer is usually the easier way in. The support of the springs helps you learn the movements properly. If you want strength and tone, the adjustable resistance lets you keep progressing without adding impact.

Mat work is great to keep up at home between classes or while travelling. Many women do both. What matters most is regular practice with good teaching.

Group size and cost

Reformer classes are smaller because every woman needs her own machine. At Bloomhouse that's six Reformers at most, so your instructor can see and correct everyone. The machines also make a class cost more than a mat class. What you get for it is close attention and resistance set to your body.

Why Bloomhouse only teaches Reformer

We chose the Reformer because it adapts to every woman who walks in. Beginners, athletes, women who are pregnant or going through menopause, women coming back from an injury. The same machine, set up differently for each of them. It's also the heart of the classical method we teach. Read more in what Reformer Pilates is, or see what happens in your first class.

Common questions

Keep reading

• Your first Reformer Pilates class: what to expectWhat to bring, when to arrive and what happens in those 50 minutes.
• How often should you do Reformer Pilates?Once, twice or three times a week? What changes with each rhythm.
• Pilates through menopauseWhat changes in your body and what Reformer Pilates can do for you.