Reformer vs Mat Pilates: Why We're Big Fans of Both

Let's clear something up straight away. Reformer Pilates is not "better" than Mat Pilates.

We know. Shocking.

If social media is to be believed, Joseph Pilates spent his life designing the Reformer purely so people could film themselves doing lunges on moving carriages whilst wearing matching activewear. The reality is a little different.

Mat Pilates came first. In fact, it is the original Pilates method. Before the springs, straps, carriages and shiny machines, there was simply a mat and a series of exercises designed to help people move better, feel better and understand their bodies more deeply. Joseph Pilates was a huge advocate of Mat work and encouraged people to practise it daily, alongside their other physical activities. The idea was simple. Pilates wasn't supposed to replace movement. It was supposed to improve it.

And over 100 years later, that idea still holds up remarkably well.

Mat Pilates. In the morning. Outside. Brining people together for the OG.

The Reformer: Springs, Resistance and a Little Bit of Magic

Don't get us wrong. We absolutely love the Reformer.

The springs create resistance, provide feedback and allow movement to be explored in ways that simply aren't possible on the Mat. They can support movement when needed, challenge control when appropriate and help people discover movement patterns they didn't even realise existed.

One of the things we love most about the Reformer is the feedback. The machine is constantly talking to you. If something is working harder than it should be, you'll know about it. If you're moving with control and precision, you'll know that too.

It's clever, versatile and endlessly enjoyable.

Which is probably why so many people become slightly obsessed with it.

Mat Pilates: The Original Gangster

But here's the thing: Mat Pilates is the OG.

No springs.
No carriage.
No ropes.
No expensive equipment.

Just you, a mat and a lifelong argument with gravity. And she is a cruel mistress.

Whilst Mat Pilates often looks simpler, many people discover very quickly that simplicity and ease are not the same thing. Without the support of springs, your body has to organise itself. Every movement requires awareness, coordination and control.

Gravity is always there. Quietly judging.

There is no carriage helping you glide through a movement. No springs offering assistance. Just the challenge of moving your own body well.

Which is exactly why Mat Pilates remains such a powerful practice.

Teaser. Deceptively hard and gravity continually attempts to adjust your position.

Why The Whole Method Fits Together

One of the biggest misconceptions in modern Pilates is that Mat and Reformer are somehow different disciplines.

They're not.

They are simply different expressions of the same movement language.

The awareness developed on the Mat often transforms people's Reformer practice. Likewise, the resistance and feedback offered by the Reformer can help people better understand movements that initially felt challenging on the Mat. Despite its popularity, the Reformer was never designed to replace the Mat. It was designed to help people access it.

One supports the other.

In many ways, learning only one side of the method is a little like reading every other chapter of a book.

You'll still enjoy it, but you'll just miss part of the story.

Why Mat Pilates Is Still So Relevant

There is another reason we love Mat Pilates.

Accessibility.

All you need is a mat and enough room to lie down without kicking the dog.

That's it.

No specialist equipment. No £5,000 machine. No complicated setup.

The Reformer requires specialist equipment, smaller class sizes and significantly more infrastructure, which is naturally reflected in the cost of classes.

Mat Pilates removes many of those barriers.

It allows people to take Pilates on holiday, practise at home, join outdoor sessions and build consistency without needing access to a studio.

That accessibility is one of the reasons the method has survived for over a century.

Just the mats and a ball as a prop provide more than enough to do a very challenging session. Add in Mother Nature and you’re all set.

Pilates Under The Summer Sky

This is exactly why we love our Summer Sessions.

For a couple of hours, we leave the Reformers where they belong and head outside into the Secret Garden.

No machines.

No walls.

No distractions.

Just movement, fresh air and the original Pilates method exactly as it was intended to be practised.

Whether you're a dedicated Reformer fan or completely new to Pilates, Mat work offers something incredibly valuable: the opportunity to strip everything back and reconnect with the foundations of movement.

Besides...

Before there were Reformers, there was the Mat.

And before there was resistance, there was gravity.