A lot of people have asked me over the years what the difference between reformer and mat Pilates is. In a nutshell the reformer adds resistance or assistance, meaning it can be scaled up or down depending on your goals. But the answer isn’t as simple as that - the bottom line is that it’s down to personal preference.
Here are Sam’s favourite things about each:
Mat:
☑️ The true foundation of Pilates - feels pure, soothing and satisfying.
☑️ Low intensity, no equipment needed and can be done anywhere. It’s just you and the mat.
☑️ Workouts focus on the mind-muscle connection which can really clear the head.
☑️ Adding in small props can make it fun, but still uncomplicated.
Reformer:
☑️ The springs can add resistance to increase the difficulty.
☑️ The springs can also add assistance to support the body weight.
☑️ There are literally an endless number of different exercises to discover.
☑️ There is no feeling quite like gliding up and down on a reformer!