Reformer vs Mat Pilates: Which Should You Start With?

If you’ve started looking for a pilates class, you’ll have seen the split straight away: reformer or mat. Plenty of studios offer both, and they feel quite different. So which should you book first?

The short answer is that both teach the same method. They differ in the equipment, the class size and the price, and those three things decide which suits you.

What is mat pilates?

Mat pilates is the original form of the method, done on a thick mat on the floor. You work against your own body weight, sometimes with small props: resistance bands, a soft ball, a magic circle (a flexible ring you squeeze) or light weights. The focus is on control, breathing and core strength, with slow, precise movements rather than lots of repetitions.

Because it needs little equipment, mat pilates is taught everywhere: in dedicated studios, gyms, village halls, physio clinics and leisure centres. Classes are usually bigger and cheaper than reformer.

What is reformer pilates?

A reformer is a bed-like frame with a sliding carriage, attached to springs, with a footbar at one end and straps with handles. You push and pull against the springs while the carriage moves. Changing the springs makes an exercise lighter or heavier, so the same machine can support a beginner or challenge someone who is very fit.

Each person needs their own machine, so reformer classes are smaller. Studios commonly cap them somewhere between 6 and 12 people. That also makes them more expensive.

Reformer vs mat at a glance

Prices vary a lot by town and studio. For the detail, see our guide to how much reformer pilates costs in the UK.

How they feel different

Mat: there’s nothing to help you

On the mat, nothing assists you. Lifting your head and shoulders, holding a leg in the air, rolling up through your spine: you have to control all of it with your own strength. People are often surprised how hard a “gentle” mat class is, and how much they feel it in their deep abdominal muscles the next day.

Reformer: the springs can help or resist

On the reformer the springs work in both directions. They can support you through a movement you couldn’t control on the floor, or add load to make a familiar exercise much harder. The moving carriage also makes you stabilise, so exercises that look simple, like kneeling on the carriage while pressing out with the arms, work far more muscles than you’d expect. Many people find the reformer gives them a more obvious strength workout, closer to a gym session.

Which is better for…

Complete beginners

Either works. A mat class is cheaper and lower stakes if you just want to find out whether you like pilates. A beginner reformer class gives you more feedback from the instructor and, because the springs can support you, can make the movements easier to learn. Whichever you choose, book a class labelled beginner, foundation or intro, not mixed level.

Building strength and tone

Reformer has the edge here, because you can keep increasing the resistance as you get stronger. Mat work can be progressed too, but less directly.

Back pain and injury recovery

Both are widely used in rehabilitation. Many physios teach mat-based clinical pilates, and the reformer is useful because it can take load off a joint while you rebuild strength. If you have an injury or a back condition, speak to your GP or a physio first and look for clinical pilates, or an instructor with rehab qualifications, rather than a general class.

Pregnancy and after birth

Look for dedicated prenatal or postnatal classes. These are run by instructors trained to adapt exercises at each stage. Check with your midwife or GP before starting, and tell the instructor how far along you are, or how long it’s been since you gave birth.

Working out on a budget

Mat wins. A weekly mat class, plus a few exercises at home on the other days, is one of the cheapest ways to build a consistent routine.

Can you do both?

Yes, and many regulars do. A common pattern is one reformer class a week for the resistance and the instructor’s feedback, plus one or two mat sessions in class or at home. The principles are the same, so each one helps you get better at the other.

What to expect at your first class

• Arrive 10 minutes early and tell the instructor it’s your first time, plus about any injuries.
• Wear fitted clothing so the instructor can see how you’re moving. Loose tops tend to ride up when you’re upside down.
• Bring grip socks for reformer. Most studios require them and sell them at the desk. Mat classes are usually barefoot or in socks.
• Expect it to feel slow. Pilates is about control, not speed. The small movements are what make it work.

The verdict

If you want the cheapest, easiest way to try pilates, start with a mat class. If you want more feedback from the instructor, adjustable resistance and a more obvious strength workout, and the price works for you, book a beginner reformer class. Most studios offer an intro deal, so trying both before you commit costs little.

Search for studios near you and filter by what’s on offer, or browse the busiest pilates towns, like Leeds, Glasgow and Bristol.

Frequently asked questions