What Type of Pilates Should You Do?

When people are first introduced to Pilates, it’s rarely the complete Pilates method of mat and apparatus work. Rather, they find one type of Pilates (mat or apparatus) and eventually discover the other form. Here’s a secret, though: they are actually meant to complement each other, and not be done in isolation. 

Why Pilates Equipment Exists

Pilates is a system of movement that Joseph Pilates developed over many years. Initially, the work was all done with body weight (mat Pilates). Soon he saw the need for equipment (the apparatus) to help him teach the exercises; this had the benefit of clients being able to learn and do more on their own without Joseph physically helping them. 

In the 1920s, he patented several apparatuses including the foot corrector, the reformer, and the wunda chair to name a few. There are many apparatuses that he never patented but were still used regularly in his Pilates studio and continue to be used to this day. This includes equipment like the:

• Trapeze table
• Spine corrector and arcs
• Toe tensometer
• Pedipole
• Hand tenosmeter
• Ladder barrel
• Bean bag
• Pilates mat
• Magic circle
• Push-up handles

He even invented ergonomic furniture that had multi-purposes. The V-Bed with Tower was a bed that you slept on, and then could start exercising in when you woke up. 

Most of the equipment had some kind of resistance (usually springs) and pulleys which helped the user in finding the right muscles to use. For example, the reformer is meant to help you reform your body by teaching you how to control the springs with your muscles, body position, and breathing.  

Should You Do Reformer or Mat Pilates First?

If you are new to Pilates, it might be confusing which type of Pilates you should start with. It’s actually a trick question because Pilates is one system that includes the mat, reformer, and other types of equipment. If you’re an absolute beginner, I always recommend you do introductory classes before you take on any form of Pilates. 

Pilates is accessible to almost every body out there are so many modifications to each exercise to make them easier or harder. An introductory series of classes will teach you the foundational movements and principles, plus how to set up the apparatus if you are in a studio that uses it. If you have certain restrictions, pain, or are recovering from an injury or surgery, these sessions will also help your instructor get to know you and where you may need extra help at first. 

I’ve had clients that couldn’t lay on their backs for more than a few minutes because of back pain or injury. Others couldn’t lie on their front or side. In situations like these, I will move the client from laying to sitting to standing, and make use of the multiple apparatus to help them build strength, mobility, and flexibility. Over time, other positions and movements become attainable. 

Safety First

Joseph Pilates did a great job of creating a form of exercise that anyone can learn, and developing the apparatus was part of that. He also wanted everyone to be able to do Pilates safely. Some exercises are learned more easily on the mat before adding in the movement of the reformer and resistance of the springs. In other cases, the tower may be a safer place to start some clients because it is stationary. 

If a medical professional has suggested you do reformer Pilates as part of your recovery, it’s likely because they know Pilates is safe and reformer classes tend to be small, so you get the attention you need. You’ll definitely want a studio that is fully equipped to teach you on any apparatus plus mat, and a teacher with the skills and training to know what the best options for you are. This is what will keep you safe and build the strength you need to start reducing your pain. 

Mat Pilates versus Apparatus Pilates

Pilates gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s when it started popping up on class schedules in gyms, recreation centers, and yoga studios. These were mat Pilates classes done on yoga mats, not the padded Pilates mats with straps and handles. This is how I discovered Pilates. It wasn’t until I did my 40-hour mat teacher training in a real Pilates studio that I learned about the apparatus for the first time. 

My 40-hour mat teacher was passionate about the full Pilates method and often referenced the equipment. It piqued my curiosity and that’s when I realized that mat training was just barely scratching the surface of the method. 

After I did my first reformer lesson, I was in love! Mat Pilates was dead to me, and I couldn’t wait to try each new “type” of Pilates. At the time, I saw each apparatus as a different type of Pilates, rather than complementary ways of practicing it. Yes, my instructor would reference how this exercise on the reformer is the same as that one on the tower or mat, but I didn’t see it that way then. The apparatus was new and exciting; it’s no wonder the reformer is trending on Tik Tok (or so my daughters tell me). 

Then one day I went to my first big Pilates conference where all the workouts were done on the mat. It was there that I found a new love and respect for mat Pilates, and how challenging it can be. Now, I see what my instructor did: one method with a ton of variety. 

Still Want to Try the Reformer?

If you feel the call to the Pilates apparatus like I did, I can’t blame you. I’ll leave you with a bit of advice to get started. 

1. Do an introductory course/class to safely get the most out of your practice. At my studio, we do introductions to the mat, chair, tower, and reformer as long as the person is capable; something I don’t always know until we get moving. 
2. Look for a studio that suits your needs. In the beginning, large group classes may leave you confused or left behind. 
3. Do what feels right for you and listen to your body.

I’ve learned a lot during my fitness and Pilates journey and I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. Now it’s up to me to pass on these lessons to help you get (and keep) moving safely so you can do all the things you love with ease – and Pilates is a huge part of that.