Pilates, known for its ability to stretch, strengthen and balance your body, is a systematic form of exercise performed with an emphasis on particular breathing patterns. The class is offered by many fitness centers and Pilates-specific studios in the form of a mat class or equipment class -- neither is necessarily better than the other. Developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s, the Pilates machines such as the reformer, were made as a complement to the exercises he developed on the mat.
Pilates Mat
A Pilates mat class is generally offered in a group format in a wider variety of businesses than just Pilates studios, making it more accessible. The classes are typically inexpensive and most are free if you are a member of a health club. Practicing Pilates on a mat means you are using your own body for resistance and your core muscles work more efficiently to hold you in certain positions and perform the exercises. Dennis Clark, owner of Language Pilates and Yoga Studio in Florence, Italy, believes that students must first learn on the mat so as not to rely on machines and confuse the body with which muscles should be working when influenced by an external force.
Pilates Machine
The reformer uses cables, bars, straps and pulleys to perform exercises in a variety of positions. The equipment was originally developed to offer movement to the bedridden, but today it offers a challenging version of the matwork. Because of the machine's attachments, it is an ideal option for those who need modifications to the mat exercises. It is also easier to increase resistance with the machine, creating more challenging work for the advanced Pilates practitioner. While the classes are more expensive than mat, they are generally smaller class formats, which allow for more individualized instruction.
Pros
While both mat and machine classes can offer results, it is arguable whether one is considered better than the other for beginner students. Any specific beginner class, whether mat or machine, should offer basic understanding that can be applied to both. The benefits of Pilates mat classes are that it's accessible, affordable, requires little equipment, can be done in the comfort of your own home -- and possibly burns more calories since you don't have to waste time switching the equipment. Machine benefits include more total body strength training, more variations on the classic exercises, a more functional approach that benefits your daily life activities, and generally more one-on-one attention.
Cons
Mat classes can be busy with little to no personal instruction and are harder to progress and advance. Machine classes are more expensive, can allow your body to rely on the machine for support, creating less of a challenge, and has increased downtime because of the time it takes for you to switch the machine.
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