Should A Pilates Reformer Be Used First?

Pilates offers precise, core-driven movements to develop muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, in addition to balance, control, proper posture and alignment. Joseph Pilates, the methodology’s creator, designed some 600 mat and apparatus exercises throughout his lifetime. Mat work and apparatus training complement one another, but some disagreement exists among trainers as to which method best suits beginners.

Mat Training

Mat work is the foundation of Pilates. Your body weight provides resistance against gravity as strength training. Every movement on the mat demands you to strive for perfect alignment, control, efficiency and precision. Consequently, a mat workout requires and further develops muscular strength and flexibility. With good instruction, you can transition from one movement to the next to create a flow unmatched on any apparatus, including the reformer. You’re most likely to experience a mat workout in a group exercise class, but small group and one-on-one training sessions are other possibilities. Fitness facilities typically hold general mat classes, while core studios usually offer beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.

Reformer Training

The main purpose behind apparatus training is to give practitioners a way to “get the method in their bodies,” according to Joseph Pilates. During World War I, he created the universal reformer — which he called a “bednasium” — from a bed frame, mattress springs and a system of cords and pulleys. Its purpose was to rehabilitate injured soldiers with limited mobility. Modern reformers are similar to their early predecessors, using springs and cords for progressive resistance. You can lie, sit, stand or kneel on its sliding carriage, which can be anchored or allowed to move under your control. Reformer work requires the same control, efficiency and precision as mat work. However, until you grasp proper muscle recruitment, the reformer may seem to provide more assistance than resistance.

Opposing Viewpoints

Correct recruitment of your core muscles is essential to all Pilates exercises, whether done on the mat or an apparatus. Some Pilates trainers believe you can best learn how to recruit your core and control your body without having to control an apparatus as well. They argue that the mat is the best place to encourage the combined physical and mental connection that's necessary for proper form. Pilates trainers who prefer to start their clients on the reformer suggest that it’s more conducive to making this connection because you experience less physical stress on the reformer and can focus on perfecting form and movement before adding resistance.

Considerations

Your Pilates introduction can take place on either the mat or the reformer first — what's most important is the quality of instruction you receive. Mat and reformer workouts aren’t meant to exist independent of one another, however. Rather, each type of training complements the other. Top-notch instruction is what makes the difference between building a solid foundation on the mat or the reformer. Both types of workouts can teach you proper alignment and recruitment of your core muscles. Once you’ve grasped the principles behind the Pilates methodology on the mat or the reformer, incorporate the other technique into your training. A well-rounded program may include mat work and apparatus training in a single session.