Mat Pilates vs reformer Pilates: what's the difference and which is right for you?
If you've searched for reformer Pilates in Hitchin, Letchworth or anywhere in North Hertfordshire lately, you'll have noticed reformer studios are everywhere. Big machines, moody lighting, a lot of very good leggings.
We're a mat Pilates studio, and that's a choice, not an oversight. So here's an honest look at both, what each one does well, and how to work out which suits you.
Where it all started
Joseph Pilates created both. The mat work came first: his 1945 book, Return to Life Through Contrology, sets out 34 mat exercises that are still the backbone of Pilates today. The reformer and his other equipment were built to support and extend that same work.
So mat Pilates isn't the budget version of reformer. It's the original.
What is reformer Pilates?
A reformer is a bed-like frame with a sliding carriage, adjustable springs, a footbar and straps. You push and pull against the springs, which can make an exercise harder or, just as usefully, help you through it.
It's great for variety and for feeling the resistance clearly. The trade-offs are cost and class size. The machines are expensive and take up a lot of floor space, so classes tend to cost more, and in many studios the room is set up for a fixed number of people working through a fast-paced routine.
What is mat Pilates?
Mat Pilates uses your own body weight, gravity and small equipment such as bands, balls and rings. There are no springs to help you, which is why people are often surprised by how hard a "simple" mat exercise can be.
Because you're learning to control your body without a machine doing part of the job, the strength and awareness you build carry straight into everyday life. Getting up off the floor, carrying the shopping, lifting a grandchild: that's mat Pilates in real life.
Mat vs reformer at a glance
| Mat Pilates | Reformer Pilates | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Mat, plus small kit like bands and balls | Large spring-loaded machine |
| Cost per class | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Support from springs | None, your body does the work | Springs can assist or resist |
| Practise at home | Easy, all you need is floor space | Not without a machine |
| Good for beginners | Yes, with good teaching | Yes, with good teaching |
Neither is "better". The teaching matters far more than the kit.
Why we chose mat
We've been running The Pilates Corner since 2016, first in Stevenage and now in Baldock, and here's why we've stuck with mat.
Small classes, proper attention. Our Pilates classes are capped at 12 people, so your instructor knows your name, your back, and that knee you mentioned three weeks ago. Every exercise is adapted for you.
More ways to train. Without a room full of machines, we can run more than 25 classes a week across lots of styles: Pilates, Low Intensity, Chair, Small Equipment, Barre, Fit Ball and Trigger Point. If you need something gentler one week and a challenge the next, it's on the timetable.
It works anywhere. Every studio membership includes Zoom classes and an on-demand library. Try doing that with a reformer in your living room.
It lasts. Many of our members have been with us for 8 to 13 years. People don't stay that long for a trend.
So which one is right for you?
Reformer might suit you if you love equipment, want a fast-paced workout and are happy to pay more per session.
Curious about reformer but not keen on a busy class? You don't have to choose. We offer private 50-minute reformer sessions at the studio, so you can try it one-to-one with an instructor who knows your body. Get in touch to book.
Mat might suit you if you want to:
- build strength you can use in daily life
- manage back pain, stiff joints or recovery after surgery, with exercises adapted to you
- be in a small class where someone notices how you're moving
- keep going at home or online between classes
If you're still not sure, come and try it. That's what our induction is for.
Pilates near Hitchin and Letchworth
The Pilates Corner is in Baldock, just behind Tesco (SG7 6NG), a short drive from Hitchin, Letchworth and the surrounding villages. We were named Best Yoga/Pilates Studio in Herts & Beds in 2024.
Every new member starts with a relaxed 90-minute induction in a small group of up to six newcomers, so nobody is thrown in at the deep end.
Ready to try mat Pilates?
Our intro offer is £79 for your induction plus four classes over three weeks. If you complete all five sessions and don't feel the benefit, you get your money back.
You can also see the timetable or check our prices.