Mat vs. Reformer Pilates: what's the difference?

Mat and Reformer Pilates share the same foundations: breath, a strong and stable center, and precise, controlled movement. The difference is what's working with you. On the mat, it's your body weight and a few small props. On the Reformer, it's a spring-loaded carriage that can make an exercise harder or easier.

Mat Pilates

Mat classes need very little equipment, so they're accessible and easy to practice anywhere. That simplicity is also the challenge: with no springs to assist you, you support your whole body against gravity, and many classical mat exercises are harder than they look.

Reformer Pilates

Springs change the equation. They can add resistance for strength work, or support you through a range of motion you're still building. That adjustability is why the Reformer suits beginners, people returning to exercise, and advanced clients alike, and why an instructor can tailor one exercise to several people in the same class.

How they compare

• Resistance. Mat work uses body weight and small props. The Reformer adds adjustable springs.
• Support. Springs can assist a movement, which makes some exercises more accessible on the Reformer than on the mat.
• Variety. The Reformer lets you push and pull lying, seated, kneeling, and standing.
• Setting. Mat work travels with you. Apparatus classes happen in the studio, with an instructor guiding setup.

Is Reformer Pilates harder than mat?

Not necessarily. Springs can make an exercise heavier, but they can also take load off, which is why a beginner can do a supported version of a movement on the Reformer that would be difficult on the mat. Many experienced clients find classical mat work the more humbling of the two.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Reformer if you want adjustable resistance, more variety, and an instructor to guide your setup. Choose mat if you want a practice you can take anywhere. If you're not sure, you don't have to pick: a mixed equipment class gives you both.

Why Naya combines them

Naya's Mixed Equipment Apparatus classes move between the Reformer, Half Tower, Chair, and Mat in one session, so you get the support and resistance of the springs alongside the honesty of mat work. Classes range from Naya Essential for beginners to Naya Progression, with Naya Restore for mobility and Jumpboard for low-impact cardio.

New to it all? Start with Naya Essential, and read our guide to the Pilates apparatus so you know what you'll see in the room.