Mat Pilates vs Reformer Pilates: Which Is Better for You?

If you’re trying to choose between Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates, there’s good news: you really can’t make a bad choice.

Both can help you build strength, improve control and become more confident in the way your body moves. But they offer quite different experiences, and you may find that one suits your body, personality and goals better than the other.

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that Reformer Pilates is simply the more advanced version of Mat Pilates.

It isn’t.

The Reformer can make an exercise more challenging, but its springs, straps and moving carriage can also provide assistance and support. This makes it incredibly versatile and means exercises can be adapted for different bodies and levels of experience.

Mat Pilates presents a different kind of challenge. Without the Reformer supporting or guiding the movement, you’re working with your own body weight, gravity and control. A well-programmed Mat Pilates class can be surprisingly challenging — even for someone who exercises regularly.

At Bodi Boutique, we don’t really see it as Mat Pilates versus Reformer Pilates.

We see them as two different ways to experience Pilates, and there are very good reasons to enjoy both.

Mat Pilates vs Reformer Pilates: The Quick Answer

If you want the short answer, neither Mat nor Reformer Pilates is automatically “better”.

The better choice is the one that suits your goals, experience, body and — importantly — the type of exercise you actually enjoy.

Mat Pilates may be perfect for you if you enjoy learning to control your body without relying heavily on equipment and want something you can eventually practise almost anywhere.

Reformer Pilates may appeal more if you enjoy resistance, variety and the experience of working with equipment.

And if you like both?

There is absolutely no reason you need to choose.

Doing a combination of Mat and Reformer Pilates can give you different movement challenges and plenty of variety throughout your week.

What’s the Difference Between Mat and Reformer Pilates?

The most obvious difference is the equipment.

Mat Pilates is performed primarily on a mat using your body weight for resistance, although small equipment such as bands, Pilates rings and balls can also be incorporated.

Reformer Pilates is performed on a specialised piece of equipment called a Reformer.

A Reformer has a moving carriage, springs, straps and a footbar. By changing the spring resistance and your position on the machine, exercises can be modified, assisted or made considerably more challenging.

But the equipment isn’t the only difference.

The experience of performing an exercise on a moving carriage can feel completely different from performing a similar movement on the floor.

That’s part of the appeal.

You’re still practising Pilates principles such as control, coordination and precision, but the Reformer gives us another way of challenging the body.

What Is Mat Pilates?

Mat Pilates is the foundation many people associate with traditional Pilates.

Exercises are performed on a mat, using your own body as the primary source of resistance.

Depending on the class, you might work through exercises lying down, sitting, kneeling, side-lying or standing.

Don’t mistake the lack of a machine for a lack of challenge.

Mat Pilates requires you to control your own body without a carriage or springs helping to support the movement.

It can develop strength, muscular endurance, balance, flexibility and body awareness.

Research into Mat Pilates has also found benefits across different populations. For example, a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials involving older adults found improvements in dynamic balance, lower-limb strength, flexibility and cardiorespiratory fitness following Mat Pilates interventions.

Why Mat Pilates Can Be Harder Than It Looks

This catches plenty of people by surprise.

You watch a Pilates class and think:

“That doesn’t look too bad.”

Then you try it.

Suddenly you’re concentrating on where your pelvis is, what your ribs are doing, whether you’re controlling the movement and why an exercise involving such a small range of motion feels so challenging.

That’s part of what makes Mat Pilates valuable.

You’re not simply moving from A to B. You’re learning to control how you get there.

As your technique improves, exercises that initially feel awkward begin to make sense. Then we can progress them and suddenly you’ve discovered an entirely new level of challenge.

You don’t necessarily need heavier equipment to make Pilates harder.

Sometimes better control is enough.

What Is Reformer Pilates?

Reformer Pilates uses a specialised machine consisting of a sliding carriage attached to springs, along with straps, a footbar and other adjustable components.

The springs provide resistance, but they can also provide assistance.

That’s an important distinction.

Adding more springs doesn’t simply mean “harder”, and fewer springs doesn’t always mean “easier”.

Depending on the exercise, reducing the spring resistance can actually demand considerably more control.

This gives an instructor many options for adapting and progressing exercises.

You might perform exercises lying down, sitting, kneeling or standing, and depending on the programming, a Reformer class can challenge your legs, glutes, arms, back and core.

It’s one reason so many women fall in love with Reformer Pilates.

There is always something new to learn.

Why the Springs Don’t Simply Make Reformer Harder

This is one of the things that’s difficult to appreciate until you’ve actually used a Reformer.

Sometimes the springs provide resistance.

Sometimes they help support you.

Sometimes changing the spring tension makes an exercise feel completely different.

That means Reformer Pilates isn’t simply about loading the body with increasingly heavy resistance.

It’s about using resistance strategically.

For a beginner, the equipment can sometimes make a movement feel more accessible.

For an experienced client, the same machine can create an exercise that requires enormous control.

That’s what makes the Reformer such an adaptable piece of equipment.

Is Mat or Reformer Pilates Better for Beginners?

Both can be excellent for beginners.

You do not need to “graduate” from Mat Pilates before you’re allowed onto a Reformer.

Likewise, starting on a Reformer doesn’t mean you’ll automatically find Mat Pilates easy.

What matters much more is whether the class is appropriate for your experience level and whether you receive enough instruction to understand what you’re being asked to do.

At Bodi Boutique, we particularly value teaching people how to move rather than expecting them to arrive already knowing.

If you’re completely new to exercise, a beginner-friendly class gives you time to learn the movements, become familiar with Pilates terminology and develop confidence.

Some beginners love Mat Pilates because it feels simple and approachable.

Others immediately prefer the Reformer because they enjoy the feedback from the equipment and the additional variety.

Neither response is wrong.

Which Is Better for Building Strength?

Both Mat and Reformer Pilates can challenge your muscles.

Mat Pilates uses your body weight and leverage to create resistance.

Reformer Pilates adds adjustable spring resistance, giving us another way to load and progress movements.

There is encouraging research around Reformer Pilates and strength.

A 2025 randomised controlled trial studied 47 sedentary women aged 30–60 with overweight or obesity. The exercise group completed Reformer Pilates three times per week for eight weeks.

Researchers reported improvements in body composition, upper-extremity strength and muscular endurance in the Reformer Pilates group.

This study is particularly interesting for women in this age group, but it is important not to interpret it as proof that Reformer Pilates is superior to Mat Pilates.

It wasn’t designed to answer that question.

More broadly, a systematic review comparing Pilates with other forms of exercise found low to very-low-certainty evidence of no clear difference between Pilates and other exercise modalities for measures of strength, balance and flexibility.

The practical takeaway is much simpler:

Both forms of Pilates can challenge your muscles. How the sessions are programmed and progressed matters enormously.

Which Is Better for Core Strength?

Both.

Core control is fundamental to Mat and Reformer Pilates.

Mat Pilates can be particularly revealing because there is nowhere to hide. Your body has to control itself against gravity without the carriage or springs providing assistance.

Reformer Pilates gives us different ways to challenge trunk stability because the carriage moves and the spring tension changes the forces you’re controlling.

So rather than asking which one “works the core”, remember that both do.

They simply challenge you differently.

And your core isn’t just the visible muscles at the front of your stomach.

A strong, well-functioning trunk involves a coordinated system of muscles working together to support and control movement.

That’s why Pilates is about much more than doing abdominal exercises.

Which Is Better for Weight Loss and Body Composition?

If weight loss is your main goal, neither Mat nor Reformer Pilates should be treated as a magic solution.

But both can contribute to an active lifestyle and a broader exercise routine designed to improve body composition.

The Reformer study discussed above found encouraging changes in body composition after eight weeks of training, although this was one relatively small study involving a specific group of women.

The bigger picture still matters.

Your overall physical activity, nutrition, strength training, cardiovascular activity, sleep and consistency can all influence body composition.

If this is one of your goals, we’ve covered the topic in much more detail here:

Is Pilates Good for Weight Loss? Yes — Here’s How It Can Help

You can also read:

Does Pilates Burn Belly Fat? How Pilates Can Help Your Waistline

Is Mat or Reformer Pilates Better for Women Over 40?

This is where we’d encourage you to stop thinking about Pilates purely in terms of burning calories.

As we move through our 40s, 50s and beyond, strength, balance, mobility and maintaining the confidence to keep exercising become increasingly valuable.

Both Mat and Reformer Pilates can have a place in that picture.

If you enjoy the simplicity of Mat work and like learning to control your body without a machine, Mat Pilates may suit you beautifully.

If you enjoy resistance, variety and progressing through different exercises on specialised equipment, you may prefer Reformer.

And plenty of women enjoy both.

The best choice isn’t necessarily whichever one promises to burn the most calories.

It’s the form of movement that helps you become stronger and that you’re genuinely willing to continue.

Which Is Better if You’re Stiff or Haven’t Exercised for Years?

Don’t assume you need to become flexible before starting Pilates.

You don’t.

And you certainly don’t need to “get fit first”.

This is one of the reasons appropriate class selection matters.

A good beginner Pilates class should meet you somewhere close to where you are now, not where you think you should already be.

The Reformer can be particularly useful because exercises can be supported and modified using the equipment.

But Mat Pilates can also be adapted for different abilities.

If you’ve been inactive for a long time, the most important thing isn’t whether you choose Mat or Reformer.

It’s starting at an appropriate level, learning good movement patterns and allowing yourself time to improve.

Which Is Better if You Already Exercise Regularly?

If you’re already active, don’t assume Pilates will be easy.

People who are strong in the gym or comfortable with cardiovascular exercise can be surprised by how challenging controlled Pilates movements feel.

Strength doesn’t always transfer perfectly from one type of exercise to another.

Pilates may expose areas where you have less control, balance or endurance than expected.

For experienced exercisers, both Mat and Reformer Pilates can complement other forms of training and introduce different movement challenges.

And if you like variety in your exercise routine, Reformer can be particularly enjoyable because of the number of ways the equipment can be used.

What We Notice in the Studio

One of the most interesting things about teaching Pilates is seeing how differently people respond to Mat and Reformer classes.

Some women get onto a Reformer and immediately love it.

They enjoy the equipment, the resistance and the feeling that every class offers something new.

Others discover that they really enjoy Mat Pilates because they can concentrate on controlling their own body without worrying about the equipment.

And sometimes someone who assumes Reformer will be the harder workout gets quite a surprise when they attend a challenging Mat session.

We don’t think one reaction is better than another.

Enjoyment matters.

If you find a class you look forward to attending, you’re far more likely to make movement a regular part of your life.

And once that happens, we can build from there.

Do You Need to Choose Between Mat and Reformer Pilates?

Not at all.

In fact, doing both can be a great option.

Mat Pilates gives you the opportunity to develop control using primarily your own body weight.

Reformer Pilates introduces resistance, assistance and the challenge of controlling a moving carriage.

Moving between the two can provide variety and expose you to different exercises and movement experiences.

You might prefer Reformer most of the time and occasionally attend Mat.

You might love Mat Pilates and add Reformer once a week.

Or you might decide one is clearly your favourite.

There is no prize for choosing the “correct” Pilates.

The goal is finding an approach that works for you.

Mat vs Reformer Pilates: Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re still undecided, here’s a simple way to think about it.

Choose Mat Pilates if you:

• enjoy learning to control your own body
• like exercise that requires minimal equipment
• want to develop your Pilates foundations
• enjoy small-group classes
• want something you can potentially practise at home as well
• like the challenge of working against gravity and your own body weight

Choose Reformer Pilates if you:

• enjoy working with equipment
• like variety in your workouts
• enjoy resistance-based exercise
• want exercises that can be modified and progressed in many different ways
• enjoy a highly interactive Pilates experience
• simply find the Reformer more exciting and motivating

Choose both if you:

• enjoy variety
• want to experience different styles of Pilates
• like being challenged in different ways
• don’t see any reason to pick just one

And if you’re still unsure?

Try both.

Your favourite might surprise you.

Is Reformer Pilates Worth the Extra Cost?

This is a fair question because Reformer Pilates generally costs more than Mat Pilates.

Reformer classes require specialised equipment, fewer participants per machine-based class and an instructor who can safely manage and progress clients using the equipment.

For current class formats and the factors that influence pricing, see our practical guide to Reformer Pilates costs in Australia.

Whether the additional cost is worthwhile depends partly on what you value.

If you love using the Reformer, enjoy the smaller class environment and find yourself more motivated to attend consistently, the additional investment may feel completely worthwhile.

For someone else, Mat Pilates may provide everything they’re looking for.

Exercise doesn’t become better simply because it’s more expensive.

But equally, choosing to invest in an exercise experience you genuinely enjoy isn’t frivolous.

If it helps you stay active, become stronger and look forward to moving your body, that has value.

Mat Pilates vs Reformer Pilates: Which Gives Better Results?

Results depend on much more than the piece of equipment underneath you.

Your starting point, class frequency, programming, effort, technique, progression, other exercise and consistency all matter.

Scientific evidence also doesn’t currently justify claiming that one method universally produces better results than the other.

A direct randomised comparison of Mat and Reformer Pilates in people with multiple sclerosis found improvements in balance, functional mobility, core stability, fatigue and quality of life with both approaches.

That population is very different from the average healthy Pilates client, so we shouldn’t use the study to declare the methods equivalent for everyone.

What it does help illustrate is something important:

Both Mat and Reformer Pilates are legitimate forms of Pilates capable of producing meaningful physical benefits.

The better question is often:

Which one will you do consistently enough to experience them?

So, Is Mat Pilates or Reformer Pilates Better?

For most women, the answer isn’t that one is better.

They’re different.

Mat Pilates teaches you to control your body using primarily your own body weight and gravity.

Reformer Pilates gives you the added versatility of springs, straps and a moving carriage that can both support and challenge your movement.

Both can help you build strength, improve control and become more confident in your body.

You may eventually discover that you strongly prefer one.

Or, like many Pilates lovers, you might decide there’s room for both.

The most important thing is finding movement you enjoy enough to keep coming back to.

Because that’s when Pilates stops being another exercise program you’ve tried and starts becoming part of how you look after yourself.

Ready to Try Mat or Reformer Pilates in Millmerran?

At Bodi Boutique, we offer small-group Pilates and Reformer Pilates in Millmerran, with options for different experience levels.

If you’re completely new, don’t worry about knowing which type of Pilates is “right” before you begin.

That’s something we can help you discover.

Our focus is on helping you learn, progress and become more confident in your movement while finding a style of exercise you genuinely enjoy.

Explore Pilates & Reformer Pilates at Bodi Boutique

If you’re also interested in Pilates for body composition and weight management, you might like:

Is Pilates Good for Weight Loss? Yes — Here’s How It Can Help

Does Pilates Burn Belly Fat? How Pilates Can Help Your Waistline

About the Author

Jazz — Bodi Boutique

Jazz is a qualified fitness and Pilates instructor and the owner of Bodi Boutique, a small-group fitness, Pilates, Reformer Pilates and wellness studio in Millmerran, Queensland.

Through Bodi Boutique, Jazz works with women across different ages, fitness levels and exercise backgrounds, with a focus on making movement approachable, progressive and enjoyable.

Learn more about Bodi Boutique