Here at Premium Pilates, we love both Matwork and Reformer Pilates. All of our instructors incorporate both workouts into their weekly Pilates training due to the different benefits that both exercise regimes offer the body. We are often asked by clients to explain the key differences between the two. Here is a breakdown for you:
Matwork / Floor Pilates
A lot of people think that the Reformer is a lot harder than Matwork as it is a machine, however Matwork is a true test of your stability, as there is just you on the mat, against yourself. In Floor Pilates you need to use your whole body to support yourself, with no outside help or stability (the Reformer and Wunda Chair provides you some support). Myself & Chris often find that a tough matwork class can isolate our core muscles (the pelvic floor and lower abdominals) just as much, if not more, than a gruelling Reformer class.
Matwork Pilates can also involve the use of props for several exercises, including the band, circle, foam roller, swiss ball and smaller Pilates ball, which increases the amount of different exercises that can be performed on the mat as opposed to on the Reformer.
As Floor Pilates involves only your body (and some props) you may gain greater body awareness than you would on the Reformer.
Our Matwork classes are limited to a maximum of 12 clients to 1 instructor, therefore you will never need to fear being 'just a number' in a class.
Our Matwork classes are limited to a maximum of 12 clients to 1 instructor, therefore you will never need to fear being 'just a number' in a class.
If you are a true beginner to Pilates and have never done a class in your life, Floor Pilates is a little simpler to start with as you do not have to learn about all the components of the Reformer machine.
Reformer Pilates
The Reformer machine assists in stabilising yourself to a certain degree as you perform exercises lying, sitting, standing and kneeling on a stable surface. Believe it or not, the Reformer was actually designed to assist people to do Matwork by providing added stability that the floor did not provide.
Saying this, the Reformer is definitely a strong workout, as it provides added resistance in the form of springs to every single exercise. Some clients feel like they have a greater range of motion on the Reformer than on the floor due to the use of straps. The reformer can also feel like more 'work' on your muscles, due to the added resistance.
The Reformer isolates your muscles in a different way to Pilates exercises performed on the floor. As our reformer classes are a maximum of 4 clients per 1 instructor, you may be given a more tailored and personalised workout than you would potentially be given in a Matwork class.
Budget is the last factor to consider. A floor Pilates class costs $20 for a casual, $18 a class for a pack of 5 classes and $16 a class for a pack of 10 classes. In comparison reformer classes cost $30 for a casual class and the packages of classes are therefore substantially higher in price to Matwork.
A new things to note:
If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, Reformer Pilates would be the best option for you, as our Matwork classes are not tailored for pre or post natal woman.
If you have a debilitating injury or injuries I would suggest that you discuss what Pilates class would be best for you to attend with our instructors before starting a Matwork or Reformer class.
Lastly, you are never going to truly know which class is right for you until you try both!! As I previously mentioned, Chris and myself and the other Premium Pilates instructors incorporate both Reformer and Floor Pilates into our workout routines as we have found that a mixture of both works best for our bodies with regards to improving our core strength, our technique, our body awareness and our general muscle strength and tone.
If you have any additional questions, call Emily or Chris on 0402 680 724, email us at inquiries@premiumpilatesstudio.com or visit us online at premiumpilatesstudio.com.
See you for a class soon!
