|
Page 1
Pilates attracts everyone from grandmas to executives with its promise of core strength, flexibility and lean muscle tone. But as Pilates transforms from a professional dancers’ secret to a mainstream workout, many newcomers wonder if they should be rolling out a mat to do their Pilates, or strapping in to a reformer — the equipment developed by Pilates creator Joseph Pilates.
What’s the difference between mat Pilates and reformer Pilates?
Since Pilates mat workouts and Pilates reformer workouts provide similar benefits, it’s no wonder that newbies (as well as regular Pilates devotees) are often confused about which form is right for their current goals and abilities. Here’s a breakdown of the two types of classes to help you decide.
Working against resistance is essential to the 500 classical Pilates exercises, which are designed to train the body’s “powerhouse” — the abdomen, lower back, hips and buttocks. But you can accomplish that in Pilates using either a mat, where your own body weight creates resistance, or a reformer, where pulleys and springs create resistance.
How Pilates on a mat works
Pilates mat work is often done in live classes, which are much easier to find than reformer sessions. Even gyms without full Pilates studios often offer mat classes, usually at no additional fee for members.
Many Pilates experts recommend mat classes as the best bet for beginners. Average students typically add reformer work after three months of once-a-week mat classes.
Dennis Clark, instructor and owner of Body Language Pilates and Yoga Studio in Florence, Italy, insists that new clients acquire a foundation on the mat before launching into apparatus work. “The body can get very confused with controlling the effect of an external challenge source and learn to rely on big global muscles or small over-tasked ones to practice a reformer exercise and miss the target,” she says.
Mari Winsor, founder of Winsor Pilates, agrees. “Mat work is a great option for beginners because of its emphasis on learning how to control your muscles during exercises,” she says. “The work is too specific to be done in a group reformer class. You need to be watched like hawk in the beginning.”
While doing Pilates on a mat instead of a reformer may not seem as fun or challenging, many students see results — improved strength, posture, agility and flexibility, as well as toned muscles — within a few months from once-a-week Pilates mat sessions.
Three years ago, active 77-year-old Peter Press wanted to improve his strength. “My son was getting too far ahead of me when we skied, so I knew I needed to do something,” he says. Press chose a Pilates mat class because he “isn’t good about doing anything on his own.” He wanted a live class because it would offer instruction and guidance each time.
Press credits his three-days-a-week mat classes with giving him a stronger core and improved leg flexibility. He says he’s now hitting golf balls straighter and longer, playing longer matches on the tennis court and keeping up with his 33-year-old son on the slopes.
Winsor suggests an advanced mat class for students seeking a challenge beyond intermediate mat and reformer work. “Advanced mat classes are the hardest because you’re using your body all the time. The reformer isn’t assisting or supporting you,” she says.
Pilates mat class size can range from three to 30-plus, so newcomers should look for smaller sessions to receive personalized instruction. Mat classes follow a set but flowing choreography and may emphasize standing, one-leg exercises that strengthen the powerhouse and hip muscles, increase spine and hip flexibility, and improve balance.
You can also do Pilates mat work at home with a Pilates DVD and a Pilates mat. Many experts suggest you take a few live classes before beginning a practice at home, but with a high-quality DVD choreographed and led by a certified, well-known Pilates expert, you can start in the privacy of your own home with no worries. Try Mari Winsor Pilates DVDs from Gaiam, and get a Pilates mat that’s ¼” thick, twice as thick as a yoga mat, to cushion pressure points during Pilates moves like the 100 and the teaser.
How Pilates on a reformer works
To some, reformer equipment might resemble a torture apparatus, looking like a single bed frame but with a sliding carriage and adjustable springs to regulate tension and resistance. Cables, bars, straps and pulleys allow exercises to be done from a variety of positions, even standing.
Because this contraption can look daunting, many students start with a few months of private sessions before moving on to group classes. In many facilities, completing a series of private reformer sessions is required before participating in group classes.
1 | 2 NEXT PAGE>
Community Voice
|
Join a Discussion Forum in this category