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By Deborah Slade, APOGEE Pilates Instructor

Are you a regular in Pilates mat class but still eyeing the Pilates apparatus, with its complex-looking straps and springs, as a curiosity? You’re not alone—one of the most common questions I get as a Pilates instructor is “What is the difference between the Pilates mat and machines?” And, “What kind of workout will garner the best results?”

Joseph Pilates developed more than 500 hundred exercises to be performed on both the mat and a variety of apparatus that he invented—the Universal Reformer, the Cadillac, the Wunda Chair, the Ladder Barrel, the Ped-A-Pull. The floor exercises came first, but Joe never intended the matwork to stand alone. Rather, his approach was wholly integrative—each workout including exercises on both the floor and the apparatus.

Advantages of the Pilates Mat
The mat is the most basic element of the Pilates system—the foundation upon which all else rests. The body provides its own resistance—without the aid of springs, pulleys and levers—working against gravity to build strength and develop flexibility. The lack of hardware also means a lack of support—making the floor exercises the most challenging. There are many advantages to the Pilates mat: It can be practiced virtually anywhere and at any time of day without an instructor. An experienced student can easily modify the exercises to his or her own needs. Once a student achieves a certain level of proficiency, the movements transition seamlessly into one another and provide a wonderful cardiovascular workout.

Advantages of Pilates Apparatus
In contrast to the mat where the body challenges itself, the work on the Pilates apparatus is assisted by springs that add varying degrees and kinds of resistance. On the Reformer, they attach to a moveable “carriage;” on the Cadillac, they support a suspended “breathing bar,” a hinged “push-thru bar” and straps that you place on the legs or in the hands; on the Wunda Chair, springs attach to a pedal that you press with your feet or hands. There is also the Ladder Barrel that uses gravity for resistance, creating unique opportunities for stretching and extension work. While the mat work has an extensive but fixed repertoire, the possibilities for the apparatus are limited only by one’s imagination. One minute you’ll be standing on a moving carriage—the next you’ll be hanging upside down from a trapeze.

The equipment not only brings variety to your exercise regimen but the workout can be wholly customized. For example, the support of the Reformer springs creates easier versions of the mat exercises and enables one to isolate muscle groups and work more deeply, which is especially helpful for beginners and those with chronic injuries. The fact that bed of the Cadillac is more than two feet off the ground gives the instructor greater hands-on access to students with special needs (the elderly, those post-rehab). Someone with exceptionally tight hamstrings might spend more time doing ballet stretches on the Ladder Barrel. Whatever the plan, the apparatus is a lot of fun!

The Bottom Line
Not surprisingly, the best way to reap the full benefits of Pilates is to follow the master’s formula–enjoy the group dynamic of a mat class and relish the personal attention of a private session that explores all aspects of the method for the most unique and effective total-body work on the planet. It will not only transform your body but your life. And, that’s a pretty good return on any investment.