| If you're a current Pilates exercise enthusiast or just | | | | opportunity for a more challenging workout with more |
| looking at beginning a Pilates program, you're probably | | | | exercise options than the mat. |
| wondering about what equipment you should use to | | | | - Exercise Movement Limitations - While the mat is |
| get the most out of your effort. While there are | | | | great for beginners and will certainly provide you with |
| several options available to choose from, a mat or | | | | results, as previously mentioned, the reformer can give |
| Pilates Reformer Machine are probably the two most | | | | you a more challenging workouts because resistance |
| common. To make the determination as to what | | | | bands that are available on the machine. In addition, the |
| equipment would work for you; here are a few things | | | | number of moves that can be performed on a |
| you should consider. | | | | reformer outnumbers those that can be done on a |
| - Portability of a mat verses Pilates machine -A mat is | | | | mat. If you have an injury or limited range of motion, |
| easily portable and can be folded up and put away. | | | | reformer work is a preference over the mat because |
| The best quality constructed reformers are fairly | | | | it allows an exercise to be modified to accommodate |
| stationary and are likely to stay in one place once they | | | | that condition. |
| are set. Either works well in any area of the home | | | | - Cost - You could probably wrangle your own |
| designated for working out or if you workout in a | | | | personal Pilates mat for under $20 out of pocket. A |
| Pilates Studio. | | | | reformer on the other hand does take a little more |
| - "Clothing Awareness" - This is a cute way of noting | | | | dough. Depending on the quality and durability, you can |
| that clothing that is extremely loose can get caught in | | | | get a no frills reformer for as little as $250 and a |
| the moveable carriage of the reformer while that | | | | multi-functional high quality machine for $1,500 with |
| same clothing isn't really an issue when using a mat. | | | | multiple choices in between. |
| What is an issue for both the mat work and reformer | | | | - Fastest Results - Regardless of which option you |
| when wearing loose clothing is what may be revealed | | | | choose, you will get results with a mat or reformer |
| on the body due to the various exercises performed | | | | provided that you are consistent with the workout |
| and positions used in a Pilates routine. Of course, | | | | routines. However, it is very common to see more |
| wearing an outfit that clings to the body and allows for | | | | results more quickly by using a Pilates reformer. |
| great flexibility is the preference for both mat and | | | | - Provides the Most Fun - The good news is that |
| reformer work. | | | | Pilates is fun no matter what manner you |
| - Experience - Although the choice is ultimately yours, | | | | exercise...although I've heard from many folks that the |
| many experts agree that a beginner Pilates student | | | | reformer work has been the most fun and because of |
| would be better off to start his or her training on a | | | | that they've stuck to their workout routine, unlike all the |
| mat. This allows for comprehension of basic | | | | others where they have given up. |
| fundamental Pilates techniques before increasing the | | | | While advance mat work would be the ultimate goal |
| difficulty level of the exercises. You can learn how to | | | | for the most effective results oriented workout, until |
| perform the moves accurately before going on to the | | | | that advanced level is attained the reformer work or |
| advanced techniques that the reformer allows you to | | | | regular mat work are excellent options to start with. |
| use. Having said that, the reformer does give the | | | | |