Hi, I’m Ali Davis and new to Winchester Pilates. When it comes to Pilates, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Joseph Pilates himself never intended for us to choose between Reformer and Mat — rather, he saw them as complementary tools to deepen our practice. While for many, time and budget constraints mean focusing on one or the other, embracing both can unlock incredible benefits for your body and mind.
Why Mat Pilates?
Matwork is a fantastic foundation for developing awareness of your deep abdominal muscles — the core of your strength. Because mat exercises are open chain, your limbs move freely in space without a fixed point of contact, which challenges your proprioception — the sense of where your body is in space. This setup demands that you control your movements from your centre, fostering stability and coordination without relying on external support.
And the Reformer?
The Reformer provides a different kind of challenge. It is a closed chain apparatus, meaning your hands or feet are always anchored or connected to the reformer’s carriage. This creates a more controlled environment where your brain constantly receives feedback about your position and movement, helping you refine your awareness and control. Using the Reformer allows for a greater range of motion, enabling your muscles to stretch further and strengthen more effectively within that range.
The Perfect Partnership
When you combine Mat and Reformer Pilates, you harness the best of both worlds. Starting on the mat, you develop a strong awareness of your deep core muscles and proprioception. Transitioning onto the Reformer then amplifies this by enabling you to move through a fuller range, feeling confident to explore new limits with support and guidance.
Many find that the Reformer also adds an element of fun — seeing how much further you can go or how fluidly you can move can bring a new level of enjoyment and motivation to your practice.
My Recommendation
If you’re able, I strongly encourage practicing both types of Pilates. The combination is incredibly powerful, fostering strength, flexibility, coordination, and mind-body connection that’s hard to achieve otherwise.
Join Me!
Look out for my upcoming classes (details below), where I’ll incorporate the benefits of both: starting with Matwork, moving to full Reformer exercises, and finishing with targeted “endings” for cool-down and deep tissue release. It’s a balanced approach that will leave you feeling renewed and energised.
Class times
- Monday at 11.30am – 12.20pm
- Wednesday 12.30pm – 1.20pm
See you on the mat — and on the reformer!
