If you’re thinking about trying Pilates, you might be wondering: is Reformer Pilates better than Pilates?
The short answer is that neither is necessarily “better”. Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates share many of the same principles, but they provide different ways to challenge and support your body.
At Moveology in Nantwich, Cheshire, we use the Reformer as much more than a piece of Pilates equipment. It’s a tool for developing functional strength, stability, mobility and better movement, with exercises that can be adapted to suit different bodies, abilities and stages of life.
So, what’s the difference, and which might be right for you?
What is the difference between Pilates and Reformer Pilates?
Traditional mat Pilates is performed primarily on a mat using your own body weight for resistance. It focuses on controlled movement, core strength, posture, breathing, flexibility and body awareness.
Reformer Pilates follows many of the same principles but uses a specialist piece of equipment called a Reformer.
The Reformer has a moving carriage, springs, straps and footbar that can provide both resistance and assistance during exercises.
This means exercises can be adapted to make movement more accessible or progressively more challenging.
Is Reformer Pilates better for building strength?
Reformer Pilates can be an excellent way to develop strength.
The spring resistance challenges muscles throughout controlled movements, while the instability of the moving carriage requires your body to continually work on stability and control.
Depending on the exercise, you can work your:
- Core
- Glutes
- Legs
- Back
- Shoulders
- Arms
- Smaller stabilising muscles
At Moveology, our approach to Reformer Pilates is particularly focused on functional movement, developing strength, stability and control that can support the way you move outside the studio.
That might mean supporting your running or other sports, helping you feel stronger through menopause, rebuilding after having a baby, complementing strength training or simply making everyday movement feel easier.
It’s not just about being good at Pilates. It’s about helping your body become stronger and more capable for life.
Is Reformer Pilates better for beginners?
Reformer Pilates can be suitable for complete beginners.
Although the equipment can look intimidating at first, the springs can actually provide support during certain movements.
A good instructor can also adapt exercises to suit your experience, mobility and individual needs.
At our Nantwich Reformer Pilates studio, our instructors focus on technique, control and helping you understand how your body is moving rather than expecting you to keep up with everyone else.
You don’t need to be flexible, strong or experienced before you begin.
That’s what you’re coming to develop.
What about women’s health?
Reformer Pilates can be particularly useful as part of a wider approach to women’s health and fitness.
Women’s bodies experience significant changes throughout life, including pregnancy, postnatal recovery, perimenopause and menopause.
Maintaining muscle strength, balance and physical activity becomes increasingly important as we age.
At Moveology, we work with women through different stages of life, adapting movement where appropriate and helping them develop strength and confidence in their bodies.
Our women’s health services in Nantwich include support for:
- Antenatal movement
- Postnatal recovery
- Pelvic floor health
- Perimenopause
- Menopause
- Strength and healthy ageing
- Movement and rehabilitation
Our Postnatal Reformer Pilates classes also provide a supportive environment for women returning to movement after having a baby.
Is Reformer Pilates good during perimenopause and menopause?
It can be a valuable part of an active lifestyle during perimenopause and menopause.
As women get older, maintaining strength and muscle becomes particularly important. Exercise can also support balance, mobility, cardiovascular health, sleep and mental wellbeing.
Reformer Pilates offers controlled resistance and can be combined with other forms of exercise, including resistance training, walking and cardiovascular activity.
At Moveology, we don’t believe there should be one type of exercise for every person.
Instead, we look at how you move, what you need and what you’re trying to achieve.
Can Reformer Pilates help with injuries?
Reformer Pilates is often used to help people gradually rebuild movement, strength and confidence following injury.
Because resistance can be adjusted and exercises modified, the Reformer provides lots of options for controlled movement.
However, Reformer Pilates isn’t a replacement for medical assessment or physiotherapy when these are required.
If you’re currently injured, recovering from surgery or have an existing medical condition, speak to an appropriate healthcare professional and let your instructor know before starting.
At Moveology, Reformer Pilates can also sit alongside our Movement Therapy and soft tissue therapy services, depending on your individual needs.
Which is harder: Pilates or Reformer Pilates?
This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer!
Both can be challenging.
A Reformer can make certain exercises easier by providing assistance, and make others considerably harder by adding resistance or instability.
The difficulty ultimately depends on the exercise, resistance, tempo, range of movement and how the session is programmed.
And anyone who thinks Reformer Pilates is simply stretching may change their mind fairly quickly after their first class!
So, is Reformer Pilates better than mat Pilates?
They’re different ways of applying many of the same movement principles.
Mat Pilates is accessible, requires very little equipment and can be practised almost anywhere.
Reformer Pilates provides additional resistance, assistance and exercise variety, making it an incredibly versatile way to develop strength, mobility, stability and control.
The better question might be:
Which type of Pilates is better for you and your goals?
For many of our members, Reformer becomes one part of a wider approach to health and movement alongside strength training, walking, running, cycling, sport, recovery and other activities they enjoy.
Reformer Pilates in Nantwich, Cheshire
If you’re curious about Reformer Pilates and would like to experience it for yourself, come and visit us at Moveology Studio in Nantwich.
We’re not a high-octane gym, and you don’t need to arrive already fit.
We’re a welcoming movement, health and wellbeing community helping people of different ages and abilities become stronger, move with greater confidence and look after their bodies for the long term.
Because strength looks different for everyone.
Move better. Feel better. Live stronger.
Ready to try Reformer Pilates?
Explore our Reformer Pilates classes in Nantwich and discover how movement can support your strength, mobility and wellbeing.