Reformer, Tower, Mat… Which Type Of Pilates Is Best For Your Body?

The type that works “best” for your body will be the type you can stick to and that’s suitable for your skill level. “Pilates’ real strength lies in its ability to meet people wherever they are in life,” Patel enthuses. “There isn’t a single demographic it belongs to.”

For beginners

Mat Pilates is the best place to start, as it will introduce you to the principles of Pilates in a safe way. Reformer and tower Pilates require deep core strength and balance to execute exercises with proper alignment and balance. When you feel confident with some of the basic exercises, progress onto the tower and then the reformer.

For at-home exercise

Mat Pilates is the most versatile and transportable of all the Pilates modalities. Roll out your mat, grab whichever props you need and get going. On YouTube, there are creators like Pilates by Izzy and Move With Nicole, who provide structured classes to follow. There are now foldable at-home Reformer beds available (like Fold), which can help with space-saving if you prefer to practise at home.

For full-body strength

If muscle synthesis and building strength are important goals, reformer Pilates will likely serve your needs best. Contemporary reformer blends modern exercises with the classical ones, providing a full-body workout that can be amped up or toned down depending on which springs you choose.

The key with reformer is to find an instructor who prioritises proper form over as heavy a weight as possible. Lighter resistance with correct form will always serve you better than a heavy spring and terrible form. Boring but true.

For improved flexibility

I’ve never felt more flexible, taller or more aligned than when I regularly practised tower Pilates at Exhale Pilates, Primrose Hill. The slow, controlled nature of the exercises, paired with the strong roll back and push through bars, arms and leg springs, engages the core but encourages a lengthening of the body and spine at the same time. Flexibility and mobility are two of the biggest benefits of Pilates and tower can help keep you in alignment as you improve on both.

For a cardio hit

Pilates is a low-impact strength training regimen and, while some classes include jump boards, is usually not a cardio-based exercise routine. If you like to build up a sweat during a workout, try either heated mat Pilates (recently opened in London at Yours Shoreditch and Hackney), or dynamic reformer classes. The key is to make sure you’re not sacrificing form simply to work up a sweat.

The benefits of practising all three types of Pilates

One of Joseph Pilates’ principles was that each of the modalities should be practised together to gain the most benefit.

“Mat Pilates builds foundational strength, control and body awareness using minimal equipment. The reformer adds resistance and support through springs, allowing for both challenge and assistance, while the tower provides vertical resistance and traction that can deepen strength and mobility work,” says Long.

“Practising all three creates a well-rounded Pilates practice; developing strength, flexibility and coordination from multiple angles and allows the body to experience movement in a more complete, integrated way.”