What's the difference....

Between Mat and Apparatus other than price? This is a GREAT question. There are a ton of opinions on the subject of Mat.... my opinion is if you are a TRUE Pilates instructor you know the difference and believe in BOTH and you teach BOTH. It amazes me when I hear an Instructor say that Mat is a waste of time.... WOW is my reaction to that-So, here is my take on them and why they are both important.

Let's start with MAT. Joe Pilates came up with the MAT exercises first. He brought breath, mind and body all together in his mat work. When you really learn it correctly, it can become a form of Choreography, if you will, with the way one movement flows into another. It also takes a VERY strong person to be able to do it all. You use your own body weight and strength. The Mat work is a challenge, but it's supposed to be.... you are working out LOL. I've heard stories from the older generation who took from Mr. Pilates or from his pupils, that to even be able to get onto the Apparatus you had to be able perform the whole mat work. It is also very important to start from the BEGINNING. There are series of exercises that are fundamentals to your future with Pilates. These exercises and fundamentals NEVER CHANGE ( kindda like the rule I before E except after C). You continue to apply them to your more advance work. Yes, Mat work is less expansive, this comes from the fact that you are not using the Apparatus, which is very costly, you don't get one on one attention, and you are in a class with usually more than 3 people. The teacher will usually be doing some of the exercises with you and also watching and giving out corrections. Mat class however is not good those who are injured or hurt, one could be too weak to keep up with the class.

Apparatus- This is NO joke :) I will speak more general as apposed to breaking down the difference of Private, Semi- Private and Trio sessions. The cost goes up for number of reasons, but I will give a little history first. Joe Pilates came up with Apparatus for the more sickly, and weak patients he had. He found by having assistance his patients got better faster and were strong enough to go into the mat work. However, a well person can be even more challenged by the apparatus. And as more and new exercises are made up you can get one mean workout on it. You also get more one on one attention, you get a very close watchful eye on you. Issues get addressed, for example: tight pecs, a weaker leg, turned out feet which goes up to the knee, a painful low back, scapula's that wing out, bad posture,and so it goes. If you have goals they will be met. The client themselves become educated about their own body. Because Apparatus is so one on one, this is great for an injured person, or someone who just got out of post therapy, and those who want to take they workout to the next level. It is pricier because of the apparatus, the attention, the workout plan, and the liability of it all. Someone who isn't being watched or not doing the exercises right can really get hurt.

There you have it :) Whichever way fits into your budget and your need is how you can go about getting into Pilates. Both are very fun and exciting workouts. Time and time again it is phenomenal to the clients and myself what strength and flexibility comes from the practice. So, anytime you are ready - jump right in ;)