Pilates Mat vs Reformer Certification: Which Should You Choose?

If you plan to teach Pilates, one of your first decisions is where to begin: Mat or Reformer. Both come from Joseph Pilates’ original method, and both lead to rewarding teaching work. Each one builds different skills, suits different settings and fits different goals, so it helps to understand both before you enroll.

At Pilates Certification Online (PCO), both programs teach the authentic classical method of Joseph Pilates, and PCO’s online Pilates certification lets you study either one at your own pace, wherever you live.

Mat and Reformer: Two Parts of One Method

Joseph Pilates created his Mat exercises and his apparatus, including the Reformer, as parts of one complete system of conditioning. In the classical method, Mat work is the foundation: it builds control, breathing, alignment and coordination using the body alone.

Many movement patterns learned on the Mat return on the Reformer, where springs and a moving carriage add resistance, support and new challenges. The Hundred, for example, appears in both repertoires. The Reformer is one of the most popular pieces of Pilates equipment in studios today, and Mat remains essential to understanding the original method. A well-rounded instructor values both.

What Mat Certification Covers

Mat training teaches the classical Mat repertoire: the exercise order, cueing, alignment, breathing and how to adapt the work for different clients. Because it needs very little equipment, Mat teaching fits private sessions, group classes, studios, gyms and many other settings.

Mat may be the right first step if you:

• Want a strong foundation in classical Pilates.
• Plan to teach private or group Mat classes.
• Want to start teaching with minimal equipment.
• Plan to add apparatus training later.

PCO’s Complete Mat Program is a full online Mat Pilates certification course that progresses through Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

What Reformer Certification Covers

Reformer training teaches the classical Reformer repertoire together with the apparatus itself: spring settings, safe setup and transitions, strap work and how to guide clients while the carriage moves. Reformer instructors learn to use the springs both to challenge and to support each client.

Reformer may be the right first step if you:

• Want to teach private or group Reformer sessions.
• Have regular access to a Reformer for practice.
• Enjoy apparatus-based resistance training.
• Want to build skills for work in an equipped studio.

PCO’s Complete Reformer Program is a full online Reformer Pilates certification course, also progressing through Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Pilates Mat vs Reformer Certification at a Glance

Both programs prepare students for professional Pilates teaching, with final certification awarded after completing all required training and assessments. The right choice depends on what you want to teach, the equipment you can practice on and how far into the classical system you plan to go.

Apprenticeship Hours and Certification

PCO certification combines online study with practical teaching experience. Each program has its own apprenticeship requirement:

• Complete Mat Program: 100 apprenticeship hours.
• Complete Reformer Program: 150 apprenticeship hours.
• Complete Pilates Program: 450 apprenticeship hours across the full classical system.

You can start logging hours as soon as you enroll, using the PCO Apprentice Tool Kit. Log sheets and course documents are in Resources inside the course player: open your course, then select More and Resources.

A Course Completion Certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the Advanced level. Full instructor certification requires additional apprenticeship hours and a final practical examination, submitted as a teaching video and reviewed by PCO. Full details are in the PCO FAQ.

Mat, Reformer or the Complete Pilates Program?

• Start with Mat to build the classical foundation with minimal equipment.
• Start with Reformer if apparatus teaching is your goal and you can practice on a Reformer.
• Choose the Complete Pilates Program to teach the full classical system: Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chairs and Barrels.

Many instructors begin with one and add the other later. Each step builds toward the complete method Joseph Pilates created.

The Classical Lineage

PCO’s training follows Joseph Pilates’ original system, preserved through the teaching lineage of Romana Kryzanowska and Dr. Melinda Bryan. The certification program began at The Pilates Studio® of Los Angeles in 1992, and in 2010 it became available online through PilatesCertificationOnline.com.

Choose Your Program

Choose Mat for the foundation, Reformer for apparatus teaching, or the Complete Pilates Program for the full system. You can compare every classical Pilates certification program side by side, or browse all PCO courses.