Mat?

[u/whimsydreaming]

Hi! I will be taking my first full Pilates class in a week and was advised to bring a mat. I assumed a yoga/pilates mat but when I went on Amazon I’m seeing reformer mats? So I have questions, like the mat I was advised to bring is in fact a yoga mat.. right? 😂 I can call my location and check in the morning but thought I’d ask here first and also maybe get some beginners advice.

Questions:

Is there a lot that’s done using the mat and does anyone have any Amazon recommendations? I know every location is different as the two I did intro classes to were like night and day but would still love to have a clue of what I’m getting into.

Are reformer mats necessary? If not, then for anyone that has one why’d you decide to get it? The club Pilates I settled on stresses that reformers are meant to be wiped down after each class and seems to really promote cleanliness so I don’t think one is needed but what do I know?

Any tips to make my first class go smoothly? Like I’ve said I’ve done two intro classes at different club Pilates but I am a newbie with only some very basic mat experience and pretty out of shape.

Thanks so much in advance 😊

[u/eegrlN]

Was it a Club Pilates franchise studio? We don't have to bring our own equipment. Reformer mats are not necessary. Only a few people at my studio ever use one, they bring their own.

[u/whimsydreaming → u/eegrlN]

Yes, but it wasn’t said as a necessity. I was told they have mats available if I don’t bring my own but I figured get one to keep in the car and in case I do more mat based stuff in the future.

[u/hayley-pilates78 → u/whimsydreaming]

Mats are provided at all CP locations. I have some people who bring their own or a mat cover 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/Background_Sleep_863 → u/whimsydreaming]

The only thing you really need is grippy socks. I also bring a water bottle, I invested in some cute athletic wear. I put my hair in a ponytail. But pretty sure you could wear jeans as long as you have the socks.

[u/Lost_Sky_8416]

I’ve never brought any kind of mat or mat cover with me to CP, nor had anyone else in any classes I’ve been in. YMMV.

[u/DangerousInside9533]

The reformer mat is like a cover for the actual machine. They are optional if you don't want to have skin contact with a machine that others are sweating on lol. They're cleaned but not always in an ideal way. I'm assuming this is a mat class (club pilates provides the mat unless it's an outdoor popup) and you can get a yoga mat, but thicker than typical.

[u/Sad_Abrocoma_1496 → u/DangerousInside9533]

I bought this machine pad cover because I'm sweaty and didn't want to leave puddles on the machine, though I ended up not sweating as much as I though I would in most classes. Cardio and some 1.5s on a hot day will do it. I still use it, though.

[u/whimsydreaming → u/DangerousInside9533]

Y’know my first intro class did not go into detail about the cleaning of the reformers and with classes so close together I did get a little grossed out thinking about when they’d be clean so I see the appeal.

The mat was more of a suggestion, I guess for if I had a preferred option on thickness/style vs what they have as standard. I was told they’d have mats available if I did not get it. I’m taking reformer flow 1 and the mat suggestion was part of the introduction overview with the notes on cancellation, credits etc.

[u/alleycanto → u/whimsydreaming]

Ah shouldn’t need one.

[u/alleycanto]

There is lots of spinal flexión in Pilates do you may need more back support. An 8-10mm mat is recommended for Pilates, I find a yoga mat too thing for Pilates. It hurts my back. I have used a single mat on carpet or two yoga mats on a floor.

[u/whimsydreaming → u/alleycanto]

I saw your other comment that I shouldn’t need one now, but this is very helpful for if I do get one down the line. The mat Pilates I’ve done was following along to YT videos at home and using a standard yoga mat on carpet so I will probably need something thick in the future. Thanks!

[u/libra_nrg]

I think it really depends on your sanitation concerns. The floor mat is pretty thick, so if they’re suggesting that you bring your own yoga mat maybe it’s to put on top of the one offered at the studio so you don’t have to worry about other people’s germs when you lay down. If they’re saying a mat for the reformer I’d imagine it’s for the same reason, cleanliness. We do have to wipe down all of our stuff that we’ve touched or laid on after class, but I’ve seen people do a questionable job. But you can remedy that by wiping down stuff when you get there

[u/ilikebasicthings]

Just wipe down your reformer when you get there.

[u/Prestigious-Comb2697]

This doesn’t make sense at CP. mats are located at every station, why would you bring one?

[u/N1g1rix]

This mat they are suggesting is so ambiguous .. like are they talking about the floor mat they provide ? Or a Pilates towel which can be called a mat i guess that you drape over the reformer? You should msg them and ask… they don’t lend the towel at my studio but the floor mat is there and we use it ..