Mat pilates vs reformer classes: should your studio offer both?

Adding mat pilates makes sense when your studio has floor space and hours when the reformers sit empty. Mat fits more people per hour without new equipment, costs members less and works as a way in to reformer classes. The key is giving it its own price and a clear path for members who want to move up.

How do mat and reformer classes differ for the business?

For members, the difference is the work itself: mat uses body weight, a ball, a band or a ring. Reformer uses springs for resistance and support.

For the studio, the difference is the math:

	Mat pilates	Reformer pilates
People per class	Set by floor space	Set by number of machines
Equipment cost	Mats and props	Each reformer is a large purchase
Price per class	Lower	Higher
Individual attention	Less	More
Typical member	Newcomers, price-conscious, groups	People wanting close guidance, progress, rehab
Growth limit	Room size	Number of machines

The point is simple: mat grows with space, reformer grows with investment.

When does adding mat make sense?

Signs that mat could work in your studio:

• Waitlists at peak hours and no plan to buy more reformers soon.
• Empty room time, such as late morning or early afternoon.
• People who ask the price and never come back. Mat gives them a lower step.
• Teachers with spare hours who would like more classes.
• Interest from workplaces or groups, who often prefer bigger classes.

If every hour is quiet, mat alone will not fix it. First find out why people are not coming.

How do you price mat without emptying reformer classes?

The main rule: mat must be clearly cheaper per class, and reformer value must be clearly explained. An illustrative example:

Product	Monthly price	Classes a month	Per class
Mat, 8 a month	CA$140	8	CA$17.50
Reformer, 8 a month	CA$320	8	CA$40
Combo: 4 mat and 4 reformer	CA$230	8	CA$28.75
Mat drop-in	CA$25	1	CA$25

With 12 people at CA$17.50, a mat class brings in CA$210 an hour. A reformer class with 5 people at CA$40 brings in CA$200. Mat can match or beat reformer revenue per class, with no extra equipment.

Three things to watch:

1. Explain what changes. “Small groups on the reformer with hands-on cues” justifies the gap.
2. Offer a combo. It lets mat members try reformer without jumping straight to the full price.
3. Keep memberships separate by class type. A mat membership should not quietly book reformer spots.

For the full membership calculation, see pilates membership pricing.

Can mat be your studio’s front door?

It can, and that is often its biggest benefit. Many people come to pilates unsure whether they will like it and find reformer prices high for an experiment. Mat lets them start with less risk.

To turn that into a path:

• Offer a reformer intro class to anyone who finishes a month of mat.
• Ask mat teachers to mention, without pressure, when a member would benefit from reformer guidance.
• Show the combo as the natural next step.

More ideas for turning first visits into regulars are in trial class to membership.

What changes in the room and the team?

Mat needs less equipment, not zero preparation:

• Floor space. Measure the area per mat with room for arms and legs. The room sets the class limit.
• Props. Mats, balls, bands, rings and blocks for a full class, plus spares.
• Cleaning. Time between classes to wipe mats and props.
• Teaching. Teaching 12 people is different from teaching 4. Voice, demonstration and reading the room change. Agree on pay first, because revenue per class changes too.
• Room schedule. If mat shares the reformer room, the room cannot hold two classes at the same time.

Which numbers tell you mat is working?

Give a new mat class at least a month, ideally two, before you judge it. Track a few simple numbers each week:

Number	What it tells you
Average attendance per mat class	Whether the time slot and price work
Members who book a second mat class	Whether the class itself is good
Mat members who try a reformer class	Whether mat works as a front door
Reformer members who switch to mat only	Whether mat is pulling people down the ladder

If attendance is low, try another time before you drop the format. If reformer members move down to mat, the price gap may be too wide or the reformer value poorly explained. If mat members never try reformer, add a simple invitation, such as a reformer intro class offered at the end of their first month.

How elastudio helps you run mat and reformer side by side

In elastudio you create separate class types, such as “Mat” and “Reformer”, each with its own name, description, length and capacity. Passes and memberships can apply to certain class types only, so a mat membership never books a reformer by mistake. From Starter, each room has its own calendar that refuses a second class at the same time, which helps when mat shares space with the reformers. See how it fits pilates studios.

Test one class before you change the schedule

Pick an hour when the room is free, run one mat class for a month at its own price, and track how many people come back and how many move to reformer. Compare plans on the pricing page and see everything included in features. Questions are welcome at support@elastudio.app.