Why Mat and Apparatus Classes Are the Same Price (And Why That's Fair)

For years, Pilates studios have operated on a simple assumption: apparatus classes should cost more than Mat classes. It makes sense on the surface, doesn't it? Reformers, Cadillacs, and Chairs are expensive to buy and maintain. So naturally, the classes that use them should cost more.

Except that logic only works if you misunderstand what you're actually paying for.

At EQ, all of our classes are now the same price — whether you're on the Mat, the Reformer, or in Joe's Gym. And we think it's about time the industry caught up.

Here's why.

You're Not Paying for the Equipment — You're Paying for the Teaching

Let's be clear: the Mat is not a "cheaper" or "easier" version of Pilates. It's not the beginner option. It's not the fallback when the Reformer room is full.

The Mat is the foundation of the entire method. Joseph Pilates designed his system around Mat exercises. The apparatus came later — not to replace the Mat, but to help prepare you for it. The springs give you feedback. They support you while you build strength and control. But the Mat? That's where you prove you've learned the work.

When you come to a Mat class at EQ, you're getting the same level of teaching expertise, the same attention to your body, the same carefully structured progression as you would in a Reformer class. The apparatus might change, but the teacher doesn't. The method doesn't. The care doesn't.

So why would we charge less for that?

Our Teachers Are Trained Across the Full System

Here's something most people don't realize: not all Pilates teachers can teach the Mat well.

Many reformer-focused trainings skip over Mat entirely — or treat it as an afterthought. Teachers graduate knowing how to cue a footwork series on the Reformer but can't guide someone through a Roll Up without pulling on their neck.

At EQ, our teachers are rigorously trained in the Pilates method. Whether they're teaching Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, or across multiple apparatus, they understand how each piece of equipment relates to the work as a whole. That's not a basic qualification. That's years of training, mentorship, and personal practice.

Whether you're in a Mat class or a Reformer class, you're being taught by someone who deeply understands the method. That knowledge costs the same to develop, and it's worth the same in the room.

Small Classes Mean Quality Teaching — Everywhere

We don't run Mat classes with 15 people crammed onto the floor while Reformer classes stay exclusive and expensive. Every session you attend at EQ — regardless of which room you're in — gets you the same level of personalised attention.

Your teacher knows your name. They know your body. They know what you struggled with last week and what you're working toward. That doesn't change based on whether there's a spring attached.

The Mat Challenges You More Than You Think

If you've only ever done equipment-based Pilates, the Mat might surprise you.

Without the springs to guide you, without the feedback from the carriage, your body has to do all the work. You can't rely on resistance to tell you where you are in space. You have to find your own stability, your own control, your own strength.

That's not easier. That's harder.

The Mat is where you learn to own the method. It's where choreography falls away and real movement begins. And frankly, it deserves more respect — and the same investment — as equipment work.

It's Not About the Gear — It's About the Method

Yes, our Reformers and Cadillacs cost money to maintain. But so does keeping excellent teachers on the floor. So does running a studio where the person at the front desk knows your dog's name. So does maintaining small class sizes and a 24-year reputation for doing Pilates properly.

The value you get at EQ isn't in the springs and straps. It's in the teaching. It's in the expertise. It's in the fact that when you walk into any class — Mat, Reformer, Tower, Joe's Gym — you're getting Pilates taught by people who genuinely know what they're doing.

And that's worth the same, no matter what room you're in.

What This Means for You

Starting now, all our group classes are the same price. You can build your week around what your body needs — not what your budget allows.

Your membership gives you access to it all. Because at EQ, we're not in the business of upselling apparatus. We're in the business of teaching Pilates the way it was meant to be taught.

Questions about which classes to try? Drop us a message or chat with your teacher after class. We'll help you build a routine that works for your body — and your goals.