First class free

Mat Core: mat pilates to start with and to complement the reformer

Mat Core is a 45-minute mat pilates class focused on the fundamentals: breathing, core stability and posture. You work with your own body weight and small props, so it’s a good first step and a great complement to reformer classes.

Level
Beginner
Length
45 min
Equipment
Mat
Who it’s for
To start, and alongside the reformer

See the timetable and bookSee class packsFree to start

Woman doing an abdominal exercise on a mat

What the class is

Mat pilates is where the whole method began — before the machines, Joseph Pilates taught exercises on the floor. On the mat there’s no spring to help you, so you learn to control your body on your own.

In class we also use small props — balls, bands and rings — to make an exercise easier or harder and help you feel the muscles working.

How a class runs

  1. Breathing and set-upLateral breathing, pelvis in neutral, activating the deep core muscles.
  2. CoreClassic abdominal and back exercises at a calm pace, with easier and harder options.
  3. Hips and glutesWork lying on your side and on your back, pelvic stability.
  4. PostureBack and shoulder-blade exercises lying face down and in a plank.
  5. StretchLengthening the spine, hips and chest.

What makes it different

  • No machines: you learn control that you then carry over to the reformer and everyday life.
  • Every exercise has an easier and a harder option — the group can be mixed-level.
  • One of the two formats where your first class is free.

Who it suits

A good choice if

  • you’re new to pilates and want to learn the basics,
  • you do reformer classes and want to add work without spring support,
  • you’re looking for calm training for posture and your abdominal muscles,
  • you want to learn exercises you can then do at home.

Choose another format or talk to your doctor first if

  • you have a recent injury or acute back pain — see a specialist first,
  • you’re pregnant — come to Prenatal Reformer (with your doctor’s consent),
  • you’re after intense cardio — try Jumpboard Cardio.

What regular training gives you

A strong core
The exercises teach you to stabilise your trunk with no support at all.
Better posture
Back and shoulder-blade work that’s easy to carry over to a day at your desk.
The method’s foundations
Breathing and alignment that you’ll use in every other class.
Exercises for everyday
No machines needed — many exercises you can later do on your own at home.

Your first class

  • Arrive 10 minutes early; mats and props are provided.
  • Close-fitting clothes; grip socks or barefoot.
  • Tell your instructor about any injuries or pregnancy.
  • If something is too hard, choose the easier option — the instructor always shows one.

Frequently asked questions

Is mat pilates easier than the reformer?

Not always — on the mat there’s no spring support, so some exercises are harder. That’s why every exercise in our classes has an easier option, and it’s a good format to start with.

Is Mat Core suitable for beginners?

Yes, it’s level 1. Your first Mat Core class is free, once per person.

Do I need my own mat?

No, mats and props are provided at the studio.

How many people are in a class?

Up to 16 in the mat room.

Who teaches Mat Core?

Usually Natalia Wróbel, who specialises in breathwork.

Next step

Once the mat basics are second nature, discover what a spring adds — come to Reformer Flow.

Reformer Flow

These descriptions are for information only and are not a substitute for advice from a doctor or physiotherapist. If you have an injury, a chronic condition or are pregnant, check with a specialist first and tell your instructor before the class.