Pilates Matwork: Out of Fashion or Just Ready for Its Comeback?
Why Mat-Based Teaching Might Be the Clogs and Flares of the Pilates World
Fashion is famously cyclical. What’s “out” today is often “in” again tomorrow. We’ve watched flared jeans swing back into style after decades in the wilderness. Clogs vanished from the high street only to return to catwalks and boutique studios alike. The chunky trainer? Once mocked. Now mainstream.
And so it is with Pilates...
Matwork, the original, accessible, no-equipment format that
introduced millions to the method has, in recent years, been quietly pushed
aside. In its place Reformer classes and
Studio towers. High-end equipment with sleek finishes and even sleeker price
tags.
But just like vintage denim and oversized blazers, Matwork
is ready for a comeback: and it’s more than just a trend. At Mbodies, we
believe Matwork deserves a second debut this time, on your own terms, and in a
way that reflects the clients you actually serve.
Matwork Isn’t Basic : It’s Been Misunderstood
Just as every new trend recycles elements of the old, much of what makes Reformer popular today originated in Mat-based movement. The principles are not different — it’s the presentation that changed.
If our business depended on Matwork then you would raise
your eyebrows, however those who know Mbodies are aware we have NEVER taught
Pilates Matwork, yet are in 2026 focussing on its revival !
Matwork has been mistaken for simplistic, repetitive, and
underwhelming. But that’s not Matwork’s fault. That’s what happens when
training becomes syllabus-based rather than person-centred.
Our course under development is ‘Matwork in the Modern
World’, we’re taking the sequins off the leggings and putting real function
back into form. This is Matwork with intent: updated for real-life application,
with a structure that allows instructors to teach thoughtfully, confidently and
creatively.
Trends in Teaching: Why Instructors are Circling Back
There’s a well-trodden path in Pilates education:
Matwork → Reformer → More Apparatus → CPD in equipment
But for many instructors, that journey has become a loop
with no deepening of understanding. Instructors widen their toolbox without
necessarily becoming more confident. Often, they are still missing the skills
to adapt what they teach to the needs of older adults, those with injury, or
clients post-rehabilitation.
It’s like buying a designer coat when what you really needed was a pair of well-made shoes.
What we’re seeing now is a growing number of Classical and
Contemporary instructors returning to Matwork, not out of nostalgia, but from a
desire to differentiate themselves from Fitness Pilates. And, like clogs, once
you get them fitted correctly, they’re surprisingly practical.
One Method, Many Styles: Learning that Fits
Fashion evolves not just in cut and colour, but in how it's
styled, worn and combined. Education should be no different. That’s why at
Mbodies, we offer multiple delivery styles, so you will be able to revisit
Matwork and modernise your teaching in the way that suits you best:
·
Online: Fully self-paced with structure
and assessment; ideal for those balancing other work or family commitments.
·
Hybrid Online + Tutor Support Blends the flexibility of online study with
personal feedback, video submission reviews and guided support.
·
Face-to-Face Workshops Delivered via
Regional Satellite Centres, offering focused immersion and practical experience
with peers and tutors.
·
Apprentice-Based Learning Some
instructors thrive when learning through doing, under experienced mentors
within a studio setting : we support this style fully.
Just like a good outfit, the right learning model brings out
your best. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all : we believe in
fit-for-purpose.
The new season stylish Matwork Is More Than Lying on a Mat
Done well, Matwork is one of the most adaptable and
impactful tools a Pilates instructor can use:
·
It requires no expensive kit : perfect for
in-home clients or outreach
·
It pairs easily with small props : resistance
bands, overballs, circles and blocks
·
It integrates standing and functional movement :
ideal for older clients and balance work
·
It can be scaled, shaped and reinvented for any
population group
·
And, crucially, it can be taught with meaning : as
an intervention, not just a sequence.
Matwork for Today’s Clients, Not Yesterday’s Syllabus
Let’s be honest; today’s Pilates client is often nothing
like the ones we saw in textbooks or fitness-led matwork courses from five
years ago. They’re :
·
They’ve had joint replacements.
·
They’re returning after cancer treatment.
·
They’ve lost strength or confidence.
Matwork, in its revised and reimagined form, is perfectly
placed to support them: if the instructor has the skills to make it relevant.
That’s what Matwork at Mbodies will be all about:
·
Teaching adaptation
·
Programming for special populations
·
Integrating upright, functional movement
·
Building versatility and creativity into every
class or session
Matwork can be the most powerful and cost-effective way to
build a practice, serve a wide demographic, and reconnect with the joy of
teaching movement that truly matters.
This Isn’t a Throwback : It’s a Reset
Fashion comes and goes, but what works tends to come back
stronger. Matwork might not currently dominate Instagram feeds or boutique
studio calendars, but that doesn’t mean it’s over.
Like clogs. Like flares. Like quality Matwork is not out of
date; it’s ready for rediscovery.
Not because it’s retro, but because, with the right
education and support, it just works. For you. For your clients. And for the
future of Pilates.
Chris Onslow
Pilates Business Specialist Consultant
Phone: +44 (0)1993 883449
Whatsapp text +44(0)7301052846
20 Nash Lane, Freeland, Witney, Oxon, OX29 8HS, UK
Web: https://www.pilates-consultant.co.uk/ (Pilates Consultancy, Apparatus sales and hire)
Email: chris@pilatesconsultant.co.uk
Web: https//www.mbodiesacademy.co.uk/ (Instructor training)
Email: chris@mbodiesacademy.co.uk
Web: https://mbodies.thinkific.com/ (Online Training Portal)
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