Reformer, mat, tower, chair: what the equipment actually does
Four pieces of apparatus, four quite different experiences. A plain guide to what you are booking.
Most studios list their classes by apparatus and assume you know the difference. Here is the plain version.
Mat
No machine. Your own body weight, a mat, sometimes a small ball or a circle. Cheapest, most portable, and considerably harder than it looks because nothing is helping you.
Reformer
The sliding carriage. Springs can assist or resist, which is why it works for both rehabilitation and for people who want to be worked hard. The most common class you will find.
Tower and Cadillac
A frame of bars and springs, either wall-mounted (tower) or a full four-poster bed (Cadillac). Excellent for shoulders, spines, and anyone working around an injury, because the support is generous.
Chair
Small, deceptively brutal. A box with a spring-loaded pedal. Used for balance, standing work, and by instructors who want to find out exactly where your weaknesses are.