March Matness
Yes, It’s a Thing. And Yes, We Care About It. And, we’re here to show you why.
By Kimmy Kellum, Founder, East River Pilates
A fun throwback to our free Mat Pilates classes at Domino Park. Featuring Abby Price and Danielle Phillips, forever members of the ERP Dream Team.
Every March, the Pilates world celebrates something called March Matness. It’s true.
If you’re thinking, “Is that like March Madness?” Yes. Exactly. Just with more planks and fewer brackets. If you’re also thinking, “Do normal people actually care about this?” Probably not. And honestly, that’s fair.
We’re not here because March Matness is thrilling. We’re here because it gives us a really good excuse to talk about something that matters more than we sometimes realize: the mat.
The Mat Came First
Before there were reformers, towers, or beautifully Instagrammed springs, there was the mat.
The reformer tends to get the spotlight. It’s dynamic. It feels supportive and let’s face it, it’s pretty impressive. We love it (obviously).
But historically, the apparatus wasn’t designed to replace mat work. It was created to help people develop strength, control, and alignment so they could eventually move well without relying on equipment. The springs give feedback, the carriage offers support, the equipment helps you feel connection. But the goal was always independence.
In many ways, the reformer teaches you something, however, the mat is where you apply it.
Why the Mat Still Matters
Mat work is simple. And simple is powerful. There’s nowhere to hide. No springs assisting you. No carriage guiding you. Just you, your breath, and the floor.
Mat Pilates builds:
Deep internal strength
Stability and coordination
Mobility and control
A practice you can take anywhere
Once you understand mat work, it belongs to you. You don’t need equipment. You don’t need perfect conditions. And that’s part of why we love it.
It’s also why mat translates so beautifully beyond the studio. Whether you’re traveling, at home, or just want to move in your living room, mat Pilates is always available. That’s also why we offer ERP Online Virtual Classes, so you can stay connected to your practice from wherever you are.
We Asked Our Dream Team
Because it wouldn’t be ERP without hearing from the people actually in the room teaching it. Alec Hynes, ERP’s Head of Teaching, put it simply:
Alec, Head of Teaching
“Mat Pilates is humbling. Many people actually find it to be the most challenging Pilates modality because it’s just you and gravity. Most of what we do on Pilates apparatus is designed to help prepare your body to move through daily life, resisting gravity. Springs can be adjusted, but gravity is constant.”
He also reminds clients that mat work is incredibly practical.
“If you can do it on the mat, you can do it anywhere. Mat movements translate easily to a quick ‘exercise snack’ during your day, whether it’s a stretch for some mobility or a plank to wake you up after lunch.”
Interestingly, many Pilates practitioners start with mat, move on to the reformer, and then eventually find themselves back on the mat again.
“One of my favorite feelings,” Alec says, “is lying on my back on the floor after a mat class. When the body is warm and the muscles energized, resting into gravity feels incredibly rejuvenating.”
Ashley, Senior Teacher
For Ashley Tillman, one of ERP’s Senior Pilates Teachers, the beauty of mat work comes down to its simplicity and freedom.
“I love Mat Pilates because it’s a system you can practice anywhere. You’re not limited by needing equipment or props. At any moment you can hop down on the mat and have a whole world of movement potential.”
She also sees mat as one of the clearest ways to connect with the body itself.
“Mat Pilates is such a beautiful way to connect to the ground and use that feedback to find length and strength. It’s one of the best practices for bringing you closer to yourself, your center, your powerhouse.”
Top to bottom: Nicole Hood, Ashley Tillman, and Elena Valencia
The Mat Is Also About Access
This is where March Matness becomes bigger than a Pilates holiday. The mat doesn’t require equipment. It doesn’t require prior experience. It doesn’t require a certain income level.
“It’s the most accessible entry point into Pilates, which is exactly why it matters to us.”
That’s why we offer Community Mat Classes at a choose-what-you-pay rate and Free Online Mat Pilates Classes, where you can join in anytime, anywhere, with or without a mat. Whether you’re on your living room floor, a grassy patch in the park, or a beach towel while traveling, mat Pilates meets you where you are. These classes are designed to remove barriers and make movement something people can return to consistently, not occasionally.
“Wellness should not feel exclusive. It should feel available.”
Our Most Accessible Membership
If you’re looking to build a steady routine, our Mat Memberships are the most accessible way to practice at East River Pilates.
They’re designed for:
People who want consistency
People who value the foundation
People who want a lower-cost way to stay connected to the studio
Mat membership isn’t a step down from reformer. It’s a commitment to the fundamentals. And fundamentals are what make everything else stronger.
So…March Matness?
You don’t have to memorize the full classical sequence. You don’t have to post a daily exercise. You definitely don’t need a bracket! But you might use this month as a reminder to spend a little more time on the mat; in the studio, in community, or online from home. Movement isn’t about doing more. It’s about learning how to stay connected.
Until next time, we’ll see you again soon in the studio, on the reformer, and yes, on the mat.
With warmth,
Kimmy