One high quality article showed that after 6 weeks of mat Pilates training or 6 weeks training with Pilates equipment (equipment includes: tower or trapeze table, reformer, barrel, and chair), participants with chronic low back pain had similar improvements. However, with these participants the studies demonstrated that equipment based Pilates sessions showed better and longer lasting results than with mat Pilates. So while mat Pilates is definitely amazing, several studies report that equipment Pilates produces superior results. AMAZING!