What Is March Matness?
March Matness is a global, annual Pilates tradition that celebrates the original Mat work created by Joseph Pilates.
Throughout the month of March, instructors and Pilates enthusiasts around the world share and explore one of the 34 classical Mat exercises each day, deepening their understanding of the method and reconnecting with its roots.
The name is a playful nod to the NCAA basketball tournament “March Madness,” but the intention is deeply educational. March Matness exists to spotlight the Mat as the foundation of Pilates and to honor the work that existed long before equipment was introduced.
Where March Matness Came From
March Matness was started by Benjamin Degenhardt, a respected Pilates teacher, around 2013.
His goal was simple and powerful.
To bring the Pilates community back to the source.
Joseph Pilates originally outlined 34 Mat exercises that formed a complete and intelligent system of movement. These exercises emphasize control, precision, alignment, breath, and flow. March Matness was created as a way to study, share, and celebrate those exercises one at a time.
What began as a social media initiative quickly became a global educational movement.
How March Matness Works
During March, participants focus on one classical Mat exercise each day.
This often includes:
- Videos or demonstrations of the exercise
- Discussions around form, intention, and sequencing
- Modifications and variations for different bodies
Instructors use the opportunity to explain not just what the exercise looks like, but why it exists and how it fits into the system.
Many studios also bring March Matness into their classes by highlighting Mat exercises, translating them to equipment, or offering workshops that deepen understanding of the Mat repertoire.
Why the Mat Is the Foundation of Pilates
The Mat work predates all Pilates equipment.
Joseph Pilates built his method around the belief that the body itself is the most effective tool for developing strength, flexibility, and control. The Mat teaches:
- Strength without reliance on springs
- Control without momentum
- Awareness without distraction
The equipment was created later to support and refine the work, not replace it.
March Matness reminds us that everything in Pilates traces back to the Mat.
Why March Matness Matters
March Matness is not about performance or novelty.
It is about education.
It matters because it:
- Honors Joseph Pilates’ original work
- Reinforces Pilates as a system, not a collection of exercises
- Encourages deeper understanding for both teachers and students
By slowing down and studying the Mat, practitioners gain clarity, confidence, and respect for the method as a whole.
Why We Celebrate March Matness at Precision Pilates
At Precision Pilates, March Matness aligns perfectly with how we teach.
We believe the Mat is not a simplified version of Pilates. It is the foundation.
March gives us a chance to:
- Reconnect clients to the roots of the method
- Highlight the intelligence behind Mat work
- Reinforce that Pilates is about quality, not trends
The Mat teaches the body how to move well. That is always worth celebrating.
The Bottom Line
March Matness is a celebration of where Pilates began.
By honoring the 34 original Mat exercises, the Pilates community reconnects with the principles that make the method effective, enduring, and transformative.
When you understand the Mat, you understand Pilates.
