The Pilates reformer is one of the most iconic and recognisable pieces of Pilates equipment. Our reformer classes are suited to beginners, intermediate and advanced Pilates students. Regardless of your ability and experience, it’s likely you will get a great deal of physical and mental benefit from our reformer Pilates classes. Our classes are fully inclusive and activities are tailored to your individual needs and abilities.
The Pilates reformer comprises of a flat carriage, a foot bar, and a gear bar from which springs attach to create varying levels of resistance. The reformer reformer is highly versatile, simple to use, and allows you to target your entire body within a single session.
Classically, the reformer has been used to support the progress and development of Pilates students with their matwork exercises and practice. If you as a student lacked sufficient strength, length, or movement control at a particular stage of an exercise, your teacher would use the reformer alongside other Pilates apparatus and/or matwork exercises to develop those attributes.
In recent years, especially in contemporary Pilates studios and other fitness environments, reformer Pilates classes have become increasingly popular. Instead of using the reformer alongside other apparatus, these sessions focus entirely on the reformer. They use different exercises performed in different planes of motion to create a low-impact, full-body workout that aligns with the core principles of Pilates. This approach aligns more closely with what we teach at Realign.
The spring tension used on the reformer can create resistance or support you with specific movement patterns, making exercises harder or easier (as required). Resistance can be applied directly to the carriage by using the foot bar or standing platform at the bottom of the reformer to push the carriage away with the hands or feet.
Alternatively, resistance or support can also be provided by the straps. On the straps, there are loops for the hands and feet depending on the specific exercise being performed. Again, you can use the straps to create resistance or provide support at challenging stages of the exercise (as required). The straps operate through a pulley system (risers) at the head of the reformer and with our modern Align Pilates beds, these can be adjusted to your specific body dimensions.
Exercises in our reformer classes are typically grouped into different series according to body position or the specific equipment being used (e.g., the long box, short box). Most of our reformer classes include exercises from each of the following body positions:
Most exercises in our reformer classes are performed directly on the carriage, although some may be performed standing behind or to the side of the reformer, using the machine solely for balance, resistance or support.
The dynamic nature of the reformer introduces a level of instability that must be managed to keep movements safe. Exercises with fewer points of contact, such as the kneeling and standing series, tend to be the most unstable. Conversely, exercises with more points of contact offer greater stability.
Unstable exercises should be reserved for more experienced participants who have demonstrated proficiency in foundational movements. As a general rule, beginners and intermediate students should always maintain at least three points of contact with the reformer. In advanced classes, teachers may introduce more instability through exercises like the standing side split, which uses only two points of contact.
Within any reformer class, exercises are taught in a way that creates a flowing sequence, allowing students to move from one exercise to the next gracefully and seamlessly. This limits downtime and ensures the class aligns with one of the six core principles of Pilates: flow.
In both classical and contemporary Pilates schools, the choreographic flow of sessions is highly structured, and teachers are often rigid in how they deliver these movements. In many modern or fitness-based Pilates studios, however, less emphasis is placed on the exact order of exercises, provided the principle of flow is respected. In these types of classes, classical reformer exercises are combined with functional conditioning variation, like lunges, rotational work, or standing balance exercises, creating a more varied workout. Many of our reformer classes are taught in this style.
Our reformer classes are highly versatile and inclusive because spring resistance can be easily adjusted within a session to meet your individual needs. Instructors can also alter the resistance during an exercise to make the movement safer and more manageable for you.
Broadly speaking, the benefits of reformer classes align with all other types of Pilates. That said, the reformer allows students and teachers to target specific areas of the body that are much harder to reach through matwork Pilates exercises alone.
By using spring resistance effectively, our students develop greater strength, stability, and movement control to support their health, fitness, and wellbeing goals. The benefits of our reformer classes include, but are not limited to:
Given the focus on posture, alignment, movement control, and pelvic floor health, Pilates is also highly effective for clients with specialist needs, including lower back and neck pain, pregnancy, or arthritis.