Reformer Pilates: an experience report
is on everyone’s lips (again).People have been wanting to know how to for weeksgets, and the term “Pilates Girls” has come upalmost 62,000 posts (last viewed: December 20, 2024). TheReformer Pilatesis, so to speak, the supreme discipline of the Pilates hype. And while I find a lot of the new Pilates hype, including glossy studios and super-expensive, color-matching sports sets, strange, I can only say: The Reformer has my sports routine - and mine– saved!
This is how I started with Reformer Pilates – and this is something you should keep in mind before training
First of all: To be honest, I have never been able to stick to regular training for long in my life. Until I eventually started Reformer Pilates. I did my first course in 2019, when training on the movable, sled-like device was still more of a niche sport that a few very fit stars likeandput. And it was absolute luck that I even found a studio that offered the training.
When it comes to sports, I've always been more of a resistance band team than dumbbells - and for that reason alone, I liked the idea of training on the reformer primarily with the resistance concept and my body weight. Plus, the moves I saw in promotional videos online didn't look like dull repetitive training, but rather totally varied and just a lot of fun. I not only wanted to become fitter, but above all more flexible - and the reformer seemed to make all of these goals possible.
And the experience at my first training session was just super positive. Before I even entered the studio, I had a consultation with a trainer so that he could assess my musculoskeletal system, my posture and any pain or injuries. So he wanted to make sure that I would be safe on the devices and get into a course that matched my abilities. If the studio doesn't offer this on its own, I would definitely recommend requesting such a conversation.
Reformer Pilates has radically changed my attitude towards exercise
When the training started, I quickly realized what makes reformer training so different from traditional fitness classes. Namely, that the reformer principle is primarily aimed at functional movement of the body - i.e. a healthy hip, movements that are gentle on the joints, building strong shoulders, strengthening the gluteal muscles, etc. One of my long-time trainers, Lucy Sparks, even explained to me that the entire Pilates school as such (long before it became a trend) was intended by the first teachers to prevent injuries or to rehabilitate after injuries.
And to date, there has never been any mention of “losing weight” or “toning up” in my courses. Which radically changed my idea of how I view sports. I no longer see sport as a way to tinker with myself and my appearance, but rather as an investment in my health and general well-being. Of course, the right course leader is always crucial for this experience. My tip: If you notice that your management is primarily selling Pilates as a cosmetic treatment: simply change the course. After all, there is now a lot more on offer than in 2019.
Reformer Pilates in a self-test: that is my conclusion after 4 years of training
And that brings me to 2024, where I'm still doing Reformer Pilates - so you could say I really havemineFound a sport for me! Which not only made me fitter, but also improved my attitude towards my body. The only drawback that I see about Reformer Pilates after four years of training and that I don't want to withhold from you is that it is an expensive affair compared to classic mat Pilates. It is therefore definitely recommended to invest in a gym pass that includes the courses instead of booking them individually.
