Reformer pilates

There's a Lidl one in stores from this weekend I think, less than £100 and looked pretty good. Was sent a message about reserving it a few days ago. Did reformer pilates about 10 years ago with a friend who was an instructor at the time. No classes near me now (too rural), so hoping its a good machine for the money and youtube classes to try and follow! Need to improve my core

I go once a week and will do for the foreseeable - it helped me stay strong and protect my pelvic floor during my second pregnancy (after a terrible prolapse with my 1st)

the classes are only 6 people and the instructor knows my body and is rehab trained.

It’s cheaper than PT and in my opinion money well spent to keep my pelvic floor, core and glutes in good working order!

I still lift weights 2-3x a week as well and consider my reformer like pre-hab to prevent injuries and make sure I’m getting the most out of my gym sessions.

In my mind, tons of people think nothing of spending £18 a week on a few bottles of wine or picking up a few extra nice bits every time you go to the supermarket. It would cost me that just to drive to town, pay to park and have a coffee and a cake!

So I think given the tangible benefits to my health (and consequently mental health) it’s actually very good value for money!

The yoga teacher can pay for the room only for the hours it’s being used as there is no fixed equipment. The reformer Pilates studio needs it 24/7 as the machines are too heavy and bulky to move in and out. Also the yoga class could have 3-4x as many participants as the reformer Pilates one which is limited by the number of beds (often 6)

Finally it’s a lot more expensive to train as a reformer instructor than a yoga or mat Pilates teacher. My own mat Pilates instructor who has been teaching for many years would love to train as a reformer instructor but can’t afford it.

I suspect the insurance is also a lot higher as you could do yourself a serious injury using the reformer incorrectly- less so in yoga or mat pilates

Tried it a few years ago and enjoyed it but it wasn't sustainable or affordable. Was impossible to book the same class each week and I felt like one work out a week probably wouldn't make that much difference. But most of all it was £25 a class.

Yes I can count, thanks. No need to be so snarky.

The reason my classes are cheaper is that I buy them in bulk, like I said. I just checked and individual classes are €24 each, I guess it varies massively depending on location.

I do a mat work class twice weekly, and that costs £100 per month in a group. Reformer locally is 1-2-1 only and £45 ph. However, the instructor is brilliant, and it is a fun class, and I'm fit and fairly strong at 70. And I am by no means the only woman my age in class; many are older!

The machines are about £2500 each plus equipment you’re looking at £2800 per piece of equipment. Any decent instructor needs to be mat qualified first (cost of the course ranges from £1200-1800) then there is the Reformer qualification itself (~£1000) plus all the hours of attendance and teaching required to qualify so you can get insurance.

The layout costs are huge if you then factor in floor rent and utilities.

If you “pay peanuts you get monkeys”, instructors who aren’t fully capable of teaching or not understanding and conveying the Pilates movement principles of Alignment, Breath, Centering etc. or you end up crammed into a 10+ class where there is very little personal attention and support from the teacher as the studio is trying to be a profitable business running it like a conveyor belt of classes.

Pilates Reformer is part of a method, it’s not a stand-alone exercise but I’d definitely say this aspect of Pilates teaches unilateral mobility (not flexibility- that’s something different and not a permanent change). It’s a fantastic way to build strength and mobility through low impact exercises, focusing on good posture and learning functional movement. My Reformers are from Align and are raised - making it easily accessible for those who can’t get down on the mat.

It’s expensive and no supplement for resistance and cardio but people have made excellent progress and I see lots of referrals at my local studio from physios and Osteopaths to help their patients. Sorry, not a helpful post in terms of cost but might give people an understanding why the class charge is so high.

My gym does. It's a chain as well

Yes I am fully aware they can charge what they want it’s just a shame for those who can’t afford it. You pay 17 euro which is £14.75. They are charging us £25-30 a class which is 29-34 euros… vastly different from 17 in case you’re incapable of maths.

Id happily pay £15. I cannot pay £25. You’re prioritising a price that’s a third less than is available near me.

Also not in the UK, I pay around £8-9 per 55 minute class to do it twice a week. If I went more than that then it would be cheaper, but I also swim twice a week. There are 5 reformers in total but there is usually only 2 or 3 of us in the group, so it is good value. I have also done it on my own before which was a bit too intense!!

The only reason I do reformer pilates is because it was/is the cheapest class at the gym I joined when I moved here - group yoga or kickboxing classes are more expensive, and I dont like doing "just" gym stuff on my own. I doubt I will continue doing it if/when I return to London though if it is about 3 times the price as I dont "love" it, it is just conveinient.

None UK also...its about £60 a class here 😂

Well im going tonight.
I did a free taster last month.
But my (expensive) gym want an extra £10 for reformer class.
I loved the taster and normal pilates may be beyond me (ive never been to a class but tried a video!) so im treating myself tonight but wont be a weekly thing.
So annoyed theres a top up fee for class (I go to David Lloyd)

A friend goes to an absolutely terrifying woman in Wimbledon who charges £34 per drop in class from her home!

But they’re not a charity are they, it’s a business so they want to make a profit. So long as people are willing to pay for it, then they can charge what they like.

I go 2 or 3 times a week, which works out at about €17 per class when I buy them in bulk. The classes are usually booked out in advance, and there are waiting lists, so there’s obviously a market for it.

Yes, it’s expensive but it’s investing in my health and wellbeing. I think it’s great - there are women of all ages in the classes I go to.

Like others have said, it’s the only exercise I have ever stuck at, so I will prioritise it over spending money on other things.

I'm the same. I had an autoimmune disease for years that damaged my lungs so running is out for me.

I do mat pilates for £10 a class and that is a bargain for London (it is a local studio that deliberately keeps costs down).

I understand reformer is more expensive not just because of the initial outlay for the machines, but because good classes are very small and need well trained instructors. Using a reformer without close and proper supervision can lead to injury.

Thee is also the ongoing costs of storing them. My studio has one room and all their classes are mat based so it multi use. It you have reformer machine that room can only be used for reformer pilates.

£12 is a bloody bargain! It’s £30 a class here or £80 if you buy a block of 4 to use over 6 weeks. I go once a week.

I’m guessing that poster goes to a gym like Virgin Active.

my local VA in north London is £110per month and has reformer Pilates, spin, mat Pilates, sound bath, barre etc etc included, as well as a swimming pool, sauna, steam room. it’s also got a crèche for the kids (up to two hours a day per child included) and a cafe.

There are so many new studios popping up round here that have no problem filling their classes, so lots of people must be going regularly. It’s also driving the price down a bit which is a bonus. I go weekly again having switched to a different studio that sells bulk credit packs so it works out at £13 a class. My previous one put their prices in up to £25 a class and stopped doing decent discounts on the bulk credit packs!
I had a serious tendon injury 4 years ago to the point where I could hardly walk, reformer has been instrumental in my rehab, to the point where I can actually run again (albeit carefully and slowly!) I also love the challenge of it, I have to concentrate so hard that my usually racing brain is silent 😊

Even at £2k they could pay them off with the profit within 2 months.

I’ve joined for one class a week £80pm and top up to two classes when I can by paying £20 a session. I walk instead of any other gym membership. I wanted to relax and destress and it’s working for the same price as my previous all in membership.

I haven't tried it but tempted. Its £15 for one class here and they are offering a new starter deal 4 classes for £44 it has a time limit to use within 14 days though.