Reformer Pilates trend

[whatnextwhy]

What is the hype around reformer Pilates??
Is this a passing trend or genuinely better than mat Pilates?

It seems to go with matcha lattes and £££….

Been around for years, not a new thing.

I’ve been doing reformer for years. But my access has improved recently as I now get it included at my trendy gym!! I like to mix up mat and reformer classes. I used to do two mat, one reformer a week (mostly on cost grounds as I had to pay separately for reformer). Now I aim to do two reformer and one mat a week.

reformer can provide support to build up to exercises that are difficult on the mat, better isolate individual muscle groups, and if you are a regular provide a more challengibg workout against resistance than mat can.

Loads of celebs have been doing it for years too. So I think it is a fad. But it will broaden the base of long term devotees.

But beginners are definitely better starting in small group specialist environments. The Pilates studio I go to has max 6 people in a class vs my gym which has 14-20 depending on the branch. I get on ok at the gym but I know what I’m doing and can make my own adjustments. A newbie friend has retreated back to a studio environment to get the basics on my advice.

Not better, but different. The two types work the muscles in slightly different ways, and there are some exercises you can do on the reformer (or the cadillac) that can't be done on the mat - and vice versa.

You can even do pilates on TRX... now that is a killer for me.

I think the basics executed in any way whether on mat or with equipment are always extremely tough tbh. The earliest reformer was invented by Joseph Pilates himself more than a century again so it has been around for a very long time!

I find the reformer class trend very annoying tbh - I don’t like all the faffing with springs and various accessories as it cuts into the actual exercise time. Also they are way more expensive per class than mat Pilates or Barre. More and more reformer places are opening up, I’d prefer more variety.

Ooh, I’m signed up for my first reformer class next week, not done Pilates for over 10 years !

Yes it probably is a fad, but I do really enjoy it. It's not better or worse than mat pilates but I do find there's more variety with the reformer. Probably my mat instructor but we did the same routine pretty much every week and it got quite boring. I've never drank a matcha latte though...

I’ve been doing reformer for about7 years. It’s not a mindless trend. It is amazing. Done properly it’s the most amazing work out, has got rid of all my aches, pains and fitness and has transformed my body. It’s amazing

It's been a thing for ages but it's normal for there to be fitness trends eg hot yoga, soul cycle etc.

I was doing Reforner Pilates about 25 years ago. Not a passing fad.

I have been in a regular class with reformer for 2 years - which also mixes in mat on occasion - and it's bloomin' amazing. Previously did yoga x 2 a week for 25 years. Classes are small, and really intense. But worth it. They have also now introduce a barre studio but probs not going to go there. My balance is so shot that the Pilates is about as far as I can go with that ! Recommend.

I love reformer pilates. I don't drink matcha lattes, nor do I have lots of $$$.
It is a bit pricey though, admittedly.

But my wrists and shoulders don't tolerate mat pilates. Especially my wrists. Reformer is a lot more supportive for my body.

I started classical equipment( mainly reformer) lessons over 20 years ago. I still do them.
I think the difference is the regimented class with a row of reformers where everyone does the same thing at once aren't Pilates. They are something using a device designer for Pilates for other purposes. If you look at the various studios many of the instructors have no pilates training that all. The many qualified and very experienced teachers I've encountered over the years won't teach more than 4 people at a time usually(insurance is strict,) because that's all that's safe and practical. In Pilates equipment the room for incorrect technique and injury is high so close surveillance and correction is needed. If u your technique is even a little off, you won't get results so close supervision is a great sign as it's personalised and adapting exercises for each person based on their personal abilities and profile.
When done well, may Pilates is very good for core, and joint strength and stability á well as for your shape and overall tone. It works. And you can do it at home in your own too. Reformers mixed with other equipment a full classic set up, in my experience gets much more dramatic results quicker, youre often doing very similar exercises to mat but the added resistance if the springs and ropes enhanced the exercise giving a better outcome. There are far more advanced exercises which your wouldn't be able to achieve anything like without equipment too.

I believe its been popular in C.Asia and E.Europe for years. I remember staying in a B&B in Azerbaijan and they had the equipment which looked like some sort of torture room.
I tried it when a new place opened up (UK) paid for 5 sessions and loved it and I think I've only done mat pilates once. I'd happily continue but unfortunately far too expensive.

I love reformer Pilates, nothing else has shaped my body like it. I also do cardio and weights but reformer is the best and I'm so glad there are so many studios now. Although I'm not keen on the ones where music is blasting and instructor uses a mic.

I did my first reformer Pilates class yesterday, I’d wanted to try it before but didn’t have a studio anywhere close.

I absolutely loved it, it was much tougher than any mat Pilates class I’ve done.

I love Pilates, I’ve been doing mat and reformer for over a decade and it’s great for both my mobility and my mental health.

Reformer is having a bit of a trendy moment, with all the twenty something girls in matching sets and matcha lattes getting into it, but don’t let that put you off.

If you’re interested in trying it, look for a small studio as PPs have said, where the instructor knows what they’re doing, your mat work instructor might be able to recommend one. If you’ve been doing mat classes you’ll have a good foundation for reformer and you might enjoy it!

Its
not new. I’d like to try it (I’ve done regular Pilates for years) but the costs at our local gyms are too high.

I'd love to try reformer Pilates but it's so expensive. I'm hoping it's still a thing when my kids are older and take up less of my money.

Absolutely love reformer Pilates and have been doing it for the past 10 years. It’s only started being the ‘next big thing’ in the last couple of years. There’s a new studio opening every couple of weeks it seems at the moment near where I live. I think due to market saturation some of those studios will struggle and close eventually. But it is a fantastic form of exercise and the only one I’ve managed to stick with.

I have done mat Pilates for about 11 years but particularly enjoy reformer. Six years ago my lower back started becoming really painful and it turns out I have osteoarthritis in my right hip. The doctor just recommended Pilates which obviously I was already doing. Six years later whilst I do have painful bouts with my lower back it’s not as bad and certainly hasn’t got any worse. However even if my back is hurting I force myself to go to a class and always feel better afterwards so it’s certainly worth it to help you remain active.

I did reformer pilates about 5 times a week for 8 years, but it’s so expensive now I stick with mat based and weights. I honestly find mat based just as effective, and you can do it at home and choose the class - there are some great apps around.

Pilates has been around for many years, reformer Pilates is nothing new where I am. It's just that it's been and still is priced for a wealthier clientele.

I had taken some reformer classes and bought a basic model and so do mat and reformer. I put bed risers under the reformer I bought to raise it off the ground, the stand was over $150 iirc. Adding the resistance from the springs makes the movements a bit harder and shows pretty quick results. I did find the reformer was harder than it looks.

I also find traditional mat the hardest for some reason.

I mean reformer pilates has been a trend for a very long time. It was developed in the early 20th century and was trendy at the gym I went to in my 20s (I am 44 now!).

My aunt raves about it, I gave it a good go with 5 sessions but I wasn’t impressed.

Yes some of the exercises are hard but I never understood the logic of what we were trying to achieve. You can build core strength and mobility with other exercises much more effectively (and cheaply!).

It’s a way to make money out of people who don’t want to go to the gym.