Is reformer pilates enough?

[AdelaideAtHome]

I've recently become much more aware of the importance of strength training for long-term health / bone health.

Currently I do reformer pilates for 50 minutes, twice a week. (I also walk for cardio).

Is reformer pilates twice a week enough for the benefits of strength training? Or do I need to do some weights too? It would have to be at-home youtube weights as I can't afford pilates AND a gym membership.

It wouldn't be enough for me, no. It's good for core strength and so on but doesn't have the same benefits as lifting heavy weights.

It is hard fitting everything in though. I love yoga and pilates and do feel the benefits, but finding time for that plus weights plus cardio can be tricky.

Can you switch to the mat instead? It's a lot less expensive and just as challenging.

Technically yes, I guess, but I do really enjoy reformer. And realistically, I know from experience I wouldn't actually go to the gym even if I had a membership.

I've recently started reformer as my gym now offers it, and I do enjoy it. But I feel it's just a great addition alongside my strength training and cardio (running).
I don't feel it could replace the benefits I get from heavy lifting

Just read your update.
In that case, there's no question really as you've said yourself you wouldn't go to the gym to do strength in addition to reformer.
Doing something you enjoy is better than doing nothing, and there will be benefits to doing it. Just not the benefits you'd see from strength training (which to me are a non-negotiable)

So you don't think home weights would be useful?

Again, I think it's better than nothing. But for strength training benefits, you need to be lifting heavy. It's hard to do this at home because you need a variety of weights for different muscle groups, and as you progress (which you should be regularly to seen the benefits) you need to up your weights so you need to buy new/more.
For example if you only have a set of 5kg dumbbells, these would be ok for starting out with shoulder press etc but they'll be pointless for lower body, or even back and chest exercises.
You need A LOT more for this

Ah right, I see. Shows how little I know about strength training! So I guess that would mean I'd need a PT. Time for a re-think perhaps.

I really disagree with this. I’ve done both (Mat Pilates with a lot of different teachers 121 not in big group sessions) and a good reformer class is much more challenging than mat.

@AdelaideAtHome could you think about doing some body weight exercises at home? Press ups, tricep dips etc are a decent strength workout without the need to buy (and store) a range of heavy weights, benches, etc.

@Katrinawaves makes a good point actually about body weight exercise.
Maybe take a look at Caroline Girvan's Calisthenics programme on Youtube

I agree with this. I do think that I lift better because of mat Pilates, because it's built an instinct to engage my core, and Pilates has also helped me a lot with functional skills like balance. But I have tried Pilates without weights and weights without Pilates and I would absolutely pick weights over Pilates if I had to choose one.

You can do a lot of stuff at home with a couple of kettle bells. Yes it's not quite the same as a gym, but if you hate gyms then this is a lot better than doing nothing!
Decathlon do a relatively cheap dumbell set that you can load with different weights and you could buy a mid weight kettle to get started. Then you can do swings, rows, skull crushers, biceps, Turkish lifts etc.
Start low and build up gently and ideally in front of a mirror to check form. There's loads of free stuff on YouTube or for example my Garmin app has free workouts.
Once you get comfortable with your weight then you can load heavier plates on the dumbell and/or buy a heavier kettle bells (sell your old one!). If you price watch or keep an eye on second hand options you don't have to spend a lot. Personally I have a few kettles ranging from 8 to 20kg which I'll use if I want to do home training. It's quite versatile and many people feel more comfortable starting out at home (I did!). Now I go to gym too but that took me a few years !

I do yoga several times a week but I add to this with home weights (although my arms and legs are really becoming really toned from the yoga).I keep it really simple though- a kettlebell I lift and do squats with at bedtime- 30 and rep x 3.1, 5 and 8kg weights I do lunges, tripod dips etc with.Jo Wicks has some great free weights workouts but there's so much stuff on you tube you don't need the gym if you can't afford it/won't go.I'd stick to the reformer pilates as it really sorts your core and that really become important.

If you have any Apple devices Apple fitness is really good if you are disciplined enough to do.work outs at home. There are strength work outs for different body areas, different lengths (10/20/30 mins) and they always have a "modifier" who demonstrates an easier option

I do a boot camp.class (in person) which covers core/cardio/strength then play Pilates and strength at home with Apple fitness

Thank you all so much for these ideas! I'm going to have a look into them all.