Reformer Pilates self-test: The hyped training really is that good

Reformer Pilates: an experience report

Pilates is on everyone’s lips (again) – people on Instagram have been wanting to know how to get “Pilates arms” like Miley Cyrus for weeks, and the term “Pilates Girls” has almost 62,000 posts on TikTok (last viewed: March 20th). December 2024). The Reformer Pilates is, 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 saved my exercise routine – and my back!

So I started Reformer Pilates – and this is something you should keep in mind before training

Straight forward: To be honest, I’ve never been able to stick to regular training for long in my life. Until I eventually started Reformer Pilates. I took 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 like Margot Robbie and Meghan Markle relied on. 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 I was confident on the devices and getting into a class that matched my abilities. If the studio doesn’t recommend this on its own, I would definitely advise you to request an interview.

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. healthy hips, 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 have mine Found 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.