The Reformer is arguably the most popular Pilates machine, beloved by both traditional Pilates enthusiasts and fans of high-octane group classes. Since studio workouts are on hold in most of the U.S. right now, particularly as the weather gets colder and outdoor Reformer workouts are less appealing, a Reformer of one’s own has become an object of desire for many Pilates aficionados. With so many makes, models, and styles to choose from you may need some help deciding which one is right for your home set-up. To help you decide, we’ve compiled a handy guide to choosing and purchasing a Reformer for home use.
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If you’re thinking about buying your own Reformer, congratulations. You must be very committed to practicing Pilates. But how do you know which one to buy, and how can you ensure that it doesn’t become an expensive, bulky spot to stash your laundry (we’re looking at you, stationary bike!)? The Pilates community is famously tribal, with adherents of traditional Pilates and more contemporary Pilates styles. As might be expected, these predilections apply to a favored make of Reformer. The big names are Gratz ($), known for their fidelity to Joe’s original designs and loved by more traditional practitioners, and Balanced Body ($-$), preferred by the contemporary crowd and famous for their innovations and snazzy extras. There are a couple of other manufacturers from whom the consumer can buy directly such as Peak Pilates, Pilates Designs, Merrithew, also known as STOTT, and AeroPilates, but even discount stores like Costco or websites like Overstock now sell Reformers for home use.
One of the first questions you’ll need to think about is whether you have space for a Pilates Reformer machine. Depending upon the manufacturer, Reformers are between 80” and 100” long, and they can weigh more than 100 pounds. The box used for short and long box exercises will add another 12-18 inches to the footprint, as it is typically stored at the back of the Reformer when not in use. Foldable and portable models are a space-saving option, but ask yourself how often you will actually set it up and use it if it’s not out in the open. Sometimes, out of sight means out of mind.
Also, think about how you plan to use your home Pilates Reformer. Will you have an instructor teach you one-on-one (either virtually or in-person) in your home studio? Will you be following along with streaming workouts? Or will you be doing a self-directed workout? Depending upon your answer, and your proficiency with spring and equipment changes, you may choose one style of Reformer over another. Gratz Reformers, for example, have four springs, all of which have the same tension, while most Balanced Body Reformers have five springs ranging from heavy to light, each denoted by a distinctive colored tag. More spring options mean more versatility, but also more complexity.
Preference is often a matter of familiarity. For some reason, people tend to prefer the Reformer brand on which they first experienced Pilates. The different springs and dimensions of various brands create a distinctive feel that just seems “right." If you are thinking about buying a Pilates machine, most likely it’s because you like the equipment you’ve been using at your local Pilates studio or health club. In this case, a good place to start is to ask your Pilates instructor what brand or model of Reformer is used in the studio and start your search there.
Once you’ve decided on a manufacturer or narrowed down your choice of model, additional options to consider include a choice of several frame materials (wood or aluminum), various colors and types of upholstery, and a slew of upgrades and accessories such as fuzzy foot loops and cushioned footbars. Expect to pay north of $ for a top-of-the-line, studio-quality Reformer, while stripped-down, strictly budget models designed for personal use can be found from $ and up.
Your local studio owner may be selling used equipment. The benefits to this arrangement are that you are already familiar with their Reformers and you will save money on a gently used Reformer. Some Pilates equipment companies offer an affiliate program to local Pilates studios, meaning that if you order your equipment through your local studio, you receive a discount.
Finding a used or second-hand Reformer online is a more affordable option. Sites such as Craigslist are good places to start. Not only will a previously owned Reformer be cheaper than buying new from a manufacturer, but you will also save on shipping if you arrange to pick it up from the seller yourself. If you go this route, make sure that you see the Reformer for yourself and try it out to see how it feels. If you have an instructor you trust, he or she may be able to evaluate it for you before you buy it. Shipping a pre-owned Reformer long distance is not recommended as it may get damaged en route. And just as you would for any big-ticket purchase from an individual you don’t know personally, be careful when it comes to transferring funds to the seller.
Setting up the reformer machine
Believers will say I manifested this beautiful reformer machine that arrived on my doorstep but I have to be honest, its arrival wasn’t as magical as I’d expected. For starters, it came out of the delivery truck on a huge wooden palette and was placed outside my front door. I am strong, but I’m also quite a small person – I wear a petite gym legging – so there was no way I was getting the huge box containing the machine off that palette and into my home by myself. I had to call for backup.
I also needed backup when it came to building the machine. It’s heavy and though it folds and is on wheels, the main body of the machine is too large for a person of my size to set up and move alone. Watching the set-up video on the Fold app, I wondered if the woman demonstrating was some kind of lithe giant with the strength of an ant, seamlessly folding and moving the carriage. I struggled and needed help from a stronger, larger person with every set-up and every breakdown 10 weeks of use. I’m guessing that as you get used to the machine and you grow stronger, the set-up becomes easier, but this is pure speculation.
Once the machine was unfolded and set up, with pieces screwed in and straps adjusted to suit the length of my arms and legs, I did enjoy using it. However, I had to allow time to set up and pack away the reformer on top of my workout time – something I never have to do when visiting a studio.
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Using the machine
The machine itself is a sleek feat of engineering – cool branding, plush cushioning on the carriage, quality fixtures and fittings and very nice matching accessories. It’s a status symbol, no doubt about it. I felt as though I was living and breathing my vision board while I was using it, and that was a good feeling.
Reformer pilates can seem confusing to anyone who isn’t used to the mechanisms. The idea is that you use your own weight combined with the resistance of springs to push and pull yourself forward and backwards while balancing on top of a sliding chassis. You might do this standing, kneeling or lying down, depending on which muscle group you’re working and the movements should be slow and controlled.
If you’ve never tried any of this in a studio before, I wouldn’t recommend trying it for the first time on an at-home machine. There’s a knack to maintaining speed and posture that you could try to hone solo, but ideally, you’d have a trained professional to guide you at least the first handful of times to avoid injury.
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One thing I will say about this particular home reformer machine is this – it may be a huge piece of kit taking up far more space than a simple resistance band, however, it does fold away very neatly. I stored mine down the side of the dining table and then in the conservatory where it sat quite happily not taking up too much space at all.
Once unfolded and set up, it is a bit of a beast and takes a little assembly with easy-to-screw-on bits and pieces that can’t be folded down with it, so you’ll have to factor in how much space it will take up during a workout and consider whether you’ll have room to use it.
The Fold app
The app is a vital piece of the kit, containing instructional videos on how to use the machine, virtual classes targeted to different muscle groups, and a community of other users who you can interact with. The app was actually one of my favourite parts of using the Fold and given that I didn’t have an instructor to correct my form or offer guidance, I found myself leaning heavily on the video workouts and online coaches to check my position on the carriage.
Inside the app, you’ll find classes and sessions of varying lengths that focus on arms or abs, for example. I enjoyed these sessions and they were essential to my experience. Without them, I was more or less just trying to remember what I had learned in classes and experimenting with the mechanisms of the machine.
You’ll need to be able to see your , iPad or whatever you’re using the app on while you’re using the reformer so bear this in mind when you set it up. The first time I used it I had my on the floor facing up and kept having to bend my neck to look down at it – not ideal. Make sure you can have your in plain sight with the app open to follow along.
When you buy the reformer you’ll get three months of the Fold app included, but after this, you’ll have to pay for a subscription, which might put some people off given you’ve already shelled out for the bed. You can buy another three months’ access to the app for £30 though, so the deal is pretty good as this is basically the cost of a single class in a studio.
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