The Reformer: The Heartbeat of Pilates

The Reformer is the most recognized and widely used piece of equipment in the Pilates method—and for good reason. With its sliding carriage, adjustable springs, straps, and footbar, the Reformer offers a uniquely adaptable and challenging experience for every body.

Whether you’re working on strength, mobility, alignment, or coordination, the Reformer has a way of meeting you exactly where you are—and then taking you further.

How It Works: The Reformer is built around a simple but ingenious concept: resistance meets movement. The carriage glides along a track, either assisted or resisted by a set of springs that can be adjusted to match the needs of the exercise or the individual. The pulleys and straps create additional opportunities for feedback and control, encouraging full-body awareness.

The Reformer provides both support and challenge. For someone recovering from injury or new to Pilates, the springs can assist in finding proper alignment or range of motion. For more experienced movers, the same springs can create deep resistance that challenges strength, stability, and coordination.

Its versatility also makes it ideal for cross-training. Athletes often use the Reformer to refine their movement mechanics, while desk-sitters benefit from the postural support and rebalancing it offers.

Even familiar movements take on a new dimension when performed on the Reformer. The constant interplay between the springs and the moving carriage means that muscles are working in a dynamic, functional way throughout every phase of each exercise.

At Pilates on 10th, the Reformer is a foundational part of our class programming because it allows us to tailor sessions to individual needs with precision during private sessions, and it’s effective for use in group settings, meeting each of our clients where they are that day. 

The Reformer is quick to become a favorite apparatus for almost everyone who tries Pilates—not just because of how it makes them feel during a session, but also because of the results they see in their everyday lives.