What Is Reformer Pilates? Benefits, Who It’s For and What to Expect

If you’ve walked past a Reformer Pilates studio and wondered what on earth that bed-like machine with all the springs and straps actually does — you’re not alone, and you’re in the right place. Reformer Pilates is a form of low-impact resistance training performed on a specialised machine called a Reformer, and it’s quickly become one of the most in-demand classes on the timetable. 

It builds strength, improves flexibility and posture, and works your whole body without hammering your joints — which is exactly why it suits everyone from total beginners to people rebuilding after injury to athletes looking for smarter recovery.

Here’s everything you actually need to know before your first class.

What Is Reformer Pilates, Exactly?

Reformer Pilates takes the core principles of traditional Pilates — controlled movement, breath, and deep core engagement — and adds a piece of equipment called the Reformer: a sliding carriage connected to a set of adjustable springs. 

The springs create resistance in both directions, so instead of just working against gravity (like you would in a regular strength session), you’re working against tension the whole way through the movement. That’s what gives Reformer Pilates its reputation for being deceptively challenging.

How It’s Different From Mat Pilates

If you’ve tried mat Pilates before, Reformer Pilates will feel familiar but noticeably harder to control. Mat Pilates uses your own body weight for resistance, which makes it accessible and easy to do almost anywhere. The Reformer adds adjustable spring tension and a moving carriage, so it can offer more resistance for a tougher session, or less resistance and more support for someone easing back in after injury — the same machine adapts to very different needs. 

As Healthline explains in its comparison of the two formats, both build strength, mobility and better posture, but the Reformer’s adjustable resistance tends to demand more precision and full-body control.

The Machine (the “Reformer”) Explained Simply

Don’t let the machine intimidate you — it looks more complicated than it is. You lie, sit or stand on a moving platform (the carriage), push or pull against the springs using your arms, legs or both, and your instructor adjusts the resistance and set-up for your goals and experience level. 

No two exercises look quite the same, which is part of why Reformer classes rarely feel repetitive.

Is Reformer Pilates Good for You? The Real Benefits

Short answer: yes, for the vast majority of people — and the benefits go well beyond “a good stretch.” According to Victoria’s own Better Health Channel, Pilates-based training promotes strength and mobility across all the body’s major muscle groups while placing a particular focus on the deep core, and it improves posture, flexibility, balance and body awareness in the process.

Strength and Muscle Tone

Reformer Pilates builds strength from the inside out. Because the springs load every part of the movement — not just the “hard part” — you’re recruiting stabilising muscles that a lot of traditional strength training skips over, particularly through the core, glutes and shoulders.

Flexibility and Posture

The controlled, full-range nature of Reformer work builds flexibility alongside strength, rather than one at the expense of the other. Combined with the core and postural focus, it’s a big part of why people notice they’re standing and moving differently after a few consistent weeks on the machine.

Low-Impact — Why That Matters

Because the Reformer supports your body weight through the carriage and springs, there’s far less impact on your joints than running, jumping or heavy barbell work. That makes it a genuinely sustainable option if you’re managing an injury, returning to exercise after time off, or simply want a hard session without beating up your knees and back the next day.

Does Reformer Pilates Build Muscle or Help With Weight Loss?

It can contribute to both, but it’s worth being realistic about what it does best. Reformer Pilates builds lean muscle tone and strength, particularly through the core and stabilising muscles, and a consistent practice supports fat loss the same way any regular resistance-based training does — by building muscle, improving movement quality, and making it easier to stay active elsewhere. 

It’s not a substitute for a calorie deficit if weight loss is your main goal, but paired with good nutrition and a consistent routine, it’s a genuinely effective piece of the puzzle — and one you’re far more likely to actually stick with, because it doesn’t beat your body up the way some higher-impact options can.

Is Reformer Pilates Strength Training or Cardio? Clearing Up the Confusion

Reformer Pilates sits firmly in the resistance training camp, not cardio. The springs create adjustable resistance throughout each movement, which is the same basic principle behind any strength-based training — you’re working muscles against load, just through a different tool than a barbell or dumbbell. That said, a well-paced class will still get your heart rate up, especially as the resistance and pace increase, so it can absolutely leave you out of breath — it’s just not designed as a cardio-first format the way, say, a cycle class is.

Who Is Reformer Pilates For? (Beginners, Injury Recovery, Athletes)

This is genuinely one of the most adaptable formats on the timetable, and it’s worth saying plainly: you do not need to be “fit” already to start. As Harvard Health Publishing notes, Pilates-based training can be adapted across a huge range of ages and ability levels, which is exactly why it works for so many different people at once:

• Total beginners — the machine adjusts to you, not the other way around, so there’s no “getting fit enough” to start.
• People returning from injury — the low-impact, controlled nature of Reformer work is a big part of why it’s so often recommended in rehab settings.
• Older adults — building strength and balance without high-impact stress on joints.
• Athletes and experienced gym-goers — as a genuinely challenging strength session and an active recovery tool between heavier training days.

What to Expect in Your First Reformer Pilates Class

Nerves before a first class are completely normal — and completely unnecessary. According to the Cleveland Clinic’s overview of Pilates, the method is fully customisable to your goals, age and fitness level, and that’s exactly how a good beginner class is run. Expect your instructor to walk you through the machine, adjust the springs to a beginner-appropriate resistance, and coach you through form as you go — you’re not expected to know what you’re doing on day one. 

Mayo Clinic’s beginner’s guide to Pilates makes a similar point: most classes are designed to be entered at any fitness level, with modifications built in rather than treated as an afterthought.

Reformer Pilates at Fitness Cartel

What Makes Our Studios Different

Reformer Pilates isn’t an add-on at Fitness Cartel — it’s a dedicated part of the club, run in purpose-built studios with instructors who coach beginners through their very first class the same way they coach members who’ve been on the machine for years. 

Whatever your starting point, ambition, or goal, we’ve got you covered.

How to Book Your First Class

Ready to give it a go? Find your nearest Fitness Cartel club and check the Reformer Pilates timetable, or speak to the team about our Reformer membership tier. Inspiring a healthier you starts with one class.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reformer Pilates good for weight loss? It can support weight loss as part of a consistent routine and balanced diet, mainly by building lean muscle and improving overall movement quality — but it isn’t a stand-alone weight-loss solution any more than any single style of training is.

Is Reformer Pilates strength training? Yes. It uses spring-based resistance to work your muscles through a full range of motion, which places it in the resistance/strength training category rather than cardio, even though it can still raise your heart rate.

Does Reformer Pilates build muscle? Yes — particularly lean muscle tone through the core, glutes and stabilising muscles, thanks to the constant spring tension through every movement.

Is Reformer Pilates good for you? For most people, yes. It builds strength, flexibility, posture and balance while being gentle on the joints, which is why it’s recommended across such a wide range of ages and fitness levels.

Is Reformer Pilates resistance training? Yes — the Reformer’s adjustable springs create resistance throughout each movement, which is the same underlying principle behind any resistance-based strength training.