You’ve seen it all over Instagram. Celebrities swear by it. Your friend who’s suddenly got incredible posture won’t stop banging on about it. But what actually is reformer Pilates, and more importantly, can you do it without joining an eye-wateringly expensive studio?

If you’ve ever walked past a Pilates studio and glimpsed what looks like medieval torture devices through the window, you’ve seen a reformer. These peculiar contraptions seem to belong somewhere between a working gym and a Victorian sanatorium, yet they’re having a serious moment in the wellness world. The question is whether all the hype is justified, or if this is just another fitness trend that’ll be forgotten once the next thing comes along.

Let’s cut through the wellness jargon and get to the good stuff.

So What’s the Deal With Reformer Pilates?

Right, let’s properly explain this. A reformer is a piece of exercise equipment invented nearly a century ago by Joseph Pilates (yes, that’s actually his surname). Picture a wooden or metal frame about the size and shape of a single bed. Inside this frame sits a padded platform called a carriage that slides back and forth on wheels, a bit like a rowing machine but horizontal.

Here’s where it gets interesting: attached to one end are a set of springs – usually between two and five of them – that create resistance when you push or pull the carriage. There’s a footbar at the same end (which you can push against with your feet or hands), and at the other end, there are straps with handles that you can hold or put your feet into. Some reformers also have shoulder blocks to stop you sliding off, and a headrest for comfort.

The genius of the design is that unlike mat Pilates where you’re working against gravity and your own body weight, the reformer adds variable resistance that you can adjust to suit your fitness level. Want more of a challenge? Add more springs. Need to ease off? Remove a spring or two.

The beauty of it? You’re in total control. Those springs can make exercises easier or harder, depending on how you set them up. One minute you’re doing what feels like an elegant leg press, the next you’re trying not to look like Bambi on ice whilst balancing on one foot.

It’s low-impact, which means it’s kind to your joints, but don’t let that fool you. A proper reformer session will have your muscles shaking in ways you didn’t think possible. Your core, legs, arms, and back all get a thorough workout, and because you’re moving in multiple planes of motion, you’re building functional strength that actually translates to real life. You know, like being able to pick up heavy shopping bags without looking like you’re training for the Olympics.

Read: 8 cardio machines perfect for a whole body workout at home

The Benefits That Actually Matter

Forget the wellness buzzwords for a second. Here’s what reformer Pilates genuinely does for you:

It sorts out your posture. If you spend your days hunched over a laptop (who doesn’t?), reformer work strengthens the muscles that keep you upright and counteracts all that slouching. Your back will thank you.

It builds strength without bulk. You’re working with resistance, but in a way that creates long, lean muscle tone rather than making you look like you’ve been hitting the weights hard. It’s about functional strength and control, not just size.

Flexibility comes as standard. Many exercises take you through a full range of motion, so you’re getting stronger and more flexible at the same time. It’s like getting two workouts in one, which sounds far too efficient for something this enjoyable.

Your balance improves. The instability of the moving carriage forces your stabilising muscles to work overtime. Before you know it, you’re standing on one leg without wobbling like a toddler.

Can You Really Do It At Home?

Here’s where it gets interesting. Yes, you absolutely can set up a reformer practice in your home gym, but let’s be realistic about what that involves.

First, the elephant in the room: reformers aren’t small. They’re about the size of a single bed, so you’ll need dedicated space. If you’re in a shoebox flat, this might be a dealbreaker. But if you’ve got a spare room, garage, or even just a corner of your bedroom that you’re willing to sacrifice, it’s entirely doable.

The investment isn’t small either. A decent home reformer starts at around £500 and can go up to several thousand for studio-quality equipment. But before you close this tab in horror, consider that a single studio class can cost £25-40. If you’re planning to practise regularly, that reformer pays for itself surprisingly quickly.

Once you’ve got the reformer itself sorted, the real game-changer comes from adding reformer Pilates accessories for personalised workouts. These additions transform your practice from basic to brilliant, letting you customise your sessions to target exactly what your body needs on any given day. Think of them as the supporting cast that makes your reformer the star of the show.

Kitting Out Your Home Practice

Once you’ve got your reformer sorted, it’s worth investing in a few key accessories that’ll take your practice from “I’m just mucking about” to “I actually know what I’m doing.”

A proper reformer mat isn’t just about comfort (though that’s lovely). It provides grip, hygiene, and just enough cushioning to keep you focused on your form rather than the hard surface beneath you. Trust us, your knees will appreciate it during kneeling exercises.

Roll-up poles are brilliant for adding an extra challenge to your balance work. They create instability that forces your core and smaller stabilising muscles to work harder. Think of them as the bit of chaos that makes your workout more effective.

A jumpboard is where things get properly fun. It converts your reformer into a low-impact cardio machine, letting you add jumping movements that get your heart rate up without the joint-jarring impact of actual jumping. It’s surprisingly addictive once you get the rhythm down.

Building A Routine That Actually Works

The mistake most people make when designing their home workouts is thinking they need to recreate an entire studio class every time. You don’t. Twenty minutes of focused, intentional movement beats an hour of going through the motions any day.

Start with the basics. Get comfortable with footwork, leg circles, and basic arm exercises. Master your breathing pattern (exhale on effort, always). Once these feel natural, start layering in more complex movements.

The secret to balancing strength and flexibility? Do them in the same session. Begin with resistance-based exercises when your muscles are fresh, then move into deeper stretches whilst everything’s warm. Your body responds better to flexibility work when it’s already engaged, and you’ll notice the difference in your range of motion.

Listen to your body, but also don’t coddle it. If something feels too easy, adjust the springs. If you’re wobbling all over the place, that’s actually good – it means you’re challenging your stability. The reformer is remarkably good at giving you instant feedback about where you need to focus.

Making It Sustainable

Here’s the thing nobody tells you about home workouts: the biggest challenge isn’t the exercise itself, it’s showing up consistently when Netflix is right there.

Set yourself up for success. Keep your reformer somewhere visible, not hidden away in a cupboard that requires a Tetris championship to access. Schedule your sessions like proper appointments. Lay out your kit the night before if you’re planning a morning workout.

And here’s a revolutionary idea: your sessions don’t all need to be intense. Sometimes a 15-minute stretch session focused purely on flexibility is exactly what you need. Other days, you’ll want to challenge yourself with jump work and heavy resistance. Both are valid. Both are valuable.

The beauty of having your reformer at home is that you can hop on for ten minutes between meetings if that’s all you’ve got. You can practise in your pyjamas at 6am or 11pm without judgement. You can repeat the same exercise 47 times until you finally nail it, without feeling like you’re holding up a class.

The Bottom Line

Reformer Pilates isn’t some mystical wellness trend that only works if you’re doing it in a pristine studio whilst wearing £90 leggings. It’s an effective, adaptable form of exercise that absolutely can be done at home if you’ve got the space and inclination.

Will it transform your body overnight? No, because nothing does (sorry). But practise consistently for a few months and you’ll notice genuine changes in your strength, flexibility, posture, and how your body moves through everyday life. You’ll develop that elusive core strength that makes everything else easier.

Is it for everyone? Probably not if you hate controlled, precise movement and prefer your workouts chaotic and sweaty. But if you want to build functional strength whilst improving your flexibility and body awareness, it’s genuinely brilliant.

The home setup requires investment – both financially and in terms of space – but it gives you the freedom to practise on your own terms, at your own pace, without the pressure of keeping up with anyone else.

And honestly? Once you’ve had that moment where you finally nail an exercise you’ve been struggling with for weeks, you’ll understand why people get so evangelical about it. Just try not to become that friend who won’t stop banging on about it.