What is the Pilates Reformer: Benefits and How To Use

Couple on Pilates reformer being instructed by teacher
Kristian Sekulic/E+/Getty Images

There is probably no piece of Pilates equipment more famous than the Pilates reformer—and for good reasons. The reformer makes a dramatic impression when you first see one, and an even more dramatic change in your body when you use it.

You will see reformers lined up in Pilates studios as reformer classes are usually one of the main choices offered. Portable reformers are also popular as home exercise equipment. What makes the reformer so special? First, take a look at what a reformer is and how it works, then explore the benefits a reformer might have for your body.

What Is a Pilates Reformer?

The reformer was invented by Pilates founder Joseph Pilates. It is a bed-like frame with a flat platform on it, called the carriage, which rolls back and forth on wheels within the frame. The carriage is attached to one end of the reformer by a set of springs.

Springs provide choices of differing levels of resistance as the carriage is pushed or pulled along the frame.

The carriage has shoulder blocks on it that keep practitioners from sliding off the end of the reformer as they push or pull the carriage.

At the spring end of the reformer, there is an adjustable bar called a footbar. The footbar can be used by the feet or hands as a practitioner moves the carriage. The reformer also has long straps with handles on them that are attached to the top end of the frame.

They can be pulled with legs or arms to move the carriage as well. Body weight and resistance of the springs are what make the carriage more or less difficult to move. Reformers parts are adjustable for differing body sizes and different levels of skill.

How a Reformer Is Used

A wide variety of exercises are done on the reformer to promote length, strength, flexibility, and balance. Most Pilates reformer exercises have to do with pushing or pulling the carriage or holding the carriage steady during an exercise as it is pulled on by the springs.

One of the best things about the reformer is its versatility. Exercises can be done lying down, sitting, standing, pulling the straps, pushing the footbar, perched on the ​footbar, perched on the shoulder blocks, with additional equipment, upside down, sideways, and all kinds of variations.

The reformer can train many parts and dynamics of the body in many different ways with just one relatively sleek piece of equipment.

There are many, many reformer exercises, including those for beginners and those that challenge the most advanced practitioners. For example, there are beginner Pilates reformer workouts and intermediate Pilates reformer rowing exercise workouts.

Benefits

The reformer offers all the benefits of Pilates including overall strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. These things, in turn, lead to daily life improvements like better posture, graceful and efficient movement, and for many, relief from pain associated with physical imbalances such as back pain.

Accesses A Variety of Muscles

The Pilates powerhouse muscles—the muscles of the core—are paramount for building strength. Strong abs, backs, buttocks, and thighs are all results of this emphasis. Other equipment and Pilates mat exercises do that too, but the reformer creates a unique and varied exercise environment.

Works on Flexibility and Strength

The reformer is large enough to accommodate full-range motion, which is wonderful for increasing flexibility while building strength. It seems to invite the length you want to create in the body, and it trains the body to sustain that length.

Offers Resistance and Variety

Pushing and pulling with legs or arms against the resistance of the springs, carriage, and body weight is generally strength building. The exercises provide enough resistance and movement variety to help build strong bones. And there is a special feature—eccentric muscle contractions. This is when a muscle lengthens as it resists a force.

Challenges Balance and Stability

The instability of a rolling carriage with the springs set at different levels of resistance provides all kinds of stability challenges that develop core strength and promote better balance. For example, having less of the body on the carriage is one of the ways Pilates exercises get harder.

The reformer's set-up for eccentric contraction is one of the keys to achieving the long, strong muscles without bulk for which Pilates is known.

It means more body weight has to be supported by the practitioner, and the body and machine have to be controlled even more from the core. Paradoxically, when the springs are in a lighter setting, some exercises are more challenging for the core because it has to work harder to control and stabilize the movement. The stronger the core, the better the balance, posture, and overall well-being.

Exercising with the reformer is possible for anyone, at any level of fitness. It's no wonder the full name of the reformer is the universal reformer.

Learning the Exercises

The best way to learn Pilates reformer is in a class or through private instruction. Once you learn some exercises and begin to understand the foundations of Pilates exercise, it might make sense to buy a Pilates home reformer. Once you have taken a class with a live instructor you can explore your options for taking Pilates reformer classes online.

A Word from Verywell

A Pilates reformer can be an efficient workout tool to strengthen and lengthen muscles. As with other exercise equipment and new workouts, always remember to start and increase difficulty slowly and under the guidance of a professional in order to prevent injury. This way, you'll practice your routine safely while also maintaining proper form.

3 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Lim EJ, Hyun EJ. The impacts of pilates and yoga on health-promoting behaviors and subjective health status. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(7). doi:10.3390/ijerph18073802

  2. De oliveira NTB, Ricci NA, Dos santos franco YR, Salvador EMES, Almeida ICB, Cabral CMN. Effectiveness of the Pilates method versus aerobic exercises in the treatment of older adults with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019;20(1):250. doi:10.1186/s12891-019-2642-9.

  3. Rayes ABR, Lira CAB de, Viana RB, et al. The effects of Pilates vs. aerobic training on cardiorespiratory fitness, isokinetic muscular strength, body composition, and functional tasks outcomes for individuals who are overweight/obese: a clinical trial. PeerJ. 2019;7. doi:10.7717/peerj.6022

By Marguerite Ogle MS, RYT
Marguerite Ogle is a freelance writer and experienced natural wellness and life coach, who has been teaching Pilates for more than 35 years.