Home Reformers - The Low Down
Recently a national supermarket made headlines by selling a super cheap home Reformer. Such is the current trend for Reformer based fitness that my feed was absolutely full of adverts, posts and comments about this Reformer. This ranged from lots excited comments from those keen to join the Reformer trend, and a lot Pilates teachers voicing various concerns.
My clients - who know me well and know I have a special glittery soapbox that I like to get on when the Pilates vs fitness on a Reformer debate opens up - immediately expected me to be outraged at the prospect of a home reformer sold by a supermarket. Ahhh, you know me so well!
I haven’t seen this particular Reformer up close and personal yet, and I am actually really keen to do so before giving it a fully informed review - another blog, another time. At first glance I have to agree with my studio partner’s initial reaction of “It’s a f-ing camp-bed with springs!”. Looking at it, it is difficult to see how it could possibly withstand the weight of the springs we would use in a studio and I have a list of health and safety concerns about as long as my arm. But, like I say, I’ve not had the opportunity to test it yet. I would like to and I am open to being proved wrong. As a piece of apparatus that will enable you to feel the benefits of the Pilates method, I have my doubts. As a bit of general home fitness equipment, OK maybe there is some use in it and maybe, just maybe, it will spark an interest in some as to what the actual Pilates method is about. We’ll see.
BUT…here’s the important thing…
I am not against home reformers per se.
In fact, some of my clients do have their own home Reformers that I have helped them set up and use. They still come to me at the studio, and also work on their home apparatus between sessions.
Home practice was a big part of “Contrology” (the name Joseph Pilates gave to his method that we now call “Pilates”). His book “Return to Life Through Contrology” was effectively a home practice guide to the mat work, with photos and clear instructions showing you how to do these exercises at home. We know that he produced apparatus for his clients to use in their homes. The Wunda Chair, it is claimed, was invented for a client who wanted to do the work at home but did not have space for a Reformer. In Joe’s adverts and designs there is a clear theme of inventing apparatus to be used by clients in their own home. Therefore as Pilates teachers it is a little bit precious for us to say that Pilates can only be done in the studio. Yes, the teacher is important and your taught sessions are so important to maintain, but home practice allows us the consistency and regularity we need to truly make Pilates part of our lives. The entire discipline of the Classical Pilates method is based on encouraging you to know and feel your exercises and take ownership of your own workout…so of course this can and should be transferred to the home setting. Be it with apparatus in your own home or on the mat.
Here are my top tips for home practice and investing in home apparatus:
Do Your Research.
There are SO many adverts now for cheap “Reformers” that honestly have very little resemblance to the actual apparatus. The recent Special Buy Reformer at least looks vaguely Reformer-like, despite my reservations about its practicality. I’ve seen all sorts of weird and wonderful products advertised online claiming to give you a “Reformer” workout and I call bullsh*t to many of them. Bar’s with elastic rope attached (I bought one of these to test - you can get a nice little workout from it, its cute and portable, but it is most definitely not Pilates and as for referring to it as a Reformer WTAF!), or more recently those plastic slidey things that go on your floor - they seem to be on a permanent must-end-now sale and the TrustPilot reviews are, well, enlightening. If you really want a Reformer at home, make sure it is a Reformer you are getting
Trust the Experts:
Reformers are a moving carriage, with moving parts, springs, ropes, pulleys and more. There is a lot that needs to be working well, and a lot that could go wrong. A lot of exercises we do on the Reformer rely on both the apparatus and you to be working properly, otherwise at best you loose the benefits of the exercise and at worst you can have a nasty accident and really hurt yourself. Therefore if you are buying a Reformer for home practice you need to be sure that it is well made and fit for purpose. Especially if you plan to be doing Classical Pilates exercises on it, rather than just endless squats and lunges (oops, there’s that glittery soapbox again)! There are decent brands making Pilates apparatus for home practice, such as Balanced Body in the US and Align Pilates in the UK. Home Reformers are lighter weight, cheaper versions of studio reformers, and are designed for general home use. Align-Pilates currently have 3 Home Reformers on the market, including a folding one. They have been supplying contemporary Pilates apparatus to studios for around 15 years so they do know their stuff. Having had a long video call with them recently regarding their new Classical range that is in development I know that they do their research and listen to the experts on the ground - the Pilates teachers! Align are known for providing affordable apparatus options without compromising too much on quality - they refer to it as their performance/price ratio and it is something they are pretty good at. There is a compromise, but to be fair to Align safety is not something they cut corners on. This leads me to another bit of advice, which is the old adage “You get what you pay for”. You absolutely do make compromises when cutting the price. At the time of writing, Align’s home reformers are priced at between £1,649.99 - £1,899.99. Align are a company that prides itself on affordability. Therefore, something claiming to be a Reformer at a 10th of that price, such as our new friend the supermarket reformer, raises a lot of red flags for me!! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Think Long Term:
Reformers need regular servicing to keep them running smoothy and safely. Springs need replacing at regular intervals, rails and wheels need cleaning, ropes need checking and replacing if they fray. Make sure that you know how to service your Reformer, and that you can get replacement parts when needed. This is one of my biggest concerns regarding supermarket Reformers and these dodgy pop up sites with their Must-Buy-Now sales. What happens when you need to replace parts? If you are buying a second hand Reformer make sure you know how old the springs are, check they are not worn or rusted, and check the pulleys and ropes for wear. Make sure you can get replacement parts if you need them.
Safety First:
In the studio, we run a series of checks every day to ensure that our apparatus is in good, usable condition. We visually inspect springs and ropes, we check that straps, bars and other elements are securely in place. We assist clients on and off the apparatus and support you as needed during the exercises. You might not notice our foot gently anchoring the carriage, our body carefully positioned to add a little extra support if needed - but it’s there (it’s the reason we wear trainers when teaching!). At home you should be applying the same amount of care. Moving carriages and sprung parts under tension can be dangerous if not used correctly. Check your apparatus over before use, make sure you are servicing it at regular intervals and do not attempt anything at home that you do not feel stable doing. If you are unsure, learn the exercise with your teacher first and transfer it to your home practice only when you feel confident with it.
Consider other options:
Reformer is the buzz word of the moment, but there are other options for home Pilates practice - especially if price or space are key drivers for you. The mat is the simplest and cheapest of course. You can buy any decent thick mat to use at home, or if you want more of an apparatus feel look into a low folding Classical Pilates mat with the foot strap and handles (we have one in the studio that you can look at and try out). As a step up from that, but still smaller and cheaper than a Reformer, is a Wunda Chair. I LOVE the Wunda Chair. Don’t be deceived by its size -that little piece of apparatus will work your whole body and seriously challenge you!. You can get a proper Classical Wunda Chair for a lot less than a Classical Reformer, and you won’t have to compromise on quality or authenticity like you would a home reformer at the same price point. For those local to our studios we can do Wunda Chair 1:1 sessions with you to help get you familiar with the work on the chair - it is so good, and you will definitely feel the work!
Involve your Teacher:
If you already work with a Pilates teacher in a studio ask their advice before buying. They might be able to point you in the right direction based on your individual needs and budget, and might even know of any second hand ones that are available as well as what to look out for when making a purchase. When you get your apparatus, work with your teacher to get it set up properly and learn how to use it. You might need different springs or a slightly different set up to get a similar feel to that in the studio. Some exercises may need to be adapted to get the same feel and benefit. I’ve worked with clients in home and via Zoom to help them get set up with their apparatus, and run Zoom classes for in home clients.
If you are new to Pilates and you have bought yourself a home Reformer then I definitely recommend having some in studio sessions to show you the basics and get you up and running safely. Even if you are well practiced, do keep up your taught sessions in addition to your home practice. There is so much value in working with a teacher who can give you those little tweaks and guidance to get so much more from your exercises for YOUR body. You might not be able to see or feel when your body is a little wonky, when one side is working harder than the other, or when we need to place a little more work in one area of the body and a little less in another. I am a teacher, I have been doing Pilates for many many years BUT I KNOW that I work 10 times harder when I am being observed and taught than when I am practicing on my own. It’s not a conscious thing, its is just the impact of having eyes on me and someone who can make me dig a little deeper and sort out all those little cheats I do without even realising! It’s what sets Pilates apart from instructor led fitness and it makes all the difference.
A home Reformer is never going to be the same as a commercial grade Reformer. In our studio we use high quality Reformers from Pilates Arregon (our Classical Reformers) and BASI (our contemporary Reformers). They are checked and serviced regularly, springs replaced as needed, and they are strong, well built pieces of craftsmanship that can withstand the demands of the Classical Pilates work and those heavy Classical springs! Home reformers will be smaller, lighter and will feel a little different to those that you use in the studio. BUT I do believe as Pilates teachers we should be encouraging people to stay active, and realising that whilst the ideal is for someone to be coming into the studio 3 or more times a week, as well as practicing their mat at home, in reality many people can’t achieve that due to time, budget, childcare commitments, work commitments and more. Home practice has a role to play in helping people fit Pilates into their lives and really feel the difference it can make. Rather than fear home apparatus, we should be working with our clients to help them find the right apparatus for them and get the most out of a hybrid approach that combines regular studio time with self practice at home so that they can stay consistent in a way that works for them and their life.
So in summary - absolutely, if a home Reformer or other apparatus is going to help you benefit even more from your Pilates practice I fully support you. Just do your research - after all, you are investing in not just the apparatus but also your body. Make it a wise investment!