A Guide to Reformer Pilates, the Celeb-Favorite Workout for Low-Impact Body Sculpting
“The rise and popularity of reformer Pilates has come from people seeing their personal results quickly,” says Laura Quinn, the head Pilates trainer for Alo Wellness Club in Los Angeles. We’re discussing the low-impact workout beloved by celebs including Hailey Bieber and Meghan Markle, and why it’s become the insider-favorite body sculpting class of the moment. The reformer machine’s spring-based resistance system, originally designed by Joseph Pilates, creates a gliding, zero-electricity workout. In the past, it has required equipment typically only available in a gym setting—but as at-home options have become increasingly available, even celebrities and in-the-know athletes are now subject to months-long waitlists to get involved.
Quinn’s students usually arrive hoping for a visible transformation in their core or body overall, she notes, and reformer classes have the power to deliver that without the strain of other workouts: “Many of my clients come in telling me they cannot do specific exercises, but, in time, are doing them because we build the strength and release tension.” There’s also been a wider shift toward exercises that don’t stress the body and mind, something Jennifer Aniston credits as part of her own fitness evolution. Before the pandemic, the norm of grueling fitness routines and boot camps often “raised cortisol levels in the body,” says Marisa Fuller, owner of Studio Pilates in Brooklyn. “These workouts can leave us feeling exhausted and burnt out.”
Fuller says that reformer pilates falls into the “mindful exercise” trend that has swelled over the past few years—and agrees with Quinn that pilates reformer workouts will only get more popular as the public learns of their benefits. Here, find their guide to reformer Pilates for beginners.
The principles of reformer Pilates
“Reformer Pilates is a low-impact—but high result—workout,” Fuller explains, noting that it’s suitable for a wide range of clients, from supermodels to people dealing with injuries. Also, it’s great for fitness novices: “Those who might not have a lot of experience, or those who are a bit older and unable to do other forms of exercise are great candidates,” she says. Since the workout itself focuses on core activation, the benefits develop gradually. “Strengthening core muscles improves posture and helps to prevent injuries, but it also provides a stable base for the rest of the body,” says Fuller.
The reformer machine offers a gliding, zero-electricity way to build that base. “Using spring resistance, we take advantage of the unique properties of springs to challenge and provide resistance to the muscles,” Fuller explains of the logic behind the unique reformer machine design. “The springs provide constant tension to the target muscles, which in turn leads to better results as the muscles have to adapt to this constant level of tension.”
Source: Vogue
