What Is Reformer Pilates? The Machine, the Class, and How to Start

Reformer pilates is pilates done on a reformer: a bed-sized machine with a sliding carriage, springs that set the resistance, a footbar to push against, and straps for your hands or feet. The springs make exercises harder or easier, so the same machine can build strength, support a beginner, or help someone ease back from an injury.

A reformer class is usually 45 to 55 minutes, small (often 6 to 12 people, one machine each), and costs more than mat pilates because of the equipment. Here is what the machine does, what happens in a first class, and how to get started without feeling lost.

The machine, piece by piece

Joseph Pilates built the original "Universal Reformer" in the 1920s. Modern versions look sleeker but work the same way:

• Carriage: the padded platform you lie, kneel, sit, or stand on. It rolls along the frame on wheels.
• Springs: attached under the carriage and color coded by tension. Your instructor will call out settings like "one red, one blue." More springs usually means more resistance, though not always more difficulty: some exercises get harder with lighter springs because you have to control the carriage yourself.
• Footbar: the padded bar at the end you push against with your feet or hands. It adjusts up and down.
• Straps or ropes: pulled with your hands or looped around your feet for arm and leg work.
• Headrest and shoulder blocks: keep your head supported and stop you from sliding off the end when you push away.
• Box: a padded box set on top of the carriage for seated and prone (face down) exercises.

Some studios also have towers or "Cadillacs," which add a frame with bars and springs above the bed. You will mostly meet those in private sessions or apparatus-focused studios.

What happens in a reformer class

Every instructor builds class differently, but a typical beginner or all-levels class follows a pattern like this:

1. Setup (2 to 3 minutes). You pick a machine, set the footbar and springs as cued, and lie on your back with your head on the headrest.
2. Footwork (5 minutes). Feet on the footbar, you press the carriage out and in with different foot positions. It warms up your legs and teaches you how the springs feel.
3. Core work (10 minutes). The hundred (pumping your arms while holding a curl), then exercises like coordination or leg circles with feet in the straps.
4. Legs and glutes (10 minutes). Lunges on the carriage, side-lying leg presses, bridging with feet on the bar.
5. Arms and back (10 minutes). Seated or kneeling arm series with the straps, face-down pulls on the box.
6. Full-body and stretch (5 to 10 minutes). Planks with hands on the bar, a stretch for hips and hamstrings, then cleanup.

Expect your legs to shake. The movements are slow and the springs keep tension on the muscles the whole time, so fatigue shows up quickly even with light resistance. That shaking is normal and usually fades as you get stronger.

Reformer pilates vs mat pilates

Mat pilates uses the same principles with your body weight on a mat, sometimes with small props like a ring or ball. The reformer adds resistance and also support, which surprises people: a lot of exercises are easier to do with good form on the machine because the springs help you through the hard part. Mat work can be harder for beginners because there is nothing to assist you.

For the full breakdown, read our reformer vs mat pilates comparison.

What reformer pilates is good for

Reformer pilates is strength training for your core, hips, and legs, with a focus on control and alignment. Harvard Health describes pilates as a solid low-impact option for core strength, balance, and flexibility. A Cochrane review found pilates helped low back pain in the short and medium term, though the evidence was low to moderate in quality. Physical therapists often use the reformer in rehab because the springs can assist a movement as easily as they resist it.

What it does less well is cardio. Even a brisk reformer class will not raise your heart rate like running or cycling, so pair it with some aerobic activity if heart health is a goal. For what to expect week by week, see our pilates results timeline. If you want a faster, sweatier machine class, look at Lagree or similar formats. Our Lagree vs pilates guide covers the difference.

Your first reformer class: what to know

• Book an intro or foundations class. Most reformer studios require or strongly recommend one for new clients so you learn the springs, the footbar, and how to get on and off safely. Some offer intro private sessions.
• Wear grip socks. Most reformer studios require them for hygiene and traction, and many sell them at the front desk. Fitted clothes help too, since loose shirts catch in the springs and ride up when you are upside down. See what to wear to pilates.
• Arrive 10 minutes early. Tell the instructor it is your first time and mention any injuries. They will usually set you up on a machine near the front.
• Go lighter than you think. If something feels jerky, ask for a lighter or heavier spring. Control matters more than load.
• Keep a hand free when the carriage moves. Never step off a carriage that is not secured. Your instructor will show you how.

How much reformer classes cost

Reformer classes usually cost more than mat or yoga because each student needs a machine. Intro offers bring the first few classes down, and class packs or memberships lower the per-class price. Our guide to how much pilates classes cost has a dated price table for Portland, Maine studios and national ranges.

Where to try reformer pilates in Portland, Maine

Springboard Pilates in the West End runs reformer, tower, and mat sessions in a dedicated pilates space. Cait Bower Pilates on Free Street is a small boutique studio with close instructor attention, and The Pilates Center of Maine on India Street is a fully equipped studio on the East End. If you live south of the city, Scarborough has Kaia Pilates, Scarborough Pilates, and Crisp. The full list with addresses and phone numbers is on our Portland pilates directory.

Once you find a studio you like, the hard part is going back week after week. Corvi is our free app for that part: you book with the studio, then check in on Corvi to keep a streak, set a weekly goal, and see which classes your friends go to. New to the method overall? Start with our pilates for beginners guide.

Common questions

Is reformer pilates good for beginners?

Yes. The springs can assist movements, so many beginners find good form easier on a reformer than on a mat. The machine has a learning curve, though, so take an intro or foundations class first. Tell the instructor it is your first time, start with lighter springs, and expect to feel muscles working that you rarely use.

Is reformer pilates better than mat pilates?

Neither is better overall. Reformer adds adjustable resistance and support, which helps with strength and form, and classes are smaller. Mat pilates is cheaper, needs no equipment, and can be harder because nothing assists you. Many people start on the mat to learn the basics, then add reformer classes once they know they like the method.

How many times a week should you do reformer pilates?

Two to three classes a week is the common recommendation for steady progress, with a rest day between sessions while you are new. One class a week still builds skill and body awareness, just more slowly. Our guide on how often to do pilates covers schedules for different goals.

Can reformer pilates build muscle?

It builds strength and muscular endurance, especially in your core, glutes, and legs, because the springs add resistance and keep tension on the muscles. It will not build size the way heavy lifting does. For more muscle growth, combine reformer classes with traditional strength training.

Find your next class: see every reformer studio on our Portland pilates page.