Everything a beginner needs to know about Reformer Pilates
Ever wanted to give Reformer Pilates a go but has always seems a bit... scary? We're here to make it less so (and dispel the myth that it's for 7 foot supermodels only)So firstly, why's it called Reformer?
The Reformer is a piece of equipment (pictured above) which uses springs to provide variable resistance in a number of different positions. It also has a head rest, carriage and two different length straps which you can use for your arms or legs.
Why's it SO good for you?
We could go on for hours about the benefits of Reformer Pilates, but ultimately the magic 3 are core strength, flexibility and alignment. It’s low impact which means it’s great for people with injuries or who want to improve their strength without impacting their joints.
How will I know what to do?
Our Beginners Reformer Pilates classes are for this exact reason. In these classes, one of our wonderful instructors will teach you all you need to know about the different parts of the Reformer and how to use them. You’ll learn all of the basic moves and get introduced to the other equipment that you’ll use on the Reformer. We recommend doing 3 of these Beginner classes to get you in a great place to join an open class.
What do I wear?
Anything! Although we don’t recommend denim. Jokes aside, wear comfortable activewear as you would any other fitness class. We recommend leaving the baggy shorts at home, as wearing tighter bottoms will help the instructor to check your alignment; there are also some moves where you might be risking flashing your pants to the person opposite you (hey neighbour!)
Also, you don’t wear trainers on a Reformer, so we recommend wearing special grip socks to help keep you safe and the equipment nice and clean. If you don’t have any don’t worry, we sell them in all our studios, they even have cute smiley faces on…
When are the Beginner Reformer classes?
We have up to 9 classes a day across all our studios so you’ll be able to find a time that suits. Here’s an option each day to try (plus loads of others on the timetable!)
Monday at 8:15am in King’s Cross
Tuesdays at 7:30pm in King’s Cross
Wednesdays at 12:15pm in Angel
Thursdays at 6:30pm in Victoria
Fridays at 7:45am in Victoria
Saturdays at 2:30pm in Hammersmith
Sundays at 10:00am in Shoreditch